Ontario Museum of History & Art

Located on tree-lined Euclid Avenue, The Ontario Museum of History & Art (OMHA) preserves, interprets and celebrates the history and cultural heritage of Ontario and the surrounding area.   

Welcome back!

Gallery hours are Thursday and Friday, noon to 4 PM; Saturday and Sunday, 11 AM to 5 PM.

For more information about this season at the Museum, please call (909)395-2510 or click here to plan your upcoming visit

About the
Ontario Museum of History & Art 
 

Located on tree-lined Euclid Avenue, The Ontario Museum of History & Art (OMHA) preserves, interprets and celebrates the history and cultural heritage of Ontario and the surrounding area.  

From developing exhibitions, to engaging visitors through educational experiences, and events that inspire creative action, the Museum is an anchor to the growing downtown arts district.

 The Museum is uniquely housed in Ontario’s former City Hall, a historical landmark funded by the Works Progress Administration. In 2019, the Museum celebrated its 40th Anniversary and it extended its vision, embracing long-term planning to ensure that the Museum’s capacity matches the growth in value to the community and visitors.  

Vision Statement

The Ontario Museum of History & Art will be the premier arts and cultural center for the Inland Empire by engaging diverse audiences, presenting dynamic experiences, and preserving our regional legacy.

Mission Statement

The Ontario Museum of History & Art is a vibrant cultural resource for our diverse communities. As stewards, we advance an understanding of regional history and art. We provide meaningful visitor experiences through well-curated exhibits and programming.

The Ontario Museum of History & Art is a public-private institution operated by the City of Ontario with support from the non-profit Ontario Museum of History & Art Associates.

Building Assessment & Master Plan, March 2019

Strategic Plan, 2021/2022 – 2025/2026
Adopted June 30, 2020

Our Values

Preservation: We are committed to ethical, accountable, and professional museum standards.

Our Values

Quality: We are responsive to the surrounding community’s needs through education and lasting partnerships.

Our Values

Sharing: We are a venue that is accessible and responsive to the region through sharing relatable narratives with our visitors.

Our Values

Experience: Our museum is a place of discovery, curiosity, and fun.

Our History

Our timeline dates back to the 1930s, when construction began for the second City Hall of the City of Ontario.

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Our Museum Board

A five-member board, appointed by the City Council, provides citizen input on the direction and affairs of Museum, acting in an advisory capacity to the City Council. 

The Board of Trustees meet on the fourth Tuesday of each month at 6 PM  at the Ontario Museum of History & Art

  • Chris Kueng - President 
  • Rick Caughman- President pro Tem 
  • Randy del Turco - Member
  • Jerry Weems- Member 
  • Shannon Gerstheimer – Member 

Current Exhibitions

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Upcoming Exhibitions 

2023

Built on Water: Ontario and Inland Southern California  

The history of water development, distribution and conservation has a huge continuing impact on the City of Ontario and surrounding area of Inland, Southern California, as well as our continued prosperity into the future.

Past Exhibitions

Cempasuchil: Instruments of the Wind

Dia de Los Muertos Cempasúchil: Instruments of the Wind   October 6, 2022, to Sunday, November 27, 2022   Community Reception: Saturday, October 8, 2022 | 12 PM – 3 PM  David Flores, Diosa del Cempazuchitl, Acrylic on canvas, 2022 This year's exhibition will focus on...

Creating a New Legacy: Then & Now | Women Artists of the Pomona Valley

  Creating a New Legacy is part of Then & Now: Women Artists of the Pomona Valley, a collaborative exhibition developed with the Chaffey Community Museum of Art. Creating a New Legacy at the Ontario Museum of History & Art features contemporary...

11th Biennial Ontario Invitational Art Exhibition

The Ontario Museum of History & Art, and Museum Associates present the 11th Biennial Ontario Invitational Art exhibition. Running Thursday, February 10 through Saturday, April 16, 2022, nine artists were selected by juror Kathryn Ervin, a professor in the...

Her Side of the Story: Tales of California Pioneer Women

Her Side of the Story: Tales of California Pioneer Women December 2, 2021 – January 16, 2022 In 1900, The Association of Pioneer Women of California formed and collected the reminiscences of women who arrived in California before 1854 in a single ledger. This...

Día de Los Muertos: Mujeres Valientes

September 30, 2021 - November 7, 2021 The Ontario Museum of History & Art presents Dia de los Muertos: Mujeres Valientes - which translates to “Brave Women” and is centered around women’s strength and...

11th Biennial Ontario Open Art Exhibition

11th Biennial Ontario Open Art Exhibition May 6 – August 15, 2021 Closing Reception: Saturday, August 7, 2021 5:00 PM-7:00 PM Since 2001, hundreds of artists of all ages have participated in this exhibition. Visitors have enjoyed viewing two-dimensional...

Equal Justice Under Law: Leah Knecht

Equal Justice Under Law: Leah Knecht February 25 - April 4, 2021 Online Exhibition The Ontario Museum of History & Art presents Equal Justice Under Law, by artist Leah Knecht. Experience the transformation of found objects and embark on a historical journey...

ART OF SURVIVAL: ENDURING THE TURMOIL AT TULE LAKE

Online Exhibition ART OF SURVIVAL: ENDURING THE TURMOIL AT TULE LAKE February 25 – April 4, 2021 The Art of Survival: Enduring the Turmoil of Tule Lake is an exhibit probing the complexity of the Japanese American confinement site in Tule Lake - the largest designated...

Reflections

Online Exhibition Reflections January 14 – February 7, 2021 The Ontario Museum of History & Art and guest Curator Dr. Patricia Jessup-Woodlin, present Reflections – A celebration of regional diversity featuring Women of Color exploring contemporary topics. This...

Rebecca Hamm: Law of Nature

December 3 -20, 2020 Explore the new online exhibition by artist Rebecca Hamm, featuring a selection of her paintings on paper and panel. Law of Nature presents a glimpse into the powerful and mysterious forces of nature which confound attempts to commodify them.  To...

2017 Landscape Renovations Video

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