California State Military Museum facts for kids
| Established | 1991 |
|---|---|
| Location | Sacramento, California |
| Type | Military museum |
| Owner | California Military Department |
The California State Military Museum was once the official military museum for the state of California. It was located in the Old Sacramento State Historic Park in Sacramento, California. The museum aimed to teach people about the important roles Californians played in the United States military.
The museum closed in 2014 due to disagreements and budget issues. A new location was being planned, and it was hoped to reopen by 2024. As of 2025, updates on its reopening are still awaited.
Contents
How the Museum Started
The idea for the museum began in 1991. This was when Pete Wilson was the governor of California. Eleven years later, Governor Gray Davis made it a permanent museum. This meant it received regular funding from the California State Military Department.
On July 13, 2004, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger officially named it the State's Military Museum. This made it the main place to learn about California's military history.
What You Could See at the Museum
The museum showed how people and military groups from California helped the U.S. military. It covered many different military actions and wars. In 2011, the museum worked with other groups to create special exhibits. These exhibits focused on different military units and their stories.
Other Museum Locations
Besides its main spot in Sacramento, the museum had five smaller locations. These "satellite museums" were at different military bases. You could find them at Camp Roberts, Camp San Luis Obispo, and the Fresno Air National Guard Base. There were also locations at the Los Alamitos Joint Forces Training Base and the National Guard Armory in San Diego.
Honoring Heroes: The Wall of Honor
The California State Military Museum created a special memorial. It was called the "Global War on Terrorism Wall of Honor." This wall was made of black granite and was at the museum's entrance. It honored Californians who lost their lives in the Global War on Terrorism.
The wall listed the names of service members who died since September 11, 2001. This included those from the attack on the Pentagon and the campaigns in Afghanistan and Iraq. Each name included their rank, military branch, and age.
The Major General Walter P. Story Memorial Library
The museum also had a large library named after Major General Walter P. Story. This library held many books and documents about military history. It was one of the best collections in the western United States.
With over 10,000 books, the library was a hidden treasure for learning. It had everything from general military history to unique documents. For example, it kept original lists of members from early California Militia groups.
Why the Museum Closed
In March 2014, the California State Military Museum closed its doors. This happened because of disagreements between the non-profit group running it and the California Military Department. State budget problems also contributed to the museum's closure.
See also
