Ontario Museum of History & Art Begins Major Gallery Renovation This Summer

Press Contact: Dan Bell, Communications and Community Relations Director
Phone Number: (909) 395-2400
Date: July 8, 2026

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

City of Ontario
Department of Museum, Arts & Culture

Ontario Museum of History & Art Begins Major Gallery Renovation This Summer

ONTARIO, Calif. — The Ontario Museum of History & Art will begin a major renovation of its gallery spaces in July 2026, marking a significant investment in the future of the Museum and the visitor experience. Funded through Measure Q, the sales tax measure approved by Ontario voters in 2022, the project will transform the Museum's North wing galleries into more flexible, accessible, and dynamic spaces for exhibitions and community engagement.

Founded in 1979 and housed in Ontario's historic former City Hall building, the Museum has served the community for more than four decades through exhibitions, educational programs, and cultural events. The renovation will position the Museum to better meet the needs of visitors while expanding opportunities to showcase local history, art, and culture.

“The renovated galleries will transform how visitors experience the Museum,” said Marissa Kucheck, Museum, Arts & Culture Director. "This investment reflects the City's commitment to arts, culture, and lifelong learning. The expanded entry and gallery spaces will create a more welcoming and engaging experience for our visitors while allowing us to present more ambitious exhibitions, expanded learning opportunities, and inspire deeper connections to our city's past, present, and future.” 

The gallery renovation project includes:

• Reimagined gallery spaces with improved visitor flow and a more open, welcoming environment 
• Expanded and flexible exhibition galleries designed to accommodate a wider range of exhibitions and community programming 
• Modernized electrical infrastructure to support current and future exhibition technologies 
• New energy-efficient track lighting and upgraded climate-control systems to enhance the visitor experience and improve collections stewardship
• Contemporary gallery finishes, including wall surfaces, flooring, and updated window treatments that balance natural light and exhibition needs 
• A transformed Museum entrance featuring a welcoming visitor services desk and digital display for exhibitions, programs, and events
• A refreshed Museum store with enhanced merchandise displays, improved lighting, and updated fixtures 
• Dedicated exhibition preparation and storage spaces that strengthen the Museum's ability to develop, install, and care for exhibitions

The renovated galleries were designed by Frederick Fisher and Partners, the award-winning architecture firm that recently completed major improvements to the west campus of the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, including its welcome center, retail spaces, and gallery support facilities.

During construction, the Museum's main entrance will temporarily relocate from East Transit Street to the historic entrance on Euclid Avenue, accessible via the Museum's garden pathway. An ADA-accessible entrance will remain available adjacent to the main parking lot. Directional signage will be installed to assist visitors. The Museum's permanent exhibitions, Built on Water and Gem of the Foothills, will remain open throughout the renovation. The Museum will continue to host school tours and group visits during this time. Tours can be booked through the Museum’s website at: OntarioMuseum.org/Museum/Education

The renovated galleries are expected to open in spring 2027, while the Museum continues to welcome visitors throughout the construction period.

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Additional Information
The Ontario Museum of History & Art 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 recently achieved accreditation by the American Alliance of Museums (AAM), the highest national recognition afforded the nation’s museums. The Museum is uniquely housed in Ontario’s former City Hall, a historical landmark funded by the Works Progress Administration.

About the Ontario Museum of History & Art
The Ontario Museum of History & Art is located at 225 S. Euclid Avenue, Ontario, California 91762. Gallery hours are Thursday and Friday, Noon to 4 PM, and Saturday and Sunday, 11 AM to 5 PM. Admission is free. The Ontario Museum of History & Art is a facility of the City of Ontario’s Department of Museum, Arts & Culture. For more information call (909) 395-2510, email MuseumInfo@ontarioCA.gov, visit OntarioMuseum.org or follow @OntarioMuseum_ArtsCulture on Instagram.

About the City of Ontario
The City of Ontario is enhancing the quality-of-life by creating urban lifestyle districts that create sustainable places to live, work and play.  Located just east of Los Angeles and Orange counties, the City of Ontario is ideally situated as a gateway to Southern California. With major freeways, rail transportation and an International Airport, Ontario invites the rest of the world to be a part of a culturally diverse community with rich history that is well positioned for quality development and economic sustainability for its residents. Complementing its business and residential core, Ontario offers premium entertainment venues such as the Ontario Convention Center, Toyota Arena, and Ontario Mills. To learn more about the City of Ontario, visit OntarioCA.gov  or call (909) 395-2000.