Visitors to the California State Capitol Museum now have the opportunity to experience a vibrant new exhibit titled “Contemporary Native American Art” that showcases baskets, jewelry, sculptures and paintings created by various tribal artists that embrace the Native culture and heritage.  In addition to intricate art pieces and hand-crafted artifacts, this special exhibit includes contemporary paintings created by Native artists that serve to tell a story and honor Native tradition.  The “Contemporary Native American Art” exhibit showcases approximately 20 pieces of Native California art and is the result of a collaborative effort by the California State Capitol Museum, California State Pa

Continuing a popular series of interactive and fun “Hands on History” activities, Sutter’s Fort State Historic Park will present a special “Hands on History: By Land and By Sea” event on Saturday, Feb. 16, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Through exciting demonstrations and fun hands-on activities, docents will help Fort visitors understand the two different ways emigrants originally came to California -- by land or by sea -- while sharing the unique challenges they faced and what daily life was like during their journeys. As an event highlight, the Mexican-American war fife and drum corps will be visiting Sutter’s Fort SHP to take part in special activities that include a visually-exciting flag ra

A record 30 Sacramento area museums will offer free or half-priced admission all day on Saturday, February 2, 2013, during the 15th Annual Sacramento Museum Day. Twenty-eight of the 30 museums will offer free admission whereas two destinations located in residential areas – the Sacramento Zoo and Fairytale Town – will offer half-priced admission to offset parking control and security costs. Sacramento Museum Day event hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (with the last guests admitted at 4 p.m.). Sacramento Museum Day, a popular Sacramento cultural tradition, is designed to encourage all members of the community to experience the Capital City’s incredible wealth of art, history, science and wildli

Fascinated by railroading history? Interested in working on a train? Enjoy working with visitors, children and school groups? The California State Railroad Museum and Old Sacramento State Historic Park (SHP) are now recruiting adults (18 or older) who are interested in volunteering in early 2013 to help communicate the West’s fascinating heritage of railroading and the California Gold Rush.  The volunteer orientation will begin on Monday, February 11, but interested volunteers must apply and be interviewed in advance. Volunteer applications are being accepted now through Monday, February 4.  Community members are encouraged to get involved in this worthwhile program that offers an opportun

As part of a special and continuing interactive program, Sutter’s Fort State Historic Park will present a special “Hands on History: Trappers, Trades, and Treaties” event this Saturday, January 19, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visitors to the Fort will step back in time to the 1840s to learn why trappers were considered “jacks of many trades” and experience how they lived, worked, explored new territory and traded with local Native Americans. Fort visitors will enjoy watching docent-led musket demonstrations and learn about many fascinating aspects in the life of a trapper. Fort visitors will also have the hands-on opportunity to examine fur pelts, create documents with a quill pen and oak gall

One hundred and fifty years ago – on January 8, 1863 – California Governor Leland Stanford turned a ceremonial shovelful of earth near the intersection of Front and K Streets in what we today know as Old Sacramento. This marked the starting point for the Central Pacific Railroad, one of two companies that together would construct America’s first transcontinental railroad.  To commemorate the inception of one of the United States’ most significant accomplishments, the California State Railroad Museum will debut a new sign at Front and K Streets on Tuesday, January 8, 2013, at 12:30 p.m. Following the sign unveiling, the nearby California State Railroad Museum will offer an afternoon of spe

Following a popular tradition 13 years in the making, visitors to Old Sacramento will be treated to a free New Year’s Eve celebration along the historic waterfront.  Prior to the two dazzling firework shows scheduled to light up the night sky at 9 p.m. and midnight, the festive community event also features live music, food and drink vendors and a variety of live entertainment all evening from 6 p.m. to 12:30 a.m.  There will be kid-friendly entertainment provided under the tent in the early evening at Waterfront Park stage followed up later by a crowd-pleasing 70’s and 80’s cover band. The free celebratory evening activities are produced by the Sacramento Convention & Visitors Bureau and

As part of a special exhibition debuting on Saturday, December 8, the California State Railroad Museum is proud to showcase award-winning photographs from the prestigious Center for Railroad Photography & Art’s 2012 Creative Photography Awards Program.     With an impressive number of entries submitted by photographers from all over the world, the theme of the 2012 competition was “Railroading, Inspired by Steinheimer” in honor of the legendary photographer Richard Steinheimer.  Before he passed away in 2011, Steinheimer left a lasting legacy in railroad photography with a focus on both creative and documentary styles. The Grand Prize in the Center’s 2012 Creative Photography Awards Progr

In addition to its fascinating Gold Rush past, the Sacramento area is rich with an amazing array of state-of-the-art museums and historic sites that offer visitors the chance to explore California’s fine art, history, science, and wildlife treasures all year long.  In December, many of the 30 members of Sacramento Association of Museums (SAM) are celebrating the holidays with special events and activities, including: Holiday Music Program at the California State Capitol Museum - Through December 23 Get ready for some holiday fun on your next visit to the California State Capitol Museum in December!   To set a festive stage and spread holiday cheer, beautiful vintage decorations create a

Get ready to experience lavishly re-created period décor and an impressive array of live holiday music during two upcoming special “Christmas Memories” events at the Governor’s Mansion State Historic Park on December 8 & 15 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Surrounded by docents in period costume, Mansion visitors will be transported back in time to the very place where thirteen of California’s early governors and their families lived, spent Christmas seasons and shared holiday traditions.  In fact, then-Governor Edmund G. Brown and his family were the last first-family to celebrate Christmas in the stately mansion.  And, to add to the festive activities, Mr. and Mrs. Claus will make special visits

To help get Fort visitors in a festive holiday spirit, Sutter’s Fort State Historic Park (SHP) has two interactive and fun “Hands on History” events scheduled on one very special day in December!  Throughout the day on Saturday, December 8, Fort visitors will step back in time to holidays past with festive, hands-on activities such as dipping candles, making cornhusk dolls and crafting holiday ornaments as part of special “A Simple Emigrant Christmas” activities.   Friends and families are encouraged to visit the Fort to enjoy docents in period attire as they interpret and demonstrate a variety of early holiday traditions and cultural activities similar to what early emigrants did in the

Get ready for some holiday fun on your next visit to the California State Capitol Museum!   To set a festive stage and spread holiday cheer, beautiful vintage decorations create a lovely backdrop for a variety of diverse and amazing live holiday musical performances in the Capitol Rotunda each day from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on December 1-23 (with the exception of December 3).  Visitors will enjoy free live musical entertainment that includes a Salvation Army brass quintet, a Cal-Trans choir (made up of a spirited group of state workers), trombone jazz, world and baroque music, bell-ringers, a harp circle, youth violinists, a number of talented school choirs and many more. This special holiday

In the winter of 1846-1847, wagon travel across the Sierra Nevada was a dangerous proposition and more than 80 emigrants became trapped in the Sierra snow.  Of course we know them as the Donner Party, but the travelers included individuals and many different families. Did you know that the snowbound emigrants lived in two separate camps almost five miles apart? Sutter’s Fort was their destination and became their only hope of survival.  Today, the Sutter’s Fort Collection is the largest repository of original source Donner Party material in existence and the iconic Patty Reed doll – a national treasure -- will be back on permanent display just in time for this special “Hands on History: T

Originally established in 1839 and known today as a popular tourist destination, Sutter’s Fort State Historic Park (SHP) will soon offer exciting new enhancements to delight Fort guests from near and far -- including the iconic Patty Reed doll that is going back on public display beginning November 15, 2012.  A series of recently completed enhancements are designed to enrich the visitor experience and assist in the interpretation and educational efforts of the Fort.  In addition to a newly reconstructed ticketing kiosk that guests will experience when they first arrive, a few of the key recent developments include the following: “One Fort, Many Views” Orientation Gallery & Exhibit – Open

Looking for something fun and unique to do with friends and relatives this holiday season?  Look no further than Old Sacramento where you are invited to take a family-friendly Old Sacramento Underground Tour!  It’s not too late to plan a special outing given an expanded schedule Thanksgiving weekend plus an extended tour season that continues through the first two weekends in December!  Hidden beneath the city for nearly 150 years, Old Sacramento’s underground has long been the capital’s best-kept secret.  Today, visitors have the unique opportunity to uncover the facts behind the legends that lie below historic buildings and sidewalks. For these hour-long guided walking tours, guests sho

In addition to its fascinating Gold Rush past, the Sacramento area is rich with an amazing array of state-of-the-art museums and historic sites that offer visitors the chance to explore California’s fine art, history, science, and wildlife treasures all year long.  In November, many of the 30 members of Sacramento Association of Museums (SAM) are honoring our veterans and historic past with special events and activities, including: Civil War Tour at the Historic City Cemetery - November 10 Find out why Sacramento’s Historic City Cemetery is truly home of the brave. Visitors to the “Country Divided, City United: Sacramento's Involvement in the Civil War” free tour will learn how Sacrament

In honor of Native American Heritage Month happening this November, the State Indian Museum is offering a series of special events and activities each weekend that celebrate and share the lasting heritage, traditions and contributions of Native Americans with the local community.  In fact, the State Indian Museum will offer notable Basket Weaving Demonstrations, a compelling Native Literature Showcase, hands-on Traditional Skills Workshops and an always-popular Arts & Crafts Holiday Fair.  All Native American Heritage Month activities happening in November at the State Indian Museum are provided free with regular admission.   California Indian Basket Weaving Demonstrations -- Saturday, Nov

In honor of “Day of the Dead” activities celebrated each year in Mexico and in major cities around the world, Sol Collective and the Historic Old Sacramento Foundation have teamed up to present a series of Dia De Los Muertos/“Souls of the City” events and activities in Old Sacramento that culminate on November 2 & 3, 2012.   The annual tradition -- a national holiday in Mexico – is showcased by friends and families building elaborate altars to honor loved ones who have died then gathering in remembrance and celebration.  After a series of community workshops and special activities that were held throughout October, the community is invited to a free Traditional Altar & Velacion Ceremony

If you’re looking for fun, family-friendly alternatives to trick-or-treating this Halloween, consider visiting the Governor’s Mansion State Historic Park (SHP) for two evenings only -- Friday, October 26 & Saturday, October 27 from 6 to 9 p.m.   Special “Mansion After Dark” activities -- coordinated by the Governor’s Mansion docents -- will take place upstairs in the historic Mansion that offer a spooky good time with scary music to set the mood, dim lighting, fortune tellers, darkened rooms and even “coffin corners.”  Proceeds go to the California State Historic Governor’s Mansion Foundation in support of the Governor’s Mansion SHP.  For more information about this family-friendly Hallowe

Calling all country music fans and history enthusiasts…this Thursday evening beginning at 7 p.m., the Center for Sacramento History -- in collaboration with the Sacramento History Foundation and the Crocker Art Museum -- proudly presents OPEN COUNTRY, a live cinema presentation by Glenda and Jesse Drew that includes live music performances by local honky-tonk favorites The Alkali Flats. The engaging special live cinema presentation offers a challenging and provocative look at California’s country music, that is vastly different than in other parts of the United States. OPEN COUNTRY also examines the social, political and historical roots of country music through the unearthing of archival