California State Indian Museum facts for kids
Quick facts for kids California State Indian Museum |
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California State Indian Museum entrance
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| Location | 2618 K Street, Sacramento, California, U.S. |
| Built | June 23, 1914 |
| Governing body | California Department of Parks and Recreation |
| Designated | August 17, 1990 |
| Reference no. | 991 |
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The California State Indian Museum is a special place in Sacramento, California. It is part of the California state park system. This museum teaches visitors about the many different cultures of California's first people. These are the indigenous peoples of California, also known as Native Americans.
The museum is located at 2618 K Street in Midtown Sacramento. It shows traditional items from the past. Before European explorers arrived, over 500,000 Native people lived in California. They belonged to more than 150 different tribal groups. These groups spoke at least 64 different languages!
Contents
Discovering California's Native Cultures
The State Indian Museum first opened its doors in 1940. You can find it right next to Sutter's Fort in Sacramento. The museum's exhibits focus on three main parts of California Indian life. These themes are Nature, Spirit, and Family.
Native peoples lived well in California for thousands of years. The museum shares their stories with respect. It honors those who lived on this land long ago. It also celebrates Native communities living in California today.
Amazing Items on Display
The museum has many cool items from California Indian cultures. You can see traditional baskets, some of which are tiny! There's also a large dugout canoe made from a redwood tree. You can also see special ceremonial clothes and beautiful beadwork.
The museum also displays tools for hunting and fishing. Some of these tools are over 2,400 years old! Imagine using tools from so long ago.
The Story of Ishi
One important exhibit tells the story of Ishi. He is believed to be the last survivor of the Yahi tribe. His story helps us understand how Native cultures changed. It shows how life was different when new people arrived in California. The exhibit helps us learn about adapting to new ways of life.
Hands-On Learning
Many Native people have shared family photos with the museum. There is a special wall honoring California Elders. These are respected older members of the community.
The museum also has a fun hands-on area. Here, you can try out Indian tools yourself. You can use a pump drill, which was used to make holes in shell beads. You can also try a mortar and pestle. This tool was used for grinding acorns, a very important food.
See Also
- List of California state parks
- Gorman Museum of Native American Art
