Education
At the Ontario Museum of History & Art, there is always more to learn. The Museum welcomes local students and teachers for school tours to engage with our gallery exhibitions and collections.
Book a Tour
Museum tours are offered on Tuesdays through Fridays between 9 AM and 1 PM. To schedule a tour, please complete the request form with details about the type of experience you're looking for and your group.*
Book a Winter Tour Museum Tour Code of Conduct
*A museum educator will get back to you within five business days to confirm your visit date and arrival time and provide any additional information. Your trip is not officially booked until you receive a confirmation email and return the signed Museum Tour Code of Conduct.
Built on Water: Ontario Inland Southern California
Recommended for Grades 3+
Built on Water is a history exhibition that brings together the story of local water agencies, regional tribes, agriculture, water conservation, and the establishment of the City of Ontario. 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
Recommended for Grades 3+
Tour groups will learn about the rich history of the Ontario region through artifacts, personal stories, and photography, gaining insight into the contributions of its diverse communities. Gem of the Foothills - the Museum’s longest-running history exhibition - traces the region’s roots from Native peoples and California Rancheros to the establishment of the city of Ontario by George Chaffey.
Rotating Art Exhibitions
All Grade levels
Students will engage with the artworks through close looking and inquiry, exploring shared themes, artistic techniques, and cultural influences. The Museum presents several art exhibitions throughout the year—visit the exhibitions page to view current and upcoming exhibitions.
Tongva and California Native Plant Garden
Recommended Grades K-6
The Museum grounds highlight California native plants used by the Tongva people and features examples of water conservation throughout the landscape. Students will also visit the historic Frankish Fountain.
Museum Tour Details
Museum tours can serve as an extension of the classroom. We recommend exhibitions for specific grade levels, and our museum educators can adapt exhibition content to your groups’ learning needs. For school tours grades K-12, our 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.
The Museum welcomes local community groups, students, and teachers for free guided tours of our gallery exhibitions for groups of 10 or more. All Museum tours are led by trained Museum educators that emphasize:
- 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.
- Optional hands-on studio-art making experience for groups with less than 50 participants.
What to Expect on Your Tour
Your group should plan a minimum of 45 minutes for your tour experiences at the Museum. If your group plans to visit more than one exhibition or participate in an art-making workshop (only available for groups of 50 or less), we recommend allowing 90 minutes to three hours for your visit. A museum educator will lead your group, facilitate in-gallery activities, and guide your experience throughout the Museum. When your group arrives to the Museum, the Museum educator will greet you in the Historic Museum Council Chambers. Groups of more than 25 students will be asked to divide into smaller groups for the day.
Educator Resources
Museum Open House for Educators
The Museum invites local teachers and educators to join us for this free professional development event. Enjoy a special program and learn what the Museum has to offer you and your classroom. Save the date and join us on February 26, 2026, from 4 PM - 6 PM to meet Museum staff and explore hands-on access to the Museum’s exciting K-12 educational resources, programs, and teaching tools—designed to bring history, art, and culture alive in your classroom.