Museum Tours

At the Ontario Museum of History & Art (OMHA), there is always more to learn. The Museum welcomes local students and teachers for school tours to engage with our gallery exhibitions and collections. All museum tours are led by museum educators who connect our collections and exhibitions to your classroom curriculum by emphasizing:

  • Close looking, visual thinking strategies, and inquiry.

  • Free-choice learning by exploring and choosing what to learn; the information given affirms and expands on the choices made.

  • Making connections to ideas, other art forms, other school subjects, and to one’s experience.

  • Cultural relevance by connecting art and local history to diverse communities, cultural traditions, and lived experiences.

Museum tours are based on the California Common Core State Standards (CCCSS) in a range of subjects including English Language Arts, History/Social Science, Science, and Visual Arts.

Guided Exhibition Visits 

Our in-person tours focus on a variety of themes using three artworks or artifacts in our galleries. Museum tours are offered on Tuesdays through Fridays between 9 AM and 1 PM. Tour experiences at the museum can be scheduled in the following tour options with a minimum of 45 minutes to 90 minutes. Art-Making Workshops are only available for groups fewer than 50 participants. 

Museum Tour A:  

1 Exhibition Visit 

45 min (max 25 participants) 

Museum Tour B: 

1 Exhibition Visit + Art-Making  

1 hour 15 min (max 50 participants)

Museum Tour C: 

2 Exhibition Visits 

1 hour 15 min (max 50 participants) 

Museum Tour D: 

2 Exhibition Visits + Art-Making  

1 hour 45 min (max 50 participants) 

Museum Tour E: 

3 Exhibition Visits 

1 hour 45 min (max 75 participants) 

Tour Brochure

Guided Exhibition Themes for K-12 

Built on Water: Ontario Inland Southern California 

Built on Water focuses on the history, present and future of water in the Ontario region and the Chino Basin. This history exhibition brings together the story of local water agencies, regional tribes, agriculture, water conservation, and the establishment of the City of Ontario. Learn from artifacts and images of early water infrastructure, explore the future of water management in a new mobile app, listen to the voices of our community’s water guardians. For groups older than 13 years of age, visitors can follow the life of a Monarch butterfly through a one-of-a-kind Virtual Reality experience

 

Gem of the Foothills 

Gem of the Foothills explores the unique history of Ontario and the region’s roots beginning with native peoples and California Rancheros to the city’s establishment by George Chaffey. Learn from artifacts and images about the contributions of Ontario’s diverse communities to the present day. 

 

Art Exhibitions 

Learners explore the shared theme, artmaking techniques, and cultural traditions or influences of artwork on view. Close looking and inquiry allow all learners to participate. Learners make connections to other school subjects and their own experiences. The Museum presents several art exhibits each year. Please visit our exhibits page to see current and upcoming exhibitions.  

 

Tongva and California Native Plant Garden 

Explore the Museum grounds and discover the native plants used by the Tongva people. Learn about the historic Frankish Fountain and observe examples of water conservation found in the Museum’s landscape. 

Before booking a tour, please review the following information: 

  • We require 4-6 weeks advance notice for requested tour dates. 
  • Museum tours can take place during the following days and hours: 
    • Tuesday – Friday from 9 AM-1 PM* 
  • We can welcome groups up to 75 participants at a time. Larger groups will need to be split in different days or times. 
  • Groups with students (ages 5-12) must have one chaperone per ten students.  
  • Indoor lunch facilities are not available, but school groups are welcome to bring lunches and enjoy them in the Museum courtyard. 
  • Admission to the museum and all tour programs are free. 

To help us plan for your visit, please fill out the below tour request form with details about your group and requested tour experience. A museum educator will respond to you in five working days to confirm your visit and follow-up with any questions. 

*If you are interested in a tour experience outside these hours, please get in touch with us at (909) 395-2515. 

Request a Tour (December - February)
Request a Tour (March - May)

Become a Docent

Volunteers are an integral part of the Ontario Museum of History & Art. Volunteers have been a vital force in forging bonds between the Museum and the community since the Museum’s inception.

Share your enthusiasm and become a trained volunteer! Help provide essential group learning experiences through museum tours and outreach programs at schools. No background in art or history required, just your passion for learning and interacting with visitors. If you would like to become more involved, complete the docent interest form below.

Interest Form