Life and death, side by side in an endless cycle. This juxtaposition was evident at Sunday’s tour of the Historic City Cemetery where native plants live and thrive amid decaying tombstones of the long dead. In the first “Blooms among the Tombs” walk, landscape architect and gardener Cassandra Nguyen Musto led visitors through the California Native Plant Society demonstration garden. Her talk highlighted the society’s restoration work bringing native plants and beauty to graveyard plots. Not only was it a story of bringing new plant life to the cemetery, but it was also the story of the birth-death-rebirth cycle of the cemetery itself. The original city cemetery was located at Alhambra B

In the coming weeks, the City of Sacramento will be applying for a federal grant of discretionary funds called the Transportation Investments Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER IV.) This grant is being applied for with hopes of using the money for rehabilitation and improvements of facilities of the Sacramento Valley Station building. Although constructed in 1926 with expansive light filled spaces and fine architectural details, decades of neglect are evident. Most of the building’s systems have outlived their useful life, and only 20,000 square feet is currently in use. Proposed upgrades, such as adding heating and air conditioning, elevators, stairs and restrooms will increase usable i

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: The Role of Women on the Frontier” event on Saturday, March 17, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.   During the special event, Fort visitors will quickly realize that emigrant women were not well-to-do Victorian ladies with pretty clothes who lived a life of leisure.  In contrast, simply getting enough hot water to wash their faces in the morning was an effort.  And, pioneer women were vital economic partners in families and many even set up their own businesses selling eggs, milk, or baked goods to neighbors and travelers. In Mexican California

Coinciding with the beginning of Easter week, Old Sacramento officially springs into action for a new season of popular excursion train service on the Sacramento Southern Railroad and coveted Old Sacramento Underground tours that both resume the weekend of Saturday, March 31 and Sunday, April 1 (no foolin’!).  Visitors to Old Sacramento are encouraged to spend the weekend enjoying the various outdoor activities, exploring the historic museums, and making new discoveries along the way. Excursion Train Rides - Start March 31 The California State Railroad Museum’s popular excursion railroad -- the Sacramento Southern Railroad -- officially returns to operation for the 29th consecutive season

The State Indian Museum is proud to offer basket weaving demonstrations by Dixie Rogers on two upcoming Saturdays, March 3, at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.   Mesmerizing to watch and fun to learn, Dixie Rogers is a traditional basket weaver from the Karuk tribe and uses a technique called Closed Half Twist-Twined With Overlay.   She incorporates a number of native California plants into her intricate and original basket creations.  There is no cost for these special demonstrations although regular Museum admission prices do apply.  For more information about this special event or other activities and events happening at the State Indian Museum, visit www.parks.ca.gov/indianmuseum.     About the S

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.  And with spring just around the corner, many of the 28 members of Sacramento Association of Museums (SAM) are proud to showcase a variety of fresh, spring-related events and activities in March, including: “Bloomin’ Crazy Plant Fest” at The Sacramento Zoo - March 3 For one-day only from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., visitors to the Sacramento Zoo will have the unique opportunity to visit with local gardening clubs and plant experts who wi

The California State Railroad Museum, in collaboration with the Center for Railroad Photography & Art, will debut a visually-enticing new photo exhibit titled Steam: An Enduring Legacy, the Railroad Photographs of Joel Jensen on Friday, March 9, 2012.  To help kick-off this exciting exhibit, Joel Jensen will deliver two special presentations in the Railroad Museum Theater on Sunday, March 11, at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., each to be followed by book signing opportunities. Showcasing 50 dramatic black-and-white images, the exhibit features a selection of railroad photographs taken and published in a new book of the same name by the famed railroad photographer.  Visitors to the Railroad Museum wil

Every time I visit the Railyards it’s as if the earth there itself is churning, a breathing organism. Soil is moved, smoothed over and relocated again. Ditches are dug, tunnels are built and pathways begin to take some semblance. Because I come to the site every few months or so, it’s a surprise every time. The tunnels, which are taking shape for future pedestrians stand now as cold, hard bored out portions of the ground. Aluminum scaffolding peppers the inside, creating a metal web of sorts for workers. In the future, they may be bustling veins with foot traffic and the sounds of the masses. Rail signals have also sprouted between the 5th and 6th Street Bridges, waiting for their trains

Get your taste buds ready!  With a focus on locally grown foods from the North Valley, the third annual California Nut Festival is scheduled for Saturday, April 21, 2012, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.  Each year, this popular culinary event showcases plentiful gourmet food offerings, wine and beer sampling, nut-inspired cooking demonstrations, live musical entertainment on two outdoor stages, an inspiring art show featuring talented local artists and much, much more.  Tickets go on sale March 1 for the 2012 California Nut Festival that takes place outdoors on the historic grounds of the Patrick Ranch Museum in Chico, California. Locally grown nuts such as almonds, walnuts, pecans and pistachios

In celebration of Black History Month, the California State Railroad Museum is proud to present two special guest presentations and book signing opportunities with Professor Theodore Kornweibel, Jr., author of Railroads in the African American Experience: A Photographic Journey.    After 30 years of research and work in the field of black history, Kornweibel will share his thoughts and findings during two special illustrated presentations on Saturday, February 18, at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., each to be followed by book signing opportunities.  His photographic book is a captivating, illustrated tour of the black railroad experience from slavery to Amtrak. It includes nearly 200 compelling image

After a record-breaking attendance of more than 115,000 visitors last year, 28 Sacramento area museums will offer free or half-priced admission all day on Saturday, February 4, 2012, during the 14th Annual Sacramento Museum Day.  New this year, 26 of the 28 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.  This hugely popular community event is presented by the Sacramento Association of Museums (SAM) and proudly supported by Umpqua Bank. Sacramento Museum event hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (with the last guests admitted at 4 p.m.).

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 2012 to help communicate the West’s fascinating heritage of railroading and the California Gold Rush.  The volunteer orientation will begin on Saturday, February 25, but interested volunteers must apply and be interviewed in advance. Volunteer applications are being accepted now through Monday, February 6.  Community members are encouraged to get involved in this worthwhile program that offers an opport

Launching an exciting new season of interactive and fun “Hands on History” activities, Sutter’s Fort State Historic Park presents a special “Hands on History: Trappers, Trades, and Treaties” event on Saturday, January 21, 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.  Docents will treat Fort visitors to musket demonstrations and share examples of many fascinating aspects in the life of a trapper.  Fort visitors will have the hands-on opportunity to examine fur pelts, create documents with a quil

After a record-breaking attendance of more than 115,000 visitors last year, 28 Sacramento area museums will offer free or half-priced admission all day on Saturday, February 4, 2012, during the 14th Annual Sacramento Museum Day.  New this year, 26 of the 28 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.  This hugely popular community event is presented by the Sacramento Association of Museums (SAM) and proudly supported by Umpqua Bank. Sacramento Museum event hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (with the last guests admitted at 4 p.m.).

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.  With 28 active partners, the Sacramento Association of Museums (SAM) is proud to showcase a variety of uplifting special events, activities and exhibits in January, including: “California Hall of Fame” Exhibit at The California Museum -- through October 31, 2012 Honoring individuals from the Golden State who have made their own mark on history and the world, the new exhibit features the personal artifacts of the 2011 Californi

Step back in time to holidays past with festive, hands-on activities such as stringing popcorn and cranberries, candle dipping and crafting paper cut-out ornaments when Sutter’s Fort State Historic Park presents “Hands on History: A Simple Emigrant Christmas” on Saturday, December 10 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.   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 1840s.  For instance, docents will help demonstrate and share holiday traditions from  Germany, Scandinavia, Mexican California, England, and Russia.  In fact, S

Get ready to experience lavishly re-created period décor, an impressive array of live holiday music and captivating storytellers during two upcoming special “Christmas Memories” events at the Governor’s Mansion State Historic Park on Saturday, December 3 & 10 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 M

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, visitors to the State Capitol will enjoy free holiday music daily from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. December 1 through 23, 2011.  Beautiful vintage decorations create a lovely backdrop for a variety of diverse and amazing live holiday musical performances in the Capitol Rotunda each day.  Visitors will enjoy 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, a youth violinist, a number of talented school cho

Widely known as North America’s most popular railroad museum, the California State Railroad Museum has exciting plans to dazzle, delight and engage post-Thanksgiving visitors with a special “Small Train Holiday” focus on November 25 and 26.  Expanded holiday offerings inside the Museum include fun interpretive handcar rides, crowd pleasing scale models and toy train displays, story time with Mrs. Claus, period-appropriate holiday decor and much more. In addition to these new activities, the “Small Train Holiday” focus includes other fun favorites such as amazing scale models and toy train layouts on display throughout the Museum, a Polar Express model train running on the “Small Wonders”

In celebration of the Veteran’s Day holiday, the Sacramento History Museum is offering FREE Museum admission for military personnel and their families on Friday, November 11.  In addition, and with an expanded holiday schedule, discounted Old Sacramento Underground tours are available on Friday, November 11, for military personnel as well as for their entire families.  To receive free Museum admission and/or discounted underground tours, military personnel must present a valid military ID. With visually exciting and educational exhibits and artifacts on display plus interactive offerings and special hands-on activities on weekends, the Sacramento History Museum offers visitors a chance to