Private group tours are guided tours of the museum’s permanent and temporary exhibitions led by a volunteer docent or education department staff member. Please keep in mind that tour requests must be submitted at least 3 weeks in advance of the date of your desired visit.
Private Group Tour FAQs
What age range is appropriate for a private group tour? Due to the content of our exhibitions, we recommend private group tours for people ages 13 and up, but the museum welcomes all ages.
How many people are needed for a private group tour? We require a minimum of 5 people to secure a private group tour, and a maximum of 30 people per tour group.
What days and times can I schedule a tour? Tours must begin no earlier than 11:15 AM and end no later than 3:00 PM. Private group tours are subject to availability Wednesday – Sunday, but when possible, we prefer to provide tours Friday – Sunday.
What does a program look like?
All private group tour groups will meet at the reception desk where they will be greeted by their volunteer docent(s)/educator(s). Tours typically last about 60 minutes and cover up to 2 exhibitions based on group size and learning goals. Private group tour members may continue to explore the museum, exhibitions, and gift shop on their own after their tour concludes.
How much does a private group tour cost?
Private group tours are $4 in addition to the cost of admission. However, visitors receiving the reduced admission rate will have a tour fee of only $2. General admission to the museum is included in this rate. The private group tour rates are as follows:
- Adults (18-60): $14
- Seniors (61+): $10
- Students (13+): $9
- Youth (12 and under): $4
- OJMCHE members: $4
- Reduced Rate (available for individuals who receive income assistance via EBT, SNAP, WIC, TANF, or Medicaid/OHP): $2
- Chaperones/Caregivers: Free
Exhibitions
As stated above, tours may cover 1 – 2 exhibitions.
Exhibitions currently available for private group tours:
- The Holocaust, An Oregon Perspective
This exhibition examines Holocaust history through the stories of people who survived the Holocaust and later made their home in Oregon and Southwest Washington, and as such, is about both Holocaust history and about Oregon. This exhibition explores the solemn gravity of the Holocaust through the words, objects and photographs from OJMCHE’s Collection and local Holocaust survivors, which tell deeply affective stories. Read more. - Oregon Jewish Stories
This exhibition documents the experience of Oregon’s Jewish community from its beginnings in the Gold Rush era of the 1840s through today. It explores the questions of identity that many Oregon Jews wrestle with and explores the experience of Jews throughout the state. Read more. - Discrimination and Resistance, An Oregon Primer
This exhibition documents Oregon’s history of discrimination from its territorial days, into statehood, and up through the twentieth century. It also chronicles the numerous ways individuals and groups have resisted and overcome discrimination through that same time period. Read more. - Temporary Exhibitions (available to tour August 19 – November 29, 2026):
- In the Main Gallery, One Nation gathers a diverse selection of paintings, textiles, mixed media, and sculpture that examines the promise and contradictions embedded in the national motto E Pluribus Unum, “Out of Many, One.” As a complement to our How We Show Up: Oregon, these artists explore immigration and belonging, protest and dissent, labor and economic justice, religious freedom, and racial inequality. They also question how a nation defined by diversity continues to navigate deep social and political divisions. Read more.
- In the East Gallery, How We Show Up: Oregon Jews in Civil Society, An America 250 Exhibition draws on OJMCHE’s collections to explore the many ways Jewish Oregonians have participated in public life, from building towns and holding office to advocating for civil rights and social justice. This unique exhibition also highlights the complexities and contradictions in local and minority politics, ultimately asking visitors to consider how each generation and individual contributes to the ongoing work of democracy. Read more.
Additional Services
Museum Shop: OJMCHE’s Ron Tonkin Family Museum Shop is open during the museum’s regular operating hours (Wednesday – Sunday from 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM).
Rentals: If your group is interested in organizing a self-catered lunch at the museum and/or would like a space to debrief or socialize with your group before or after the tour, you may rent the auditorium or conference room for $50 an hour. Rentals are subject to availability.