California Museum

The museum itself is rather small, but it's so worth exploring. I enjoyed reading about the history of the early Chinese immigrants, the Japanese internment, and so much more. It’s raw, honest, and immersive, using photographs and interactive storytelling to explore both triumphs and harsh realities. It spotlights California’s diverse culture and history through interactive, inclusive displays. The price is only 10 for an adult. We parked on the street.

Great museum. Felt like my best fourth grade self Sacramento is a beautiful and thriving city. So much to and see. The food is among there too. They ar not called the Farm to Fork capitol for no reason!!

Inspirational womens exhibit and temporary Lost Japantown exhibit was phenomenal. Staff in the gift shop super nice.

Wonderful place to learn about the history of California. They have a lot of artifacts and exhibits. Great place to bring kids, the whole family, or just to explore solo.

My visit to the California Museum turned out to be one of the most memorable cultural experiences I’ve had in the state. The exhibits are incredibly well-curated, highlighting California’s rich history, diverse communities, and groundbreaking contributions to arts, politics, and innovation. I loved how the museum blends powerful storytelling with interactive elements that make every section feel alive and meaningful. The displays on civil rights, women’s history, and California’s cultural evolution were especially inspiring and gave me a deeper appreciation for the people who helped shape this state. The museum is spotless, thoughtfully organized, and easy to explore at your own pace. Even the staff members were welcoming and eager to answer questions. If you enjoy learning through engaging exhibits and appreciate a space that honors both the past and present, this museum is absolutely worth spending a few hours in. I left feeling educated, moved, and proud to experience a place that captures the true spirit of California.

Went here with my daughter and her class the volunteer Veronica was very very rude with a angry attitude from the start. As a teacher parent and volunteer myself you shouldn’t work a job or help if your going to be so angry and upset with the students coming in now I get if our kids did something but they didn’t. So I hope you guys can talk to your volunteers about being more welcoming like the rest of the staff because that was not ok and very unprofessional especially in a museum that has stuff up everywhere talking about kindness.

This was activity to do with my son on the weekend. For those who very small budget or low income, they give discounts as low as $2 for the entry fee. This place full of information and interactive things. There’s also activities for kids and adult adults. My 11 year-old enjoyed going with me and reading about Pearl Harbor the women in history and also about all the displays of objects from the past.

Spent the day in Sacramento and was thrilled to revisit this wonderful museum. I still remember the Día de los Muertos exhibit from years past, so I was excited to see this year’s installation. The museum is dedicated to showcasing California’s rich and diverse cultural history. The exhibits cover everything from the difficult experiences of Japanese and Chinese immigrants, to the legacy of the Black Panther Party, the feminist movement, and so much more. There’s also an excellent learning center for children—thoughtful, engaging, and very well done. At the Día de los Muertos exhibit, my family and I each decorated a piece to place on the community ofrenda, which made the experience even more meaningful. The gift shop is also lovely, offering a well-curated variety of items. A must-visit if you’re in Sacramento!

Spent the day in Sacramento and was thrilled to revisit this wonderful museum. I still remember the Día de los Muertos exhibit from years past, so I was excited to see this year's installation. The museum is dedicated to showcasing California's rich and diverse cultural history. The exhibits cover everything from the difficult experiences of Japanese and Chinese immigrants, to the legacy of the Black Panther Party, the feminist movement, and so much more. There's also an excellent learning center for children--thoughtful, engaging, and very well done. At the Día de los Muertos exhibit, my family and I each decorated a piece to place on the community ofrenda, which made the experience even more meaningful. The gift shop is also lovely, offering a well-curated variety of items. A must-visit if you're in Sacramento!

The Dia De Los Muertos Fiesta hosted by the California Museum was amazing. Approximately 1,200 people registered to attend, and it was a packed house with entertainment and music in the courtyard to honor the holiday period, all night long. The displays, artwork, vendor items and garments were beautiful and breathtaking. The Museum did an incredible job to make the exhibit so amazing to see ( not seen on this review, and a must see before the exhibit ends in a couple of months). Guests raved about the fun they were having, many repeat attendees every year, and enjoying food and drinks to purchase from the taco plates by Mayahuel restaurant, street corn, popsicles, drinks, alcohol and non-alcohol drinks available. I recommend visiting to see the exhibit before it goes away. There are two alters, one in my photos near the entrance, and the one in the actual exhibit on the second floor (not shown) where there are cards available for you to draw and place your own to honor a loved one. Some even brought photos to paste onto the card for the alter. No exhibit photos are included in this review, but just of the opening festivities of the night.

First time coming here, and I stopped by during a break I loved all the artistic displays that they have. It is definitely a really beautiful peaceful time. We'll definitely have to come back. I think I did not get to see the full spectrum.

We visited the California Museum this past weekend, and enjoyed exploring the various exhibits on multiple floors, including displays showcasing how community affects our health, a section dedicated to the history of the California Indians, a beautiful tiled fountain from Sacramento's Alhambra Theatre, and an interactive exhibit in Unrooted where you can have conversations with Japanese Americans incarcerated in WW2 and ask them questions about their experiences before and after the war. From demonstrations of activism in the Unity Center to displays of decades of activists in the Women Inspire exhibition, there's plenty to educate and capture the attention of viewers. Even got to learn about the accomplishments of some of my faves, like Shonda Rhimes launching an initiative fighting sexual harrassment in the workplace, and connecting her passions to social issues integrated into her shows, such as Grey's Anatomy. The California Hall of Fame, with both displays on the wall and a digital screen option for viewing, features the photos and stories of inductees over the years, including Quincy Jones, Ronald Reagan, Willie Mays, Ansel Adams, Clint Eastwood, Maya Angelou, news anchor Lester Holt, as well as "Dr. Seuss." Unfortunately, some rooms/exhibits were unavailable or under construction during our recent visit. But there was still lots to learn about and appreciate throughout the museum, and the unique setups and interactive format made it more engaging. The gift shop has plenty to offer as well, including bunny bobblehead figurines :D

A visit here was the highlight of our trip to Sacramento. I found it super interesting, fun, and inspiring. We were there first thing when they opened on a weekend, and we barely saw any other folks while we were there. Perfect, we got to take our time and enjoy the exhibits.

This review is for the Annual Dia De Los Muertos event held at the CA Museum from 6 pm to 10 pm. Entrance tickets ($12.51) were easily purchased online through EventBrite. Parking in the Lot 24 garage next to the CA Museum was equally smooth (and for a flat rate of $3 if arriving after 5 pm). It was a sold-out event... for good reason as it was jam-packed full of entertainment (Maquilli Tonatiuh Aztec Dancers, MAYA Band, Ballet Folkloric de Sacramento), art exhibits, food, and drinks.

The first positive for the museum is that the admission cost is only $10 which is a great deal ! Two of the areas were closed off one was empty the other was with the traveling exhibit that was not set up yet. The most fun was the health area as it was the most interactive. The other areas were primarily just reading. I do wish there was more to it as it was very quick. If the traveling exhibits were open or something I enjoy I would consider coming back.

Does it make me less of a Californian, or a bad Californian, that I didn't know there was a museum devoted to our state's history? In hindsight, it seems obvious that there would be one, especially in the state capital, but I have to admit that it never really registered in my head that there was one until we came here. What's more, our state has such a rich history, filled with so many important moments, cultures, and people, how could we not have a place to document it all and to teach visitors what helped California come to be what it is? All of which is to say, maybe I'm not a bad Californian, but perhaps kind of a dumb one instead... At a glance, the outside of the California Museum doesn't really look much like a museum. Rather, it blends in perfectly with its neighbors downtown, as it looks far more like an office building than anything else (we couldn't even see anyone inside other than the security worker when we first arrived). Once you buy your admission ticket at the gift shop and make your way upstairs, you're greeted immediately by exhibit after exhibit. For us, the first we walked through focused on various prominent women in California's history, dating back to before California's statehood and going all of the way up to modern day figures, like the late Diane Feinstein and Kamala Harris. In addition, the other exhibits included a homage to guitars/California's music scene, a focus on representation as a people, the history of Japanese internment camps in California, the impact of the Chinese community on multiple aspects of the state's history, Native Americans and tribes, and the California Hall of Fame. In all, the museum speaks to the history of California, but more through the eyes and experiences of its people. Perhaps not everyone's cup of tea, but I thought it was interesting, especially hearing the stories of the people who lived through it. There's even an interactive exhibit where you can pose questions and the pre-recorded responses from a handful of Japanese-Americans will play their respective answers. If there was a potential knock on the museum, it's that the exhibits don't show much in the way of what life was like at certain periods or how the state eventually came to be. What's more, while the museum does a good job of trying to account for many different groups, it still feels limited in the breadth of what it covers. Although, to be fair, given how large and diverse the state is, as well as how far back our history goes, I can only imagine how tough it must have been to curate so many different elements and fit them all into such a small and relatively young museum. All in all, while I can't say that the California Museum was the best museum I've ever been to, it's still pretty interesting and far from terrible. What's more, at less than $10 a ticket, it's not a bad way to spend a couple of hours, especially if you're looking to get away from those 100+ degree days in the summertime! FOUR AND A HALF STARS rounded down

The California museum doesn't truly reflect the essence of California. You can park on the street and pay the meter for however many hours you want. I would suggest maybe one hour is enough. The California Museum is small, only two floors. The cost is $12 on weekends. The second is mainly about women's history, and nothing about California. Maybe some people from CA like V.P. Kamra from CA... The first floor features a diverse mix. The content covers the history of California's Indigenous peoples, the experiences of Japanese immigrants, aspects of Asian history, scientific insights related to sports, and a brief overview of the Central Valley. Kind of disappointed. It should call the Women's Museum.

This cannot be a "California" Museum. How does this represent California? A bunch of pictures and written words. Very political. Nothing about the state except for one tiny section about the missions. I understand all cities have their own museum. But maybe they should visit other state museums and learn how to build a proper museum. No wonder other states look at people here like they do.

Some of California's biggest stars and brightest minds came together tonight This year I had a chance to see some "stars" at the red carpet during 15th California Hall of Fame induction ceremony hosted by the California Museum in Sacramento. As soon as I walked up towards the event I recognized a familiar face... our very own former Yelp CM, Alex L. I was thrilled to get an invite. The list of inductees included the original Wonder Woman, Lynda Carter, whom I was hoping to get a sneak peek at the actress. I was fortunate to view the class from a special public viewing area as they made their red carpet entry. Unfortunately, Lynda Carter was not able to attend. Governor Gavin Newsom and First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom inducted the 15th class of the California Hall of Fame. I saw fellow Yelper, Rich L. We, the general public, were not allowed inside the building or beyond the general red carpet viewing area. We weren't special enough LoL! Local news were lined up for photos and news coverage. The inductees of the California Hall of Fame 15th class are: * Actor and singer-songwriter Lynda Carter * Chef Roy Choi * Physicist Steven Chu * Ice skater Peggy Fleming * Sociologist Arlie Russell Hochschild * Choreographer Alonzo King * Teacher and former astronaut Barbara Morgan * Soccer player Megan Rapinoe * Singer Linda Ronstadt * Artist Ed Ruscha * Band Los Tigres del Norte I was happy to do a little catching up with Alex... Thank you so much! Review #0558 updated

I went to the museum on a Sunday so I was able to get free street parking! Compared to most other museums, this one is very interactive as well as informative! One of the exhibits I entered was about women throughout history and feminism. They had sever buttons that when you pushed them, they would play music that empowered a message or movement in accordance to time period. They also had serval screens in a room that would play informative videos of the achievements of women throughout the course of history. Another exibxit, which was limited time, was the history of Filipinos throughout California that exhibited photos, clothing, and personal stories. One fascinating experience I had at this museum was the ability to interact with and AI. We were able to ask questions and have and AI reply on a virtual screen. Sadly I had to cut my visit short since I spent more time at the exhibit than expected and wasn't able to finish exploring.

They have a great exhibit called UPROOTED about the Japanese American experience with forced evacuation and imprisonment for 4 years . The Japanese Americans lost their businesses and properties which they worked so hard for and the majority of the 120,000 people were American citizens . The US Government at the time didn't have the guts to call them US citizens, so they referred to them as non-aliens of Japanese ancestry -- they were citizens being called non- aliens .....! One video showed how the US government was desperately looking for evidence of espionage or disloyalty to "justify" this illegal imprisonment ---but not one Japanese person in the US was ever found to be disloyal to our country. In fact , they worked in US military intelligence to decipher Japanese language communications and like many precious Americans of all races and walks of life , they gave their lives for America in the war . The all Japanese units of the 442 regiment and 100 battalion were the most decorated military unit for their size in US history . (See PBS documentary- Silent Sacrifice for free online . Also available for schools with 5-day program of video with learning materials . ) The California Museum also has wonderful interactive exhibits on Chinese immigrant story , Native American history , Latino American history , Black Panthers and their part of the California story as well as Women . Special thanks to docent volunteers Gail to helped us find our way home when my iPhone stopped working . Xox

2022 (July/August/September) The California Museum is such an awesome family date! We were super lucky to have been introduced to this museum via a Summer Soireé Series hosted by Yelp! We were able to come support local businesses and check out the interesting exhibitions. We came back 3 months in a row and each time saw something different as they show case remarkable women of California, or during AAPI event, there was sections in regards to Chinese America history with videos of Lisa Ling or Japanese encampment or my husbands favorite event of the month Between 2 Worlds: Untold Stories of Refugees From Laos which will be on display from now through 28th of October. If you follow me at all, my husband is From Lao. The event we attended was the opening ceremony of the exhibition "Between Two Worlds" presents crucial stages of the Lao refugee experience, inviting visitors to contemplate ideas of "home" as seen through the eyes of people for whom the notion is precarious, and for those who have lived or are still living between two worlds. Developed by the Center for Lao Studies, this traveling exhibit highlights ways in which refugees from Laos exerted pressure on cultural norms, and how survival involved both radical loss and creative adaptation. It was an awesome set up with so much detail! Really wonderful to see. There is a fairly large and growing Asian community in Sacramento and this exhibition probably hits home for many of our families and shows what they went through to give families an American influenced life! I encourage if you or your family haven't visited the California Museum to please do! They have so very many cool exhibits that give you some rich cultured California history!

A disgrace to ca history and waists of space in a historic area. Hardly any actual artifacts. A screwed view on historical events and people. Waite of 10$ and an entire section on adult health???? TERRIBLE!!

I came here on a field trip with my daughters class. This museum was pretty small or we just didn't get to see everything. The employees were nice. They have a gift shop. They also have hands on exhibits for the kids which is pretty cool. It's close to the Light rail and State Capital.

Their special events are very special. We just attended the Asian America Farmers Panel. It was so informative and really gets you to think about your community and the struggles of the farmers and the great strives they are making in the farming business.

It's been many years since I visited the The California Museum but have recently revisited the few times over the last few weeks. There has been some changes but surprisingly there also has been a lot of things that stayed the same (until just my very last visit atleast.) First thing, this is that it is nice to see a museum dedicated to California history not far from the Capitol. There are some really great exhibits such as The Uprooted! Exhibit regarding Japanese internment camps and Japanese history in California. This was an important exhibit and it looks like very recently they have closed it off for renovation. I'm excited to know that they are working on renovating these long running exhibits. Another major section is the women inspire section. These have been around for a long time and it's great to see them get new life. An interesting thing about this museum is it shares space with the Secretary of State and Archives, so the museum looks bigger than it really is. Regardless it still a great place to visit and also get some California related tourist items...even for long time residents lol. The Museum has recently started hosting events and I think this is a great way to get more people to come to the Museum. The only real downside is the lack of consistent parking around with mostly state owned garages and some street parking.

Cool spot! Was fun to visit while in Sacramento. Interactive exhibits here were pretty fun.

Great interactive way to teach your teens about California history. It's close to a ton of local restaurants too.

Remarkable to experience the museum, a hidden gem in the middle of downtown Sacramento. The museum hosts numerous different exhibits throughout the venue. Yours were available all night with enthusiastic tour guides that provided in depth personal stories tying the exhibits to their family history. We came here for the Summer Soirée AAPI Night event. There were great vendors spread all over the venue, mixed in with the exhibits and outside. Loved that they were all local vendors from the AAPI community. Overall great, family friendly experience for all to enjoy.

Another interesting museum in the heart of midtown. Love the history here and the art shared amongst many diverse cultures. Some pieces are so unique and beautifully made. I also love how there are local art pieces hung on walls, some from schools that belong to students and some from local colleges as well. The museum is big enough to enjoy a plethora of art and woman's history. There are stories on plaques and displays that explain or give you timelines of events or the background. There's also a little gift store on the first floor. Everyone here is really nice.

While standing in line to come inside the museum, the attendant was so nice and friendly. She got us more excited about the event and made us feel welcomed. The museum was beautiful and amazing! The people inside were knowledgeable and friendly.

I had the opportunity to explore here from Summer Soireé Series hosted by Yelp! The museum is attached to a bigger building so lower your expectations. There are 3 floors and a bunch to look at and learn from still. I would say this museum pulls from a lot of social media which in today's time is useful and draws the younger crowd's attention. I absolutely love the women empowerment and specifically the Lao refugee experience, this hit home, hard! I felt seen, representation matters! Another museum was knocked off my list here in Sacramento. Thanks, YELP!

Ahhh.. The state of California.. This is the place I was born, raised, got married, and have been residing ever since I was brought onto this earth. So when you get a place that is named "The California Museum" which happens to be in the state capital of Sacramento, this place must have anything and everything that showcases California and what it is all about. To put it mildly, this was just an average experience at best. I ended up coming here on the afternoon of Saturday 9/21/19 with my lovely lady which was none other than "Free Museum Day". Normally the general admission is $9.00 (as of 2019) and they are open Tuesday through Sunday. The location is at the corner of 10th and O St's at Archives Plaza. Parking is a bit challenging (especially during the week when most state workers are in the area) so its best to walk, bike, public transportation, or ride share. The museum itself has 2 floors; the first floor offers a small gift shop which is great for tourists visiting California for the first time. Here, you will find collectibles and other items for purchase. However, you can find a much more extensive collection of this type of stuff in Old Sacramento. The first floor also offers detailed history of how California became admitted into its statehood back in the 1850's, the Native American settlers, and the Japanese internment camps in Sacramento. The second floor offers revolving displays that focus on women leaders that have been an inspiration to California, fashion of some prominent leaders, politicians, and role models, entertainers that made it big here, athletes that had thriving careers, and lots of artifacts that show various eras and focal points in California's history. There was lots to see and even interactive rooms that many kids will find interesting. Overall, this is a decent museum but probably something that I will not come back to again. It's a great place for a class field trip or even if you wish to gain knowledge on some of California's rich history. With that said and done, much of what I saw here can also be found at the California State Fair (held annually every July in Sacramento) or even at a wide variety of museums in Los Angeles. My lady and I spent about 90 minutes here which was more than enough time to soak everything in. My rating for "The California Museum", three stars.

Yesterday was Free Museum Day here in Sacramento and what better Museum to stop at than to learn about our state, California! I definitely learned a lot at both floors of the museum, especially at the American Japanese area. They had Mas Hatano there who was a survivor of the Tule Lake incarnation camp that volunteers here, sharing stories with the museum guests! The government only provided the Japanese of the camps with cots so they had to make their own dressers, chairs and other furniture to make it livable and not to mention in a very small room. The children played with marbles, since they weren't given a lot to play with in the camps. At the Robert Redford area we watched on the screen how the actor did everything he could to preserve Utah, so wonderful he cares about the environment! Of course what put a smile on my face was the food section of the museum, seeing the giant See's bordeaux, Mrs Fields Cookie both made my mouth water and next to Lucille Ball, "Lucy I'm Home", hilarious actress and the one who started the three-camera technique, now a standard in filming! I would highly recommend visiting this museum and learning the history behind our great state and they are currently building a new exhibit as well! The gift shop has some fun items too, including some adorable Japanese cat and geisha figurines, I love the Japanese culture so they caught my eye right away!

Interesting place to visit with your family to get to know more about the history of California. My favorite in the whole museum is the wall with human rights. But overall some may find this place boring.

Interactive displays that are clean and well presented, but the focus is too much on DEI portraying women and minorities as victims.

This place is constantly changing and adding new exhibits. I got to see the Dia De Los Muertes a few days before it closed. One exhibit was closed off. I think it was the bus because I didn't see it there. They were doing construction on the first floor. When I visited, two field trips in row visited. It's a very virtual and interactive place. This place is easy to get to by light rail. It's super close to the station and you'll save money on parking there at the garage.

Went to this museum for a photography exhibit and was absolutely shocked by how much more was available to fill my brain. The history, culture and beauty of California and its people is displayed with educational and historic information. The exhibit on the Japanese internment camps brought tears to my eyes. The staff was wonderful and very helpful with where to start and what not to miss. I highly recommend this museum. I would have given 5 stars, but finding the restrooms was like wandering a labyrinth only to find locked doors.

We stumbled across the gem purely by accident and we loved it! If you want to be inspired, check it out! There is a wonderful exhibit on women in California who have made a difference. Great for all ages

I've all the times I've been to the California museum, I enjoyed the staff friendliness here the most. They make this museum the best, because they have a passion about what this museum brings to Sacramento. In fact, some of the staff here have relatives or people who donated to the museum, which is truly awesome. My child loves this museum as she walks around and loves each aspect. what I love about museums is that they showcase what the history of the city has, and how much it can empower the viewer.

This is a good place to come for a couple of hours and learn more about California. It has exhibits such as most influential/famous Californians, the Japanese internment, notable women from California, Chicano murals, and a very informative section of community activism. There is a healthy food/city interactive section that allows you to gain points by going through each section and then redeeming them to donate to a charity that is listed. I was able to donate over $200! Not only do you learn how to improve your community but you also help make an impact too. Highly recommend this place!

The information is dense, best suited for upper elementary students and beyond. Lots of quality information and accessible in English and Spanish. Not many manipulative exhibits for young children. The parking is ambiguous and so is the museum entrance. Ticket price was about $13 for one adult and child and paid about $4 for roughly 2 hours of parking.

Disappointing, didn't learn anything new. But hey maybe you'll get lucky??? Oh and they force you to wear a mask... So getting fresh air will be an issue...

Cute and interactive, it has different sections for minorities in California. The low reviews saying it's "propaganda" is wrong, just stats and facts :) They also offer student discounts!!!

A very good and engaging California history museum, with friendly and helpful staff. There were excellent exhibits on the Japanese Internment, the history of the Chinese community in California, art installations inspired by the Day of the Dead, etc.

Very reasonable admission at $9. There are two floors. Half of each floor is occupied my nonsensical exhibits but the permanent stuff is pretty cool. I only spent about 45 minutes here but you could probably make a half morning or afternoon out of it if you wanted to really get into the details. I found the Japanese internment camp recreation to be the most interesting thing on display. The cashier was very friendly and helpful. I imagine parking could be tricky during the week but I went on a Sunday and got a free spot on the street right around the corner.

Got a chance to visit the California Museum for the Charlie Brown Christmas event today. It was free admission from 12-4 with an appearance from Snoopy himself. As the venue was complimentary today, it was fairly crowded but manageable. The event was suppose to have live music from jazz musician Jim Martinez, but we did not see him perform. In addition, the food and drink samples from IKEA West Sacramento were gone by 1:30 so we did not get to partake with those as well. The museum encompasses two floors with the permanent exhibits being the California Hall of Fame, California Missions, California Indians, California women, Uprooted (Japanese internment), Heath happens here. The short term exhibits were the Day of the Dead, and the Snoopy Pigskin exhibit. The Snoopy exhibit was basically several classic Snoopy cartoon clips, but Snoopy was there from 12-2 for all to take a photo with. All in all, a nice museum, not world class, but a fun way to spend an hour or so if you are in the area.

If your looking for a museum filled with political propaganda this is your place. It would've been nice with walk in to a community of inclusion regardless of political ideology. Something that speaks to us about having our differences but what makes us the same... California, this is is not that. What makes it worse is you can't get away from the indoctrination. You need to walk through the propaganda in order to see the California displays highlighting some of the people that made California great. Lucille Balls polka dot dress was amazing. Sally Rides space suit, wow. A display on Steven Spielberg so cool. Unfortunately, so many of the things that came from California including the microchip, computers, cartoons, Mtn biking, the gold rush, etc were left out. It's very limited and somewhat disheartening. With so many museums in Sacramento focus on the others. I yet to figure nd this kindto find fault with any of those.

Interesting Exhibits, Great Speakers, and Fun Part-Time Work-Gigs! SITREP The California Museum is a great local resource here in Sacramento for some outstanding events. From the exhibitions themselves - such as the current "Remarkable Women of California" sponsored by the Eames family - to some gala functions - one I attended with Governor Schwarzenegger - the museum offers a lot for the sightseer and patron alike. THE SETUP Right off the Light-Rail tracks at 10th & O Street! This museum is very easy to get via mass transit from wherever you are in Sacramento. And in a very beautiful & modern facility, the museum attracts a lot of wonderful exhibitions from around the country. EXHIBITIONS Currently, as mentioned above, there is a wonderful exhibition on "Remarkable Women of California", and it features every one from Astronaut Sally Ride & Kristi Yamaguchi, March Fong Yu & Dolores Huerta, to Julia Morgan & Julia Child. Their extraordinary & singular influences upon the lives of all Californians is celebrated! SPEAKERS The museum also serves as an excellent forum for great presentations of topical interest to the local community. I recently attended a very indepth presentation featuring Historians William Burg and Annette Kassis. William spoke about the transformation of the Sacramento community over the last 150 years since it's founding and all the demographic and structural changes that Sacramento has seen. Annette shared the evolution of the Weinstocks brand of stores - which got it's start right here on K Street in Sacramento - and as it tracked with the evolution of the entire Department store industry over the last 150 years. Both share the interesting facets of how ordinary life & business changed from decade to decade. EXHIBIT CONSTRUCTION Seriously - I wasn't joking about this in the review title. I actually worked a couple of ad hoc shifts on a couple of State Holidays (like Columbus Day when it was still celebrated by State Workers) over the last decade when some friends contacted me about helping to move exhibition items & props into the museum and around to various rooms for set-up. It was fun while it lasted. THE LOWDOWN The California Museum is an excellent showcase for outstanding exhibitions and wonderful presentations.

The most boring "museum" I've ever visited. Almost nothing in there supporting the grandiose claim of the "The California Museum". It contains very little content in a few narrow bands that you can't quickly learn about and see with a few taps on the Web. It's a beautiful building that deserves a better mission and might almost be worth it if the admission was free.

The museum did not meet my expectations. I guess it had been a while since I had been to a museum... The museum contains very few artifacts or objects that depict California. The majority of the displays are tv screens. This held my attention for about 10 minutes. The other thing about the museum is that the choice of displays all seemed to shed a negative light on the state. Our negative treatment of women, our negative treatment of the Japanese during WWII, our negative treatment of immigrants, etc Overall it was kind of boring and political in a backhanded sort of way.

The Boring Museum Do not have any great history about California and do not have any information about California. Full of Very politics museum , do not have any history about gold state, no history about what inside California. We only use 30min to walk all the stuff and nothing can learn from. There is no geography or actual California history

The California Museum provides little education about California. What are the most common things people think of when it comes to California? Sunshine, beaches, fresh fruit, earthquakes, and movie making are obvious choices. These subjects might not be topical and consequently not addressed in a museum about California, but the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing is topical. So how about an exhibit about the many components that were built in California by Northrop, Rocketdyne, Lockheed, and Douglas? Ah, but that's the rub. This museum isn't about aerospace companies or any other companies like the ones in California's famous Silicon Valley or the media giants in Hollywood. This place is about people. Although there is no "I" in team, there is in the California Museum where their logo stresses the "I AM" in CalifornIAMuseum. The result is a decidedly touchy-feely approach and not a history museum. Built from the California State Archives, little must be stored away as the museum displays very few artifacts. Instead, the focus is on the biographies of individuals (many not from California) as part of the museum's Hall of Fame. Or, the "Unity Center" to "inspire visitors to stand up to hate". Or, the "Health Happens Here" exhibit about "the ways health happens in California". If you think that sounds vague, then you're just like me and should probably avoid coming here. But if this somehow touches your heart, then this museum might be right up your alley. We were here for 45 minutes but would have been longer with two of the twelve exhibit spaces weren't in transition.

Good experience plenty of interesting things here to look at. So many things that we got tired, which is usually for museums. I would've liked to see more history on California how it was created when where and who.

We attended the sugar skull class for $21. It was really fun and at the end got to take home a cool skull. It also included being able to go in the museum to see the exhibits. Its a smaller museum, but they have a little gift shop at the entrance and a lot of California exhibits; some of them were the history of the Japanese and internment camps, remarkable women and Native Americans and Missions. There is a lot to see. Its located on the corner of 10th and O. Parking is easy on the weekends and there is a lot right across the street. My favorite was the Dia De Los Muertos. We will be back.

The California Museum in downtown Sacramento is part of the California State Archives collection and is designed to showcase some of the history and artifacts from California. This results in a rather eclectic combination of exhibits near 10th & O Street or as anyone riding light rail constantly hears, "Next Stop: Archives Plaza" On a recent trip, the museum had a special Charles Schultz exhibit with lots of Peanuts cartoons and history. The rest of the museum houses the California Hall of Fame showcasing famous Californians and various other exhibits including an important exhibit on the Japanese Internment Camps. There are also several interesting rotating displays throughout the year. The layout of the museum is a little unnatural with exhibits on several floors without a unifying flow. Most of the visitors are usually school groups, but a lot of the subject matter really can only be appreciated by adults. There is a small gift shop selling some cool California stuff, and free parking is usually available on the weekends. Everyone should see The California Museum at least once, but it is hard to recommend coming more often. Most of the exhibits do not cycle much, with a few notable exceptions. The museum often hosts parties and social gatherings which is a much better option, if you have the chance.

When I first visited The California Museum in 2007 to write a college paper for my senior seminar class I was impressed with their Treasures from the Hearst Castle exhibit. Over the past few years, I've come here on again, off again to this museum. When I last came here which was a year ago, the kids were enjoying themselves in the Tapigami arts and crafts festival and there were a few fun things to do at the ongoing Health Happens Here exhibit. But for a Museum which is located in the heart of downtown the rest of the happenings here are uneventful. When I spoke to the events coordinator Erin Crump in 2010 she admitted that there wasn't much going on at the museum and she was right. The price of general admission is $9.00, and the museum doesn't seem to be having much going on for it as they're showing the same exhibits again and again, year after year. For a family of four, I'm estimating the price of admission is $31.00 (children ages 6-17 pay 6.50). I'd recommend coming here on Free Museum Day (what have you got to lose? It's free) but beyond that, it's not worth paying the full price of admission to come here.