Rancho Cucamonga’s Best Museums: 3 Museums to Explore This Month

Rancho Cucamonga is most known for its incredible parks, hiking, and wilderness trails. But it has a lot more to offer than just outdoor experiences.

Located about 40 miles east of Los Angeles, this Southern California town and the surrounding area is also home to some really cool museums.

If you’re in the mood to take in some art, culture, and history, keep reading. Let’s discuss the best three museums in Rancho Cucamonga.

John Rains House

The John Rains House was built in 1860 after Rains himself purchased the land. The wealthy businessman, who opened the state’s first commercial winery, was the first person to build a house in Rancho Cucamonga. At the time, the Rains family lived in the home and hosted lavish parties for other members of high society.

After suffering some major financial losses, Rains was shot and murdered in 1862. (It’s interesting to note that several people close to him are suspected in his death). Yet his legacy lives on in his family home, which has since become a museum.

To date, the home is furnished with authentic antiques that date back to the 1850s and 60s. Walking through the Rains home is like taking a giant leap back in time.

It’s the perfect place to visit if you love history, but make sure to call before visiting. The museum sometimes closes due to high winds and other weather conditions.

Normal hours of operation are Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m to 3 p.m.

Wignall Museum of Contemporary Art

The Wignall Museum of Contemporary Art is a teaching museum and part of Chaffey College. This museum hosts all sorts of art exhibits, as well as classes and community programs.

In recent years, they’ve hosted exhibits dealing with topics from motorcycle culture to the immigrant experience. In early 2020, it will host Fashion-Conscious, a show looking at how social and economic issues impact fashion.

In the spring and summer months, the museum usually holds student exhibits by artists from Chaffey College.

The exhibits and events at the museum are always changing. You can visit time and time again and always discover something new!

The galleries are open Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m to 4 p.m and on Saturdays from noon to 4 p.m.

Cucamonga Service Station

The Cucamonga Service Station is the sort of thing you need to see to believe. Located on historic Route 66, it’s an old gas station that once served travelers heading to and from the coast. Today, it’s a museum dedicated to the history of the famed Route.

The Cucamonga Service Station is on the National Register of Historic Places, and it certainly belongs there. It highlights the original architecture of the roadside style that came to be in the 1920s, ‘30s, and ‘40s. Gas stations certainly don’t look like this anymore!

This service station is a piece of Rancho Cucamonga history, and it hosts a variety of unique events, including, as one might expect, classic car shows.

You can drive by any time to see the architecture. If you want to tour the museum inside, it’s open from Thursday to Saturday from 10 a.m to 3 p.m and on Sunday from noon to 3 p.m.

Other Museums Nearby

In the towns surrounding Rancho Cucamonga, you’ll find even more interesting and unique museums to visit. Whether you live in Rancho or just happen to be driving through, there are some cool spots nearby that are worth checking out.

Southern California Railway Museum

If you’re into trains, you absolutely have to visit the Southern California Railway Museum. This gem is located in Perris, CA, approximately 37 miles from Rancho Cucamonga.

As the name suggests, this museum is all about trains. You can view artifacts from as early as the 1870s, including locomotives, rail cars, freight cars, and streetcars.

Want to immerse yourself a bit more? Hop a train or a streetcar on their fully functioning Museum Railway!

Hours of operation are 9 a.m to 4:30 p.m on weekdays and 9 a.m to 4:45 p.m on weekends. Train and trolley rides are available on weekends between the hours of 11 a.m and 5 p.m.

Planes of Fame Air Museum

Interested in aviation or military history? A trip to the Planes of Fame Air Museum never disappoints. Located in Chino, CA, it’s only about 12 miles from the city of Rancho Cucamonga.

At the Planes of Fame Air Museum, you’ll see a fleet of flyable historic aircraft. They even have “Living History” days where you can watch some of these decades-old planes take to the skies.

Want to see the B-25 Mitchell or the P-40 Warhawk take flight? Check out their events calendar to see which historic planes will fly in the upcoming year!

The museum is open from 10 a.m to 5 p.m during the week and opens at 9 a.m on Saturdays.

Ontario Museum of History & Art

Six miles outside of Rancho Cucamonga lies the city of Ontario, CA, home to the Ontario Museum of History & Art. Exhibits at this museum focus heavily on the art and history of the Ontario region itself, making for a unique local experience.

The permanent exhibit tracks Ontario’s history from Native American tribes to the current day. Special exhibits ensure that you’ll see something new every time you visit!

The museum is open from 10 a.m to 4 p.m Thursdays through Sundays.

In Summary

If you’re in Rancho Cucamonga, it’s easy enough to drive to LA to visit the LACMA, Getty Center, or Griffith Observatory. But if you don’t feel like sitting in traffic, there are plenty of museums right in Rancho Cucamonga.

Head to the Rains House for a lesson in 19th-century antiques and architecture. Check out the Wignall Museum of Contemporary Art to see up-and-coming student art exhibitions. Visit the Cucamonga Service Station for a glimpse of days gone by.

And when you’re done? Head to one of Rancho Cucamonga’s amazing breweries, grab an IPA, and discuss the things you saw that day. A morning museum tour followed by a few afternoon beers is the epitome of a perfect day in Southern California!

Author bio:

Angus Flynn, Business Manager of Arte, a luxury apartment complex in Rancho Cucamonga, CA.