Museums in Sacramento, California will certainly change naysayers’ minds that mark a museum as ‘boring’. It is time to think again because nowadays, museums lure both children and adults with state-of-art, interactive components. You can have fun and be fascinated by a new exploration of history, culture, art, population, and many more aspects! So, check out this list of the 8 best museums throughout Sacramento with unique, inspiring, and enlightening presentations.
California Museum for the best history of California State
California State Railroad Museum for the world’s largest rail route galleries
Crocker Art Museum for the best fine art and culture
Sacramento History Museum for exploring the underground city in the Gold Rush period
SMUD Museum of Science and Curiosity for discovering the marvels of science
California State Capitol Museum for historic offices of the governor and legislature
State Indian Museum for the best Indian exploring
California Automobile Museum for history & technology of automobile
The best museums in Sacramento provide a time machine to let you travel back in time when Sacramento was the heart of the Golden Rush era. With a rich and great history, its design and architecture are pieces of art. Whether you want to uncover the gems of Sacramento or learn about contemporary ones, these marvellous collections are well worth your while!
Inspiring the future with California’s past and present, California Museum is a place to learn vital history of the state especially the culture, arts, innovation and tragic stories of injustice in America including racism, sexism, and discrimination. Children and parents can interact with an enormous video wall telling a story of immigrants’ adaptation to live in California.
The highlight is the Hall of Fame where you can find autobiographies of famous people in California like Walt Disney, The Warner Brothers, Theodor Geisel, Steve Jobs, Bruce Lee, Tiger Wood to name a few. In addition, compelling temporary exhibitions are held diversely, so that you will never experience monotonous things!
Address: 1020 O St, Sacramento, CA 95814, United States
Opening Hours: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM, Sunday 12:00 - 5:00 PM, Monday - Closed
Type: The State History Museum
Website: California Museum
“Our Lives Are Made of Railroad Stories” Sacramento played an important part in the development of the railway system. The first transcontinental railroad's final station in the western United States was Sacramento. California State Railroad Museum is one of the museums in Sacramento that excites both kids and adults with actual size of reestablished trains and interiors transporting visitors back in time.
Moreover, the museum is considered one of the world’s largest rail route galleries where you can hop on the operated train and learn how railways affected their commerce and travelling. For children, there is a toy containing a mini version of trains and people to joyfully look at.
Address: 125 I St, Sacramento, CA 95814, United States
Opening Hours: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Type: Railroad Museum
Website: California State Railroad Museum | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Opened its door in 1885, Crocker Art Museum is one of the oldest world-class museums in California. Aesthetes or art enthusiasts should not miss the museum at all costs since it is a hub of fine art and culture offering globally famous works and masterpieces with deep meaning dating from the Gold Rush to the present that you can digest from every angle. So, stroll around and be amazed by international ceramics, Asia, Africa, and California art, and European drawing. The best part is its rotating exhibits presenting a nostalgic perspective on life.
Bringing people together and connecting them unexpectedly with art, ideas and the world, the expanded part of the museum includes a sizable library, auditorium, community galleries and public gathering places.
Address: 216 O St, Sacramento, CA 95814, United States
Opening Hours: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM, Thursday 10:00 AM – 9:00 PM, Monday & Tuesday - Closed
Type: Art Museum
Website: Crocker Art Museum
A modern link to the past, Sacramento History Museum is a real hidden gem with access to the underground city abandoned 152 years ago due to the water level. This is worth a visit if you want to learn more about Sacramento's role in the Gold Rush period. Its structure duplicated the City Hall in 1854 featuring $500,000 worth of genuine gold bars. Want to steal ones? You will get a personal retro poster that reads "Wanted".
Thousands of historical artefacts can be found at the museum, as well as several hands-on activity stations for your kids. The combination of demonstrations and interactive programmes will help you discover the past, present, and future. Plus, guided tours for horror fans and alcoholics are available here.
Address: 101 I St, Sacramento, CA 95814, United States
Opening Hours: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Type: The City History Museum
Website: Sacramento History Museum
A kid-friendly science museum, SMUD Museum of Science and Curiosity inspires people of all ages by several interactive exhibits that you can touch and programming that allow you to discover the global and local marvels of science, arts, maths, technology, and engineering. The not-to-be-miss spot is the fabulous planetariums screening outer space, galaxies, stars, and even time travelling, not to mention the popular ‘Nature Detective’, an interactive gallery with countless animals. Even though the MOSAC is not immense, it is packed with joy, especially for children.
Address: 400 Jibboom St, Sacramento, CA 95811, United States
Opening Hours: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM, Saturday & Sunday 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Type: Science Museum
Website: SMUD Museum of Science and Curiosity | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter
California State Capitol Museum houses both the seat of California's Government and a history museum. Its size and grandeur will lower your jaw because the museum is one of the biggest museums in Sacramento covering more than 12 blocks. A wide array of pictures, artworks, furniture from different historical times educate visitors about America’s history. First of all, you should stop by the building's central rotunda designed in Roman style with a golden dome. Sometimes, guests can observe the debate between lawmakers.
After appreciating the memorable artefacts, take a walk down the tremendous Capitol Park consisting of memorials to momentous events in California such as a life-sized statue of Junipero Serra, a Civil War Memorial Grove, and the California Veterans Memorial.
Address: 1315 10th St, Sacramento, CA 95814, United States
Opening Hours: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM, Sunday & Saturday - Closed
Type: History Museum
Website: California State Capitol Museum | Instagram | Twitter | Youtube
The best way to explore Indians, native residents’ rich culture and architecture is to visit the State Indian Museum. It not only tells the story of the state's first habitants before the arrival of the Spanish and explorers but also shows Indian remarkable cultural items and works of art like woven buckets and redwood canoe from 14,000 years ago. You can feel more involved in the culture by listening to ‘The Lost West from the Yahi Tribe — the theory of California’s history and a chronicle of people who maintained the natural environment.
Furthermore, find out the people of today, their dwellings, and how they live in California in the twenty-first century or meet them at Native Craft Fair where modern basketry, paintings, and jewellery are sold.
Address: 2618 K St, Sacramento, CA 95816, United States
Opening Hours: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Type: History Museum
Website: State Indian Museum
Celebrating the impact of the History, Art & Technology of the Automobile on California culture, California Automobile Museum is an ideal place for families. More than 130 cars of varied years, brands, and models completely draw your attention whether you are motorheads or do not know anything. A wide collection of retro, strange, modern, and even fun models such as Batmobile, Star Streak 1971, and Mustang Boss 302 are another thrilling feature. Apart from those pleasure to the eyes, you can learn how to tune-up a car.
A surprise here is that you can buy your new vehicle from the museum and enjoy a free ride on every third Sunday of the month with endless choices of beautiful cars. There is nothing better than exploring its streets in downtown Sacramento to appreciate the history!
Address: 2200 Front St, Sacramento, CA 95818, United States
Opening Hours: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Type: Automobile Museum
Website: California Automobile Museum | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram