Ontario, California, can be explored through several distinct themes: the history of the Ontario Colony along Euclid Avenue, the Ontario Museum of History & Art, and an olive tradition with roots in the 19th century. This gives you a choice when planning your trip between city history, museums, and outdoor activities. If you’re looking for hotels in Ontario, the focus of your trip can help guide your search.

Euclid Avenue and the Ontario Colony

The seven-mile-long Euclid Avenue was the backbone of the colony and the center of the Ontario Colony. Two parallel roadways and a central green space shaped its layout. A section of the avenue spanning fourteen blocks is designated as a historic district. Taken together, these measurements show two different dimensions: seven miles for the avenue and fourteen blocks for the designated section. This distinction helps separate the length of the street from the extent of the historic district.

Museum and Olive History

The Ontario Museum of History & Art is housed in Ontario’s former city hall, a historic landmark funded by the Works Progress Administration. It preserves, interprets, and shares the history and cultural heritage of Ontario and the surrounding region. Educational programs and events are also part of what it offers visitors. The museum’s mission therefore extends beyond the history of a single street: it encompasses Ontario and the surrounding region.

Olive history offers another historical perspective. In 1892, C.C. Graber bought land in Ontario, California, where he discovered olives. Graber Olive House was founded by C.C. Graber, who initially packed olives into cans by hand. The Graber Olives tradition dates back to 1894; Graber Olive House is considered Ontario’s oldest continuously operating business. The dates mark different milestones: 1892 for the land purchase and discovery of olives, while the Graber Olives tradition dates back to 1894. The story thus includes both the land purchase and discovery, as well as the early hand-packing.

Trails and Recreation

The West Cucamonga Creek Trail System includes a 2.4-mile paved trail for walking and cycling. Ontario Soccer Park is used for soccer practice, games, and tournaments. The recreational options are therefore clearly distinct: walking and cycling on the trail versus organized soccer at the park.

Cucamonga-Guasti Regional Park offers year-round fishing at two lakes and has a shallow water play area for children of all ages. Fishing is described as a year-round activity; the water play area offers another recreational option. These two features help distinguish different interests: fishing at the lakes and water play for children.

Discover more destinations: Searles Valley, Montclair, Crestline, Lake Arrowhead, Barstow, San Bernardino, Parker Dam, Rancho Cucamonga

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