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| State of California Museum | |
|---|---|
| Name | State of California Museum |
| Established | 1998 |
| Location | Sacramento, California, California State Capitol Museum District |
| Type | History; Children's; Cultural heritage |
| Director | California State Parks (administration) / California Museum Foundation (support) |
| Website | Official site |
State of California Museum The State of California Museum, located in Sacramento, California within the California State Capitol Museum District, is a museum dedicated to the history, culture, and civic life of California. The museum presents rotating and permanent exhibitions that interpret the state's social, political, and natural heritage for audiences including families, students, and scholars. It functions alongside institutions such as the California State Capitol Museum and coordinates with organizations like the California State Library and the California State Archives.
Founded in 1998, the museum traces origins to earlier state-sponsored efforts to interpret California's past alongside landmarks such as the California State Capitol. Its creation followed initiatives by entities like the California State Parks and philanthropic partners including the California Museum Foundation and civic supporters connected to the Sacramento Convention and Visitors Bureau. Early exhibitions responded to statewide events including commemorations of the California Gold Rush and anniversaries tied to figures such as John Sutter and Junípero Serra. Over time, collaborations with organizations like the National Endowment for the Humanities and the California Historical Society expanded curatorial scope to encompass topics linked to migration, Indigenous history involving tribes such as the Miwok people and Maidu people, and the state's legislative milestones referenced in documents kept by the California State Archives.
The museum houses permanent galleries that explore themes including civil rights narratives related to the United Farm Workers and leaders like César Chávez, interior life during the Great Depression with artifacts similar to collections found at the Museum of California History, and cultural expressions from communities connected to Chinese American histories such as those centered in San Francisco's Chinatown. Exhibits have featured material on topics ranging from the environmental history of the Sacramento–San Joaquin River Delta and projects linked to the Central Valley Project to displays on technological development evoked by entities like Douglas Aircraft Company and innovators tied to Silicon Valley companies. Temporary shows have showcased documents and objects associated with the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, artistic work related to the California Arts Council, and youth-centered displays developed with partners like the Sacramento Children's Museum and CSU Sacramento.
Notable collections include archival items and oral histories coordinated with the California State Archives and the Bancroft Library, costume and folk art linked to immigrant communities from Mexico and Japan with contexts comparable to holdings at the Japanese American National Museum, and pedagogical artifacts used in school programs aligned with standards from the California Department of Education. The museum also curates awards and memorabilia connected to civic institutions such as the California State Legislature and former governors like Ronald Reagan and Pat Brown.
Housed near the California State Capitol, the museum occupies a facility designed to accommodate galleries, a theater, archival storage, and education classrooms. Its site planning relates to the Capitol Park landscape and proximity to landmarks like the Governor's Mansion, Sacramento and the Old Sacramento State Historic Park. The building integrates museum standards for artifact conservation similar to practices used at the Getty Center and the Museum of Modern Art, New York for climate control, security, and exhibition lighting. Facilities include a theater for programs featuring speakers connected to institutions such as the Legislative Analyst's Office (California) and spaces for traveling exhibits circulated by networks like the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service.
The museum runs K–12 programs aligned with curricular frameworks from the California Department of Education and partners with higher-education campuses including University of California, Davis and Sacramento State University for internships, research, and public lectures. Family-oriented initiatives include interactive exhibits inspired by institutions such as the Children's Museum of Indianapolis and workshops promoting civic literacy referencing historical figures like Earl Warren and events like the z California Gold Rush (editorial note: see exhibits on mining and settlement). Public programming features lecture series, teacher professional development tied to the California History-Social Science Project, and community events that engage organizations like the League of Women Voters of California and cultural groups representing Filipino American and African American communities.
Operational oversight involves partnerships between the California State Parks system, the California State Parks Foundation, and the California Museum Foundation, with input from advisory boards that include civic leaders from Sacramento and statewide cultural institutions such as the California Arts Council. Funding is a mix of state appropriations, private philanthropy from foundations like the James Irvine Foundation and corporate donors from sectors represented in California's economy, earned revenue from admission and gift shop sales, and grants from federal entities like the National Endowment for the Arts. Governance structures reflect nonprofit management practices similar to those at the Museum of Tolerance and rely on fundraising campaigns and membership programs to support exhibitions, conservation, and educational outreach.
Category:Museums in Sacramento, California