Things To Do
Museums and other points of interest
Pomona is the seventh largest city in Los Angeles County. Home to the LA Fairplex, and the NHRA Auto Club Raceway PowerAde Winter nationals Drag Racing Championship, Pomona has enjoyed rapid growth since the 1980’s. Its newest community, Phillip’s Ranch, is a hilly enclave near Diamond Bar, and is entirely residential. North Pomona is undergoing gentrification, with streets being revitalized and homes being refurbished to suit the eclectic tastes of current buyers. The land that is occupied by Pomona once belonged to the Tongva Indians. Named after Pomona, the goddess of fruit, it’s moniker came well before there were any fruit trees in the region. It wasn’t until the 1880’s that the railroads anchored the area to properties growing citrus fruits. Pomona was incorporated in 1885. In 2005, the city elected a woman Guatemalan mayor, the first woman elected for high office outside Guatemala. Pomona houses a great number of religious institutions, with over 120 churches from various origins, many of which feature historic European architecture.
Pomona residents will recognize a beautiful mural in the Arts District that is titled “Pomona Envisions the Future.” The city enjoys cultural activities at the Pomona Fox Theater and The Glass House, a venue that has served the community for a number of years. Pomona residents access downtown Los Angeles and Riverside communities via the Metrolink transit system, and plans are in the works to connect the city to East LA via the Gold Line light rail. Intercity travel is made easy by way of the Foothill bus rapid transit system. Pomona children attend school at campuses in the Pomona Unified School District and Claremont School District. There is much debate over the necessity of the newly constructed, ultra modern expressionist Diamond Ranch High School, which was recently built in one of the more affluent parts of the city. Pomona also houses two Catholic schools, a charter high school called School of Arts and Enterprise, and a technical school, Village Academy High School. Devry University and Cal State Polytechnic Pomona are also within the boundaries of the city.
Rail Giants Train Museum
Rail Giants Train Museum at the Los Angeles County Fairgrounds in Pomona, California is a historical journey back to the glory days of the American Railroad.
Our Museum houses some of the country’s most well preserved Locomotives, which includes several sole survivors of their respective classes. Our Rail Giants collection contains two of the four surviving 3-Cylinder steam locomotives; SP #5021 and UP #9000. The largest diesel locomotive, a Union Pacific “Centennial” is also here. In addition to our locomotives we have various pieces of Rolling Stock (freight and passenger cars), our historic Arcadia Depot, Library Archives, and Gift Shop.
dA Center for the Arts
An array of exhibitions, studio art classes and workshops, the Art Link program, a concert, cinema, dance and poetry venue, a volunteer and internship program, and a gallery store featuring local artisans’ are all the programs that paint the portrait of the dA Center for the Arts. The dA Center for the Arts exhibition venue offers unlike any other arts organization, a place for aspiring artists to experience having their artwork on display in a professional and esteemed gallery setting. This opportunity is available to students of all ages, hobby artists, and emerging and professional artists. The art courses are affordable and range from classic with life drawing opportunities to contemporary with creative computer art courses. The infusion of experimental to traditional musical concerts as well as performances of dance and poetry complete and enhance the multidisciplinary experience that the dA Center for the Arts, endorses and promotes for all ages and populations.
La Casa Primera de Rancho San Jose
La Casa Primera de Rancho San Jose is a historic adobe structure built in 1837 in Pomona, California. It is the oldest home located in the Pomona Valley and in the old Rancho San Jose land grant. It was declared a historic landmark in 1954 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in April 1975
The Glass House
The Glass House is an all ages venue. The Glass House Record Store is located at 248 W. Second Street, Pomona, CA 91766. Presale tickets for Glass House shows can be purchased at the record store during its normal hours of operation. For ticket prices and availability, please call our information line. Tickets cannot be purchased over the phone; all sales are in person. Ticket sales are cash only.
Pomona Fox Theater
The Fox Theater Pomona opened its doors on April 24, 1931 as an extravagant Hollywood-glam movie palace. Designed by Balch and Standberry, the Fox had big-city flair in a small agricultural community. Now, almost 85 years later, the Fox has grown into a revered state-of-the-art entertainment complex. Its rich history, fully restored art-deco design, and intimate capacity provides attendees an unforgettable experience.
Located in the Arts Colony of Downtown Pomona, the Fox is surrounded by art galleries, eateries, bars and craft beer pubs, night clubs, vintage clothing shops and record stores. It’s a unique neighborhood that is perfect for exploration and discovery, and is a refreshing break from the bumper-to-bumper traffic, expensive parking lots, and hustle-and-bustle of the big city.
Phillips Mansion
The Phillips Mansion is a Second Empire style historic house in Pomona, Los Angeles County, California. It was built in 1875 by Louis Phillips, who by the 1890s had become the wealthiest man in Los Angeles County. Louis Phillips learned to herd and manage livestock in his youth, a talent that would serve him well in later life.
American Museum of Ceramic Art
The American Museum of Ceramic Art was founded on March 22, 2003, in Pomona, California. The mission of the museum is to champion the art, history, creation, and technology of ceramics through exhibitions, collections, outreach, and studio programming.