Arts & Culture
Where else can you re-live the glory days of Route 66, experience the sound and beauty of a 1928 vaudeville theater or a Victorian-era French chateau, or lose yourself in a mesmerizing symphony? In the Inland Empire, the celebration of history and culture creates a rewarding exploration of what makes this region special.
Want to walk through an old-style downtown or buy fresh produce from the growers themselves? You can do all that if you know where to go. We got them all!
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San Bernardino County Museum
The San Bernardino County Museum is a regional museum with exhibits and collections in cultural and natural history. Special exhibits, the Exploration Station live animal discovery center, extensive research collections, and public programs for adults, families, students, and children are all part of the museum experience. The Museum is in Redlands, California, midway between Los Angeles and Palm Springs, and just north of Interstate 10. www.sbcounty.gov/museum
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Route 66 Rendezvous
Each year the region's Route 66 history is celebrated during the Route 66 Rendezvous in San Benardino. The annual event attracts over 500,000spectators who come to see almost 2,000 classic cars, hot rods, street rods, customs, muscle cars and sports cars on display. www.route-66.org
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Lewis Family Playhouse
Dedicated in August, 2006, the Lewis Family Playhouse is an intimate, state of the art, performing arts center with 560 seats on two levels. From professional, family-friendly theater productions to live concerts and comedy shows, the Lewis Family Playhouse offers something for everyone. When visiting Rancho Cucamonga, a night at the Lewis Family Playhouse is a must-do activity! 90,000 square feet of energetic, vibrant space -- dedicated to igniting imaginations, fostering an appreciation for cultural & performing arts and celebrating life’s moments. http://www.lewisfamilyplayhouse.com
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San Bernardino Symphony
The San Bernardino Symphony, founded in 1929 by Maestro James K. Guthrie, strives to foster a love of music, excite the spirit, and enrich our diverse community and region through live orchestral performances and music education. This marks the Symphony's 82nd season. Maestro Carlo Ponti leads the San Bernardino Symphony during its performances in the beautiful and historic California Theater, right at many music lovers' doorsteps in downtown San Bernardino. This magnificent performing arts venue was designed specifically to accommodate orchestral performances. Each seat is enveloped by the deep and rich sounds of the San Bernardino Symphony, giving each audience member an unmatched concert-going experience. More information: www.sanbernardinosymphony.org/index.html
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California Route 66 Museum - Victorville
The California Route 66 Museum maintains and displays a collection of historic photographs and artifacts related to the history of Route 66 and its communities. The displays include automotive history, cultural and economic impact as well as the development of the highway itself. Exhibitions incorporate corresponding topics such as early pioneer trails and the railroad. Our exhibitions are constantly changing and rotating throughout the year so come back and see us often to see what's new. The museum was established in Old Town Victorville, California on November 11, 1995, along a stretch of the old Mother Road once resplendent with cafes and highway watering holes. The museum building itself was once a Route 66 road house, the Red Rooster Cafe. In fact the movie "The Jazz Singer" starring Neil Diamond was filmed here. Come walk down the sidewalks of Old Town Victorville and experience the feel of old Route 66 again at the California Route 66 Museum. www.planesoffame.org
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Ontario Museum of History and Art
The museum is located in an historic Spanish style building on Euclid Avenue and features exhibits on the history of the town and its citrus growing past. Permanent exhibitions include Gem of the Foothills covering the history of Ontario and Road Ways exploring the history of famous local roads. The on-site museum store has many unique gifts. Watch for changing exhibitions and cultural activities. Call for information at (909) 395-2510. Admission is free.
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Graber Olive House
The Historic Olive House is home of world famous Graber Olives grown and produced by the Graber family since 1894. A rare delicacy has been created in Graber Olives: meaty, with a superb nutlike flavor. The natural full ripeness and flavor have been preserved by selecting and carefully processing only the fully tree-ripened fruit. After purchasing land in Ontario in 1892, C. C. Graber discovered olives, as cured by the earlier ranchers, to be one of the finest food delicacies of California. After research and study of this method, Mr. Graber cured several barrels and the following season a much greater quantity was demanded by neighbors and friends who had eaten from the original barrels. Thus began Ontario's oldest existing business. And now, since 1894, Graber Olives, fully tree-ripened with delicate rich flavor and succulent texture, continue to be enjoyed by generations of families not only in California but throughout the world. www.graberolives.com
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Kimberly Crest House and Garden
Kimberly Crest, a picturesque French chateau style home built in 1897, is a well preserved example of the Victorian Era in California. The 7,000 square foot, three-story chateau sits on a six and one quarter acre estate two miles south of downtown Redlands, at 1325 Prospect Drive, and is enjoyed by more than 11,000 visitors annually. The Italian terraced gardens were designed by G. Edwin Bergstrom, a prominent Los Angeles architect and a son-in-law of the Kimberlys. Bergstrom successfully interpreted Mrs. Kimberly's wishes for an Italian garden. The gardens include never-ending Mediterranean borders, cascading fountains, lily and koi ponds, multiple terraces, curved stairways and engulfing orange groves - all reminiscent of Renaissance Italy. www.kimberlycrest.org
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Planes of Fame Air Museum
Planes of Fame Air Museum at Chino Airport remains dedicated to collecting, restoring, preserving and displaying aircraft and memorabilia for the educational benefit of current and future generations. The Museum spans the history of manned flight from the Chanute Hang Glider of 1896 to the Space Age of Apollo. Some aircraft are legends, so rare they’re usually only seen in books. The collection includes the only authentic flying Japanese Mitsubishi A6M5 Zero fighter plus 1940s authentic Northrop N9MB Flying Wing, B-17 Flying Fortress and P-40 Warhawk, among many others. For information on hours and location, visit www.planesoffame.org
