California State Capitol Museum facts for kids
Quick facts for kids California State Capitol Museum |
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A statue of the California state animal, California grizzly bear, inside of the California State Capitol Museum
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 California State Capitol Museum
Location in California
California State Capitol Museum
Location in the United States
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| Location | Sacramento County, California, USA |
| Nearest city | Sacramento, California |
| Area | 40 acres (16 ha) |
| Established | 1982 |
| Governing body | California Department of Parks and Recreation |
The California State Capitol Museum is a cool place to visit in Sacramento, California. It's made up of a museum inside the California State Capitol building and the beautiful gardens around it. This building has been where the California State Legislature meets since 1869. The museum became part of the California State Parks system in 1982.
Contents
Exploring the Capitol Museum
The entire Capitol building can feel like a museum. However, the main parts of the Capitol Museum are in the basement and on the first floor of the original building.
What You'll Find Inside
- In the basement, you can find the tour office. There's also a small theater that shows short films about the Capitol's history. You can visit the gift shop too. Don't miss the large mural called "History of California" by Arthur Frank Mathews.
- On the first floor, you can explore restored historic offices. These include the offices of the Secretary of State, the Treasurer, and the Governor of California. There are also two rooms with changing exhibits.
The Columbus Statue
From 1883 to 2020, a marble statue called "Columbus' Last Appeal to Queen Isabella" was in the center of the rotunda. This statue was created by Larkin Mead. It was a gift to California from a banker named Darius Ogden Mills. In June 2020, leaders from the California Senate and Assembly decided to remove the statue. They said it was because of the harmful impact Columbus's arrival had on native people. The statue was removed on July 7, 2020.
Discovering Capitol Park
Around the Capitol building, there are 40 acres (about 16 hectares) of beautiful gardens. This area is called Capitol Park. It has trees and shrubs from all over the world. There are about 1,140 trees in the park, with over 200 different types!
The park also has about 155 memorials. These honor important events and people connected to California. Here are some of the interesting spots you can find:
Memorials and Landmarks
- Earl Warren Walk: This path is named after Earl Warren, who was a Governor and later a Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. It marks the route he often walked from the Capitol.
- El Soldado Tribute: This memorial honors Mexican American soldiers who served in World War II.
- California Peace Officer's Memorial: This honors police officers who have died while doing their job.
- Great Seal of California: You can see a large bronze copy of the Great Seal of the State of California at the west steps. It was placed there in 1952.
- Apollo 14 Moon Tree: This tree was planted in 1976. It grew from a seed that traveled to the moon with astronaut Stuart Roosa during the 1971 Apollo 14 mission!
- Sisters of Mercy Memorial: This honors a group of religious sisters who came to Sacramento in 1857. They cared for children, the sick, and the homeless. The land they bought for a school eventually became the site of the Capitol.
- September 11 Memorial: This memorial includes a plaque and three rose bushes. It was dedicated on the first anniversary of the September 11 attacks.
- Senator Capitol Kitty Memorial: This remembers a beloved cat who lived in Capitol Park.
- Pioneer Camellia Grove: Created in 1942, this garden honors the early settlers of Sacramento.
- Junípero Serra Statue: There's a life-sized statue of Junipero Serra, a Roman Catholic missionary from Spain. He helped colonize California. The base of the statue has a map showing California's 21 missions.
- El Camino Real Commemorative Bell: This bell celebrates the original bells placed along the historic El Camino Real route in 1906.
- Civil War Memorial Grove: This grove of trees was planted in 1897. The saplings came from famous Civil War battlefields.
- Reverend Thomas Starr King Memorial: This memorial honors Thomas Starr King. His statue used to represent California in the U.S. Capitol.
- Spanish War Veterans Memorial: This statue is often called "The Hiker" because of the uniform it shows.
- USS California Bell: You can see a ship's bell from the USS California. This battleship was sunk at Pearl Harbor. It was later raised, repaired, and returned to the fleet.
- Liberty Bell Reproduction: This is one of 53 copies of the Liberty Bell made in 1953.
- World War I Memorial Trees: These trees were planted in 1921 to remember the first California soldier who died in World War I.
- California Firefighters Memorial: This memorial honors firefighters who have died while on duty.
- California Veterans Memorial: This tall granite monument honors California veterans from many wars. These include the Mexican–American War, Civil War, Spanish–American War, World War I, World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and the Persian Gulf War.
- Purple Heart Monument: Near the Veterans Memorial, this monument honors veterans who were killed, wounded, or disabled in combat.
- California Vietnam Veterans Memorial: This memorial has life-sized bronze figures of service members. It shows military life in Vietnam and lists the names of Californians killed or missing in action.
- World Peace Rose Garden: This beautiful garden has about 650 roses. There are over 140 different types of roses with many colors and smells.
- California Native Plant Section: Created in 1911, this part of the park has plants that are native to California.
Images for kids
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Reconstitution of the office of the California Secretary of State in November 1902
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A bell from USS California is on display at the California State Capitol Museum.
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A reproduction of the Liberty Bell is on display at the California State Capitol Museum
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The inscription, which reads, in part: "Dedicated to you, a free citizen in a free land .... In standing before this symbol, you have the opportunity to dedicate yourself, as did our founding fathers, to the principles of the individual freedom for which our nation stands."
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A statue honoring those who served in the Spanish–American War
