Crocker Art Museum

This is one of the best art museums I’ve ever visited. I was impressed by the breadth of time periods and media, as well as the focus on California art and artists who spent most of their lives here. I wish I had time to see everything! You could easily spend all day here. Of special note is the unique descriptions for almost ever single piece on display in the permanent collection that gave immense detail on the artist, subject, and “what to focus on” that helps give special context on the piece.

The Crocker Art Museum is way bigger than we expected—there’s seriously so much to see. We didn’t even have enough time to finish the third floor! Every room is filled with beautiful artwork, from classic pieces to more modern installations. It’s the kind of place you could get lost in for hours. Definitely planning to come back soon to see the rest. Perfect spot for a date too—relaxing, inspiring, and easy to enjoy together.

A stunning museum all around set in a gorgeous house with modern addition, but I think my favorite part was the incredible contemporary art exhibits! Amazing selection of surreal artists which is a personal favorite of mine, but there’s modern and traditional art of all mediums throughout.

Very cool museum to see! I had no idea it was so big! From the outside it seems small but there’s so many exhibits to look at. These are just some of my favorite pieces here. I definitely recommend at least 3 hours of time to look at everything and be able to read a lot of the descriptions of the pieces. The gift shop is really nice as well for a little memory of the visit.

Amazing collection from time periods and variety in types of art. Carefully curated art pieces nicely positioned and placed. Beautiful display setting, lighting, spacing all done perfectly. One of the top best art museums.

Amazing and inspiring art collection! Loved it more than any in SF! Was able to see everything in about 3hrs. Highly recommend. Plenty of metered parking nearby even on a weekend.

I loved their European exhibit and modern native photography collection. I went on a Friday at noon and felt like I had a museum all to myself. I spent 2.5 hours there and only saw about 75% of what was on the display. I’m planning on coming back soon. I got myself a membership.

Had a wonderful experience visiting the Crocker Art Museum! Admission was $15 per adult and I was pleasantly surprised with how large the museum was. My spouse and I took about an hour perusing the museum and were so impressed with the wide variety and style of art available. Metered parking was available directly across from the museum which made it very easy to access the museum without having to walk far at all.

I am a die-hard Crocker Art Museum fan! It is a cultural gem in the heart of our community. It is always an inspiring occasion when I get to walk around the Crocker! Eye-candy galore!! I've been going to the museum since I became a mom back in 2016 since I wanted to expose my children early to art and cultures beyond our own. As a parent, I always leave with inspiration to help extend my children's learning through projects, books, or art that I see. I can't say enough good things about the Black History Month Celebration that they held in Feb 2024! Please bring it back for another year. So many thoughtful details and so much cultural empowerment was such a beautiful sight to behold! I love seeing the Sojourner Museum partnership and would love to see more of that! I love the family-centered events like tot-days and also family Fridays! I've been to several of these types of events. Shout out to Rachel who stopped me and helped me feel so welcome at the last Family Friday event in June 2024. What a kind soul!! You made my day. My boys have grown crawling and now climbing all around the ship in the Tot Area. So many special memories there. What a fun structure!! Thank you for so many sweet moments, Crocker! As an educator, I can't say enough about the Art Ark as an affordable field trip experience for kids, which brings art and crafts directly to the school. I've seen the Art Ark twice as a teacher of young kids, and my students enjoy the colorful and fun educational experience! Crocker Art is a tradition! So valuable! I love it!

Closed on Monday and Tuesday. Open Wednesday through Sunday. There is no private lot. Most of the parking is metered street parking. There are 2 lots across from the museum. After hours for Art Mix(Adult after hours party) the lot is a flat fee of $5 for the night. If you go on Sunday and you park on the street at the metered spots it's free. They have a new public cafe inside the museum that you don't need to pay to enter the museum if you are just going to the cafe. They have a special menu for Art Mix, which is very limited, but goes with the Art Mix themes. There is a really good new exhibit called defying gravity. The exhibit is sculptures made of rocks and coral. It's on the third floor off of the main gallery. This exhibit is worth coming to the museum for. The other fun exhibit we saw is pieces from the art auction.

For being the oldest art museum west of the Mississippi, this place is amazing! I had never been until I had the option to take my child on a field trip. Staff are super friendly and wonderful at explaining all of the art. Every third Sunday they have free entry so anyone can enjoy the art. The place has plenty of it too. They feature native, African American, Latin American, Asian, California art and so much more!

This is an underrated museum featuring a world-class collection of international art, particularly work by Californian artists. The ceramic collection is second to none. They also have a one-of-a-kind collection of California Impressionism and landscapes that will knock your socks off, and a contemporary collection featuring the work of some important and emerging women & artists of color. You won't find Picassos or Rembrandts here but you will find a lot of Wayne Thiebaud and his contemporaries, and a several works by Richard Diebenkorn. There's also lots of good public programming to get you out of the heat during the long Sacramento summers.

The museum is great. I would recommend except the neighborhood is very unsafe. We were there for a bit over two hours. Our car window was broken and a gift bag containing $200 of merchandise was stolen. The thieves literally drove by us and smiled and waved. We got their license plate number and were informed by the police they would not do anything. We feel violated and unsafe. So very sad that these brazen thieves don't face any consequences time and time again. I feel sorry for this lovely museum to be located in a bad neighborhood where there is no protection for patrons. I reported to security and I am certain the information ended up in the round file. No one cares. Would rate a zero if I could.

I'm so happy to have finally been able to experience the ArtMix event that happens every 1st Thursday of the month here at the Crocker Museum! I've heard from a friend that they hold these events, where the Crocker hosts different vendors in which last night they had: Lobster Cousins, Chinto Tacos, Oak Park Brewery, Golden Bear. For entertainment they showcased different dance academies and studios performing different genres. All while guests were able to walk and visit through the entire 3-story museum and experience the different art exhibits. This is truly a fun experience and I look forward to attending more events in the future! Great addition to the downtown Sacramento Art scene. The cost for the event is $25 for nonmembers of the museum, free if you're a member. Tidbits to know: 1. Golden Bear - drinks were wayyyyy overpriced, $15 more a small cocktail plastic cup! I wouldn't recommend this even though the spicy Margarita was delicious, drinks from Golden Bear were over over priced! 2. Settle for Oak Park Brewery where they were charging $5 for beer (IPA/Blonde). Good drink savings. 3. Parking is street metered. Gets dark at night so walk with a friend and be aware of your surroundings.

This is my third visit to the Crocker Museum of Art. (I'm surprised that I didn't submit a review after my first visit in 2015.) Founded in 1885, The Crocker Art Museum is the oldest art museum in the Western United States. The collection includes American works dating back to the Gold Rush era to the present, European paintings and master drawings, a collection of international ceramics, and a smattering of Asian, African and Oceanic art. This museum has its permanent collection, and hosts visiting exhibitions. I have been to some major metropolitan museums (the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, for example) that are so large, you really need a couple of days to see and appreciate "everything" inside. The Crocker Museum, on the other hand, has a very nice, diverse, "representative" collection of art. The size of the museum and its collection(s) won't overwhelm you, and you can tour the museum in one visit without feeling that you've missed something. Sacramento should feel fortunate to have a museum of this quality, for the benefit of its residents and visitors.

We enjoyed the art work but security needlessly followed us around. The approached us and observed us needlessly the entire time we were there. There were even homeless ppl dancing w some of the statues and no one approached them, but the security team decided to harass us instead. I was with my spouse and mother who came in from the east coast and thought this was a great place to take her considering she is a contemporary artist herself. There was a cool black guy from the security team who came down and said he was told to keep an eye on us... whatever the hell that meant. I wont be going back to this place.

I've known about this art museum for years but had not visited until quite recently when I also visited the State Capitol for the first time. I'm not sure what accounted for my aversion to Sacramento before. Republicans maybe. After all, ninety minutes isn't that long to drive. Especially now that I know there's a world-class art museum to patronize. Covering over 145,000 square feet, it consists of two Victorian mansions connected by a modern gallery. The mammoth modern section is where you enter and pay the $15 admission. This is where much of the contemporary California art is displayed like Israeli-born artist Yoram Wolberger's dramatic fiberglass sculpture, "Blue Cowboy" (photo: https://bit.ly/3YfenTE) and "Red Indian" (photo: https://bit.ly/3Phy34Q) and Wayne Thiebaud's seminal works like "Copywork" (photo: https://bit.ly/3HqCxV4). The architectural transition to the historical buildings was done quite seamlessly. The art collection went well beyond California as there were galleries devoted to ceramics, European paintings, and art from Asia, Africa, and Oceania. You could spend the better part of the afternoon here, though you should bring something to eat as the pandemic closed their cafe. The museum is conveniently located near the Sacramento River where you can stroll over to the Tower Bridge and Old Sacramento. Why, you can make it a Sacramento kind of day. RELATED - Exploring Sacramento? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://bit.ly/3UetBpa

A great place for anyone, art lover or not, to escape the Central Valley heat for a few hours especially after the 2010 expansion which tripled the size of the museum. I still like the original building from the Gilded Age more. The Californian Collection with sweeping landscapes from the mid to late 1800's is my favorite.

Fantastic art museum for all ages with a wonderful variety of exhibits of many art forms. I highly recommend getting a docent tour. Our guide, Bob, was incredibly engaging and knowledgeable, which made everyone appreciate the art so much more! Plan about 2 hours for viewing the recommended highlights and just walking through each of the dozens of exhibits... I'm excited to return and explore all the rooms I missed now that I have a greater appreciation of the collections.

Good relax spot and contemplative Lots of different styles and types Definitely a good getaway

This review was done on a first-time visit to the Crocker Art Museum. My brother and his family have been living in Sacramento for over 30+ years, and during THIS personal trip to Sacramento, I FINALLY got the opportunity to step inside this wonderful art museum. My son and I went to the Crocker on a beautifully sunny day, so there were very few museum visitors in general. Unsurprisingly, we had a couple of gallery spaces and/or traveling exhibits to ourselves during our visit. The Crocker's collection is substantial in terms of early-1800s through mid-1800s California landscape paintings. There were beautiful, large oil paintings showing various scenic landscapes of Yosemite Valley; rugged, untamed California coasts; and depictions of early pioneer life in the Old West. The Crocker's Native American beaded and/or weaved baskets and early Mexican pottery are worth taking a closer look for its detailing. They were outstanding. The museum also has a limited but notable amount of African wood carvings/sculptures. The wooden, slender statues of dark wood, usually carved from one wooden piece, showcases the fundamental artistry of Africa's early people. Museum goers have access to the old Crocker mansion -- which was the original location of the Crocker Art Museum before its adjacent building addition. So, of course, there are staid portraits of the Crocker family members and actual pieces of family heirloom jewelry. In the mansion, there's even a small sink built into a corner of one of the small rooms-turned-gallery that, I believe, is original to the building itself. My son and I loved sitting on the round, ornately carved wood (look at the top), possibly silk-cushioned settee, located in the middle of the ballroom. He and I pretended to wave to the imaginary guests who would be entering through the French doors at the main entryway of house, welcoming them to a fancy soirée. There was some construction happening in one corner of the ballroom, but that didn't take away from the grandeur of this space. I highly recommend going to the Crocker Art Museum if you're looking for a nice cultural outing. The museum is medium-sized, and it's very easy to maneuver around the three museum floors -- which includes the mansion portion. You can easily walk through the whole museum's galleries and exhibitions in 2 to 3 hours, so your whole day won't be spent completely indoors. . . honestly, I'd give the Crocker a 4.5 out of 5 stars, but you can't give a extra half-star in Yelp.

magnificent display of California and American art. they have several paintings by Guy Rose, which is rare. They also have a room dedicated to Californias contemporary arts like Wayne Thiebeau and Roland Petersen. There's also a Diebenkorn. A great place to enliven the senses and learn history. Each piece of art has a great story behind it!

We love going to the Crocker Art Museum. We've been a few times now and it's always so nice to walk around and see all the artwork. The staff is friendly and it's usually not very crowded so you can browse at your own pace and really enjoy everything. You can check their website to see what the current exhibits are as well as what's coming soon. They also have events that happen periodically that you can attend. We just went to the Global Rhythms event with Bryson Musiq and the Caribbean Soul and it was so good. I definitely recommend this to people visiting Sacramento as well as locals. It's the perfect daytime activity while you're exploring Sacramento.

Nice art museum with many displays that rotate in from various artists. Different rooms, floors, and sections reflecting various art styles from paintings to sculptures. A great place to admire cultural expression and stimulate creativity.

Founded a hundred years before I was born, in 1885, the Crocker is the oldest art museum west of the Mississippi. It's housed within the historic Crocker mansion and art gallery, as well as the 100,000 square foot Teel family building, which was added in 2010. My favorite part of the museum is the historic Crocker mansion itself. The architectural details are so stunning, especially in the ballroom. The ceiling is tiled and adorned with layers upon layers of intricate crown moldings. The whole interior is so gorgeous. When my daughter and I visit, we spend just as much time pretending to be debutantes on the grand staircase as we spend actually looking at art :) The coolest exhibit that I've ever seen at the Crocker was Journey of Hope, which ran from late 2019 to early 2020. All of the pieces from Journey of Hope portrayed the struggles of living with mental illness, as experienced through the lens of the artist. Although this was a small basement exhibit, it featured some of the most powerful pieces I've ever seen. I personally wish that Crocker would continue to feature more exhibits like this for May (mental health awareness month) and/or June (PTSD awareness month). Another favorite past exhibit was Alleged Paintings by Richard Jackson. One of the rooms reminded me of a little girl's jewelry box blown up, with a giant figurine of a little girl hugging an upside-down unicorn spinning in the center of the room. Brightly colored stars and rainbows plastered the walls, with more paint thrown chaotically around the room. In the next room over, life-sized bears were lined up in front of a wall of urinals, with a bear of each color of the rainbow holding a paint hose over his private areas. Another wall contained the same scene, but with black and white bears. One of my favorite permanent installments at Crocker is Portrait of My Father by Stephen Kaltenbach. There are plenty of pictures of it on Google, but none of the pictures are anything like the close-up experience. This breathtaking work of art seems to visually capture the borderline between life and death, wisdom and departure, parent and child... you just have to see it to understand. Membership at the Crocker Art Museum is currently $65, which is the same price as 5 visits, but includes so much more. Members enjoy unlimited visits, previews of upcoming exhibits, free access to some special events, and discounts on pretty much everything else. Discounts are also available for seniors, students, military, and youth. Children 5 and under are free. The third Sunday of every month is Pay What You Wish day. Bank of America cardholders can also get in free the first full weekend of every month. As of 2021, Crocker joined the Museums for All program. Families who show an EBT card and ID can enjoy free admission for up to four people, any day of the week, excluding special events. Hours, pricing, exhibits, and events at the Crocker are always changing, so I would recommend double checking their website for the most current info before visiting.

I took an art class with Larry Ramos. His energy and enthusiasm were contagious. His subject matter knowledge was top notch. He offered something for everyone. Don't miss the opportunity to be touched by his positivity.

So nice to have this museum so close to home, with so much art from around the world, both historic and modern! The Crocker Art Museum is well-known throughout the area and beyond and comes in at an affordable price of just $15 for adults, making it very accessible and well worth the cost of entry, with hours of art to peruse and three stories of museum to explore. If it's your first time visiting, expect 2-3 hours in the museum to see it all! I visited last a few weekends ago after not being able to snag a ticket during Free Museum Weekend, and going on a regular weekend was totally worth it. I got there around 3 PM and found the museum mostly empty, despite Google saying it was "as busy as it gets." Maybe it doesn't get that busy? With such a wide assortment of world-class art, I'd find that hard to believe! When visiting other museums a few weeks back, I noticed that many of the museums in Sacramento have permanent exhibits, so a lot of the exhibits were the same and largely unchanged from previous visits that were as far back as 4-5 years ago. Crocker has a nice combination of permanent exhibits and rotating ones, which makes the experience perfect for everyone. Limited on time? You can skip a few areas or walk through them at a quicker pace while still seeing a few hours worth of newer exhibits and recently added pieces of art. Visiting for the first time? You're definitely getting your money's worth! This is probably a spot you don't need to visit too often, as they can only rotate exhibits so frequently, but visiting every year or so will lead to an afternoon well spent!

You can spend all day at the Crocker Art Museum! Wonderful exhibits, pay attention to the layout so you don't get turned around. Quiet atmosphere and many docents were available. Worth the price of admission if you are interested in art!

Membership has its perks. For a mere $65 (really a carton or two of eggs these days), you can explore this incredible art museum all year long. I fondly recall taking school field trips to the Crocker only to be bored out of my mind by pastoral landscapes and 18th century portraiture. Those days are long gone and these days, I marvel at the familiar locations captured by mid 19th century artists - misty mornings of Marin County, pink twilights of Petaluma, the Oak woodlands of Sacramento - so delightfully recognizable and unchanged.I feel so connected to artists that not only saw what I saw, but appreciated the view enough to capture it. Marveling at the old mansion is a fun exhibit all on it's own. We envisioned the artisans who crafted the mansion's doorframes and golden hinges, painted the safe doors and the ceilings. How many times did people ascend and descend that staircase?! It's really an honor to appreciate the hard work of creatives who came before us. As an 80's baby, Ancient Greek and Egyptian cultures are the OG celebrities. Seeing an Egyptian mask almost made me cry, as did the 1st century Greek glass blown bottles and delicately painted Minoan pottery.To be fair, I've been known to shed a tear at a Thiebaud too (that color theory tho!). but this, THIS is my Beyonce sighting. My aunt went to art school in San Francisco in the early 1970s. Her paintings were stark, strange contrasts of figures with cool pastel undertones and harsh jewel toned features. As kids, we were absolutely terrified of her work. But as we walked into Paul Wonner and Theophilius Brown's exhibit, suddenly, all around me were her inspirations! The friendly, blocky shapes of Paul Wonner's male figures and terrifying disheveled quality of Theophilius Brown's contrasting faces told the story of queer expressionism in the 60s and 70s Bay Area. I understood! I understood that this strange and unnerving style was intentional, and learned more about my aunt's creative evolution. Art connects you to people, to places, to the world and the ones you love in unexpected and meaningful ways. If you haven't been lately, do visit the Crocker!s

The Crocker is better than it has ever been before. With new exhibits often and more modern art than in past years. It's a great place to take the kids. Check their website for classes and events. Great place for a couples date or weekend with the family.

Came here for the Unite! Sacramento State Showcase event & had a great time! The museum is very clean, it is a comfortable environment and the staff/docents are so friendly. I appreciated the maps that were available at every kiosk and table and had any questions answered. The Crocker art cafe was well stocked with yummy snacks and meals and I felt things were overpriced, but it is worth it to support the arts! The parking situation was a bit hectic, but it is downtown. I have missed this museum and it's special events, so I am excited I got to come back for one! I look forward to my next visit

Imagine coming to a museum and be told you can't take any photos. Right when we walked in we were told to take no photos because it ruins it for the people if I post on instagram. Just don't come here, there are far other better museums here then this one. Nothing in this museum is worth seeing or worth paying to see .

How has it been that we have visited Sacramento at least 30 times and never visited this great museum? A friend was visiting Sacramento a few weeks ago and went and was telling me about it. We were planning a visit to the city and made this a priority to go. There was plenty of parking around it but it is meter parking spo plan on paying around $4. Cost to get in was very reasonable. It is a pretty big museum so well worth it. I had my mom in a wheel chair and we were able to get around pretty easily. Not really recommended for young children. Not much for them to see but they do have a small kids area downstairs to play. Check this place out!

Jazz night! Every third thursday from may to sept! Great venue outside, bring your chair, food and drinks and enjoy! Always great art work too.

Just the building alone is more than worth the price of admission! A large portion of it was the mansion of Edwin Crocker (whose fortune funded the museum's creation). The museum has many great portraits that are so realistic that the subjects look like they could take a breath and step out into the room. Amazingly skilled portraiture. The museum also has a nice collection of California landscapes which are excellent. And, it has a large collection of modern art (e.g., future landfill). Far too much of the museum's available space is dedicated to ceramics and abstract art. My main criticism is that, unless I am mistaken, the museum has remodeled some portions of the interior of the original mansion. They have apparently covered up the original beautiful, ornate woodwork created in the 1800s, and replaced it with plain wallboard, painted in sterile museum colors. Ick. I realize that most of the museum consists of buildings that are later additions that are not part of the original mansion (or its architectural style). However, it appears that they have even taken sections of the original mansion and covered up the original interiors, deliberately, in order to create plain-Jane rooms with no character to them at all. Just four walls and a ceiling. Ick again. If you have a building that is itself a work of art, cherish it - don't plaster over it. The first rule of handling an artifact is: Do no harm!

Awesome value for location, price, quality and size of collection, and amenities - don't skip it! It's such a ridiculously short walk from Old Sacramento along the beautiful river walk that you just HAVE to go, The Tot Room is amazing for the kids under age 8 or so...art materials at the ready and picture books and stuffies available for the littles. I wish more art museums had a space so brilliant as this.

Really cool art museum and the perfect rainy day activity to do in Sacramento. First time visiting and I enjoyed the Lee Alexander McQueen exhibit. I would suggest visiting on a weekday to find parking out front and no crowds. Overall, great experience and recommend others to check out if local or visiting Sacramento.

This museum was amazing! The staff were all very friendly and knowledgeable. The museum has a large variety of art ranging from different time periods, cultures, and art styles. The building itself is beautiful and overall, it was a great museum. I'm not sure if younger kids would enjoy it as much; I know they have a section for younger children but it was closed when I went.

Better than I expected for what was available in Sacramento. Would go again every time I visit Sac.

Well kept and laid out selection of art from many eras and cultures. My significant other and I were able to stroll through all the exhibits comfortably in about 2-3 hours. There was a very friendly and outgoing security guard working that gave us some good directions on going about our walk through the museum, as well as provide some commentary on it's history. I found the price reasonable and the parking to be easy and cheap.

I really don't know where to start with this place. I had the idea to plan a great day of Sacramento places to see and this place made the cut. Started my adventure in downtown and hopped on a scooter and landed here as my first stop for a day of fun. Hands down one of the best places in Sacramento to spend hours at and still need more time. Having been to this museum at least a dozen times throughout the years I have live in Sac this place never ceases to amaze me with the carefully cultivated collections they house. Have been here twice in the last 3 months both visits showed me a different collection of art. Pictured is only a fraction of the exhibits my partner and I were able to see in the three hours visit and it left us craving for more. Since we took our time to actually see the exhibits and leisurely browsed the exhibits making sure to take the time to carefully look over each piece we missed out on the entire "old" part of the museum; that is the original museum. We will definitely be back and plan to come to Octobers Art Mix to join in on the spooktacular fun. one thing I will mention is I saw that the Crocker allows those with an EBT card to enter for free with up to four people and I think that is AMAZING and inclusive to allow families that may have income limitations to enjoy the arts. So excited to know they patriate in that program and makes me enjoy this space even more. If you are on the fence if you should go this is your sign that all signs to point to yes.

I've lived in New York most of my life and visited many many museums. Crocker Art Museum is definitely a gem in Sacramento. I was very excited to read in the Sactown Magazine that Crocker is hosting an exhibition for Wayne Thiebaud, one of America's most important living artists, in celebration of his 100 birthday (November 15th). Thiebaud lives in Land Park, Sacramento and still paints! How awesome is that? Anyway, I was able to reserve tickets in advance on the Crocker website. It was easy with covid information all spelled out. You need to reserve your time slot and purchase tickets during covid, but I saw a couple was able to purchase tickets at the counter and got in. I guess it depends on the day and time of the week. The museum is cleaned, spacious and simply beautiful. There are restrooms on every floor. I recommend start the viewing on the 3rd floor, Thiebaud's exhibit and work your way down. There is a cool installation in between 1st and 2nd floor staircases. We also visited the shop. They have a whole bunch of cool stuff and gift ideas. Go check it out. FYI...Thiebaud's Four Paintball Machines sold for $19.1 million at Christie's this past July.

Came here with my friends from out of town and brought my camera just to snap a few photos. The security guy (older man) kept following us literally everywhere like we were about to steal something????? I felt soooooo weird that he kept following us, we paid for the entrance. What else do you need? But no, he kept walking everywhere we walked and then I guess he didn't like the fact that I had my camera with me?! So he went and told someone to kick us out with no explanation. I was in there for max 10 mins and paid for nothing. This is beyond unreasonable and will never come back here and I'll tell everyone to not go to this museum so they don't get followed around by a security guy. What a shame.

I just love museums and I haven't been to an art museum is years. So this was definitely a nice treat. First of all, customer service was soooo wonderful when we came in. We were greeted by a very friendly lady and she was very upbeat. It was very inexpensive for two adults and one child, our total was $30. When we called, they recommended that we park in parking lot x if we plan to stay a while. We paid only $5.35 for a Saturday for parking. That allowed us to park all day. We used the app that was provided by the lady on the phone and it was very easy to setup and pay. We walked a very short distance to the Crocker Art Museum and it was a 5-7 minute walk to Old Sac. where we went next. We walked in and it was self guided. During Covid- they were not offering any tour guides. The museum was very clean and wasn't crowded at all. It was easy to get lost, but they had some maps around so we were able to see where we were and where we wanted to navigate to next. We spent hours there. There was so much to look at. We probably would have stayed longer if our daughter wasn't with us. We asked a couple of security guards where certain exhibits were but they said they were new and didn't know their way around.... we found what we were looking for by just wandering around. It was such a great experience to view all the art that were displayed. They had a mix of art that were paintings, pottery, ceramic, wood, China, etc... such an amazing sight to see. Makes you think and ponder what the artist was thinking. There were some not kid friendly pictures and displays. I walked ahead to look first before I allowed my daughter to look. But most of it was fine in my opinion. I would like to come back soon with just adults so we can take our time. It's was very neat!

A gorgeous architectural wonder! This museum started as the Crocker Mansion from the 1800's. You walk into a modern museum all steel and concrete. It is well designed, full of light with an atrium and restaurant. By the time you get halfway through the wide corridors of amazing artwork, you end up in the old Victorian mansion. They seamlessly attached a modern art museum and an old Victorian manor together. The result is so unique and elegant. The manor has incredible woodwork and staircases. You learn the history of the home and the Crockers along with seeing the most amazing art from many periods. This museum is most definitely worth an annual visit.

I have been to this art museum twice, and I enjoyed both visits tremendously. My favorite rooms in the museum are all in the expansion, which was finished in 2010. I love the extensive permanent collection of contemporary art and European art from the time period during which the Crocker family went on their Grand Tour (1869-1871). It is neat to see so many Californian artists from Gold Rush times to contemporary times represented in the gallery. It makes me so happy to see Wayne Thiebaud's dessert paintings, and I learned so much about David Ligare and Chiura Obata when they were the subjects of special exhibitions. If you are reading this review before August 25, I highly encourage you to visit so that you can see the Richard Jackson alleged paintings exhibit. Personally, I find the historic Victorian-style gallery building part of the museum creepy and stuffy, even though I know they do their best to regulate the temperature and to circulate the air. I speedwalk through it so that I can take it in and show respect to the philanthropists whose 19th-century dollars helped to stimulate art and culture in cowtown. Admission is very reasonable: $8 for students and seniors and $12 for adults. The front desk staffperson and gift store employees were very friendly. The gift store has a great selection of art-related souvenirs like postcards and greeting cards and inexpensive art supplies. My taste in jewelry can be described as "the kind of chunky statement pieces one finds in art museum gift shops," and I was not disappointed on my last visit. Why only four stars? The cafe is pretty weak. The event spaces, both indoor and outdoor, are quite boring by contemporary art museum standards. Can y'all get some permanent greenery for the outdoor pavilion? If you are hosting a corporate event or wedding, you most definitely will need to hire a florist to bring in some large pieces. There is only a paltry amount of ancient Asian, African, and Oceanic Art. Nevertheless, I highly recommend spending a few hours in this museum at least once a year. We most recently went on a Saturday afternoon, and I was delighted to see so many people taking in the collections. There were families, young couples on dates, and olds. I saw at least one docent-guided group. Yay art!

Make sure you give yourself a fair amount of time to visit this museum - there's so much to see! It is a bit unassuming from the outside but my husband and I were surprised to find that we were incredibly impressed! We came about 2 hours before closing and felt we didn't have enough time to see everything. We spent too much time in the special exhibit, which was probably our least favorite part of the museum. The museum is full of so many diverse treasures - it really is a feast for your eyes! With all the different art types from different cultures, and ceramics there's something for everyone. Parking was easy and plentiful outside - just make sure you've got the parking app installed for easy payment.

I love Crocker! I've been visiting since I moved to Sacramento in 2017 and it holds so many memories for me. My favorite piece is "The Wallflower". There is so much history in this museum and I learn a little more and discover something new every time I go. Crocker was a staunch abolitionist and I feel good putting my money behind an establishment like this. As long as I live in Sacramento, I'll be visiting Crocker.

Date: 1/22/2019 Time: 10:00 AM 46° Sunny This month's visit by the Mastick Senior Center is to the Crocker Art Museum. The museum was founded in 1885 by Judge Edwin Bryant Crocker, philanthropist, whose interest in art resulted in a European trip in 1869 to 1871. The Crocker not only features California art but also "is renowned for its holdings of master drawings and international ceramics, as well as European, Asian, African, and Oceanic art." (Quoted passage is from the museum's map and guide brochure.) Our group of 51 people was divided into 13 groups and given a guided tour of the museum by docents. The docent in my group was informative and friendly. He shared the history of the artwork that we have seen. Charles Nahl's Sunday Morning in the Mines was interesting. One side of the painting showed a group gambling; the other side, a group of people reading the Bible. There is a moral in that painting. (Think of Aesop's Fables.) The paintings in the historic building were mainly from Dresden, Germany, Belgium, and a few from Holland and France. The Teel Family Pavilion, 3rd Floor, has modern to pop, realism & abstraction and contemporary artwork. My favorite paintings in this section were Wayne Thiebaud's cakes and pies. (Okay, I love looking at foodie paintings and photos.) Our group did not get to see every art display in the museum, as it was approaching lunch time. That was the only disappointment that our guided tour was cut short. I wished we had another 30 to 45 minutes of touring the second floor of the museum, which housed the International Ceramics, the African & Oceanic Art, and the Mexican, Central and South American Art. Hopefully, there will be another visit in the future. I can only say there was so much artwork to see at the Crocker but so little time to do so. However, what I saw was quite enjoyable. Of course, one cannot leave the museum without visiting the museum's gift shop and buying a few items.

It's a nice gallery and showcases different artists and their work. There's a section that doesn't allow for photography. I didn't know that and there was no signs and we weren't told until later. So be warned. There's a few pieces that really stood out to me. Some were silly, others were very intricate, and others made me miss Yosemite. We spent 2 hours here (parking meter) and honestly we ran out of time so we rushed towards the end and didn't really take the time to view the 2nd floor. Give yourself 2.5-3 hours.

Crocker art museum is beautiful and impressive. It is the longest running museum west of the Mississippi; it was established in 1885. That and the recent creation of the new building with its fabulous collections is a phenomenal accomplishment. This museum is definitely worth the price of admission. The multistory building houses a vast collection of art from the permanent collections with at least one touring exhibition. There are European paintings from the 18th century, Native American ceramics, modern paintings and ceramics including works from local legends Thiebaud and Kondos and tons of other stuff. The place is huge. Don't forget to explore the old Crocker mansion as well, they even have exhibits on the first floor/ basement area. The collections and gallery rival that of SF and LA. I love visiting the museum. I never tire of looking at the same paintings...my favorite wing is actually in the mansion, it is the "blue" room with the European masters. Also the Crocker has an event calendar offering art classes ( children and adults), monthly art party, Art tours, discussions, and other events. If you become a member, fees may be waived or reduced. They also offer event venue spaces for rental. They have an auditorium, banquet/conference rooms, kitchen, outdoor plaza, indoor open space and outdoor garden.

Absolutely thrilled to have spent a few hours here. Initially we were coming only to see the Tiffany exhibit. Once inside we were consumed and frankly overwhelmed. Each room, each hallway leads to another and another and another and another....you get it. There's almost TOO much on display. I say that in awe. This "little " museum is anything but little. Not good for young children but anyone over 10 would find something intriguing. Membership for a family level is only $85. 2 people can go as many times as desired for a year. Exhibits are always changing. The staff is great (except the guard in the Tiffany room- large woman made it very uncomfortable, stalking like. Headphones are available at the front desk to listen to extra information on certain pieces. Restrooms are impeccable. Easy parking. An excellent experience for date-day (closes at 5pm). Plan on spending at least 2 hours but really need 3 to appreciate all on display.

The entry fee for a adult is kind of pricey but luckily I was a minor so it was only $6. The museum is actually bigger than I thought it would be. With every hall or pathway leads to another hall and another pathway. It has all kinds of art, from paintings to sculptures and pottery. You get to see some sort of history between each cultures. Highly recommend for a cute date idea or for a fun day with friends.

This is my favorite museum near me! I have a membership and it comes with great perks. There's plenty of spots to sit if you need a break from walking. The bathrooms are always so clean and pristine. The Crocker family were some bad ass people and I love the museum.

I'm so happy the Crocker is open to the public again! You must make reservations ahead of time online and the capacity is very limited. We made our reservations (so easy) and went this past Friday morning. This is one of Sacramento's hidden gems! I think that every time we come here and wonder why we don't come more often. We spent 4.5 hours wandering the hallways and galleries and it was so peaceful and inspiring!! The bonus of limited capacity is that the museum is quiet and not crowded. It's the perfect place for a day date. The cafe is not reopened yet - so eat before you come. Parking is usually plentiful on the street - but expensive. We found a meter right in front. Make a day of it and get some culture and art!

I can't believe i haven't been to the place before. So glad i finally set foot in this place. Something i assumed was going to be an hr visit seriously turned into almost 3 hours. Parking is all over. Easy and close. Entrance is simple you come you pay and you grab a map. Up the stairs we went and goodness there is so much to see it's so worth it. The California history of Indiana was intriguing. The mansion was my favorite part. Everything here is a must see. So do not rush, there is so much to appreciate from oil painting to artifacts it's all there. I didn't know they had activities for kids and tours which was a plus since i now know i can bring my little ones. In some of the studio rooms there are games you cane play as you search for things in the art. I'm so glad i was able to enjoy the art, the history and the structure. This place is a must to visit. Adults $12 I think they have discounts for military and students.

Came to the Crocker Museum to take advantage of BoA's first free weekends promotion. Even if I had to pay the regular $10 admission free, the Crocker collection is nothing short of amazing (and this is from someone who's not even a huge art buff). The galleries are expansive and cover a wide range of arts from sculptures to textiles to more "traditional" paintings and portraits from painters world wide. The eclectic collection also spans centuries worth of history and events that influenced the art of medium of the time. The galleries are wide and at any given time, only about 25-30% of the collection is shown. This may seem like a discounted fact, but allowing each piece of art to have its own space makes the experience that much more immersive. I've definitely been to a few galleries that made me feel more claustrophobic than anything else. I can definitely say that several pieces definitely spoke to me and that I enjoyed my experience. It was a great way to spend a Sunday! Make sure you take advantage of the free tours. They have general ones as well as more focused ones. The docents are all very friendly and each has their own focus for an art style so it's refreshing to listen to different perspectives.

This is a fantastic collection! Not sure what the occasion was but yesterday was free admission so bonus points for that. There are three floors, organized by geo with early California being the biggest collection. I don't love abstract art (nothing personal - it just doesn't move me) and the modern art didn't lean heavy on abstract so I was pleasantly surprised by the diversity of the showrooms. The silent auction is such a cool idea too. Wish I had more time to come back on a weekday and spend more time here.