Oakland Museum of California facts for kids
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| Established | 1969 |
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| Location | 1000 Oak St, Oakland, CA 94607 |
| Type | Art, History, Natural Science |
| Public transit access |  Lake Merritt |
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| Designated: | 1995 |
| Reference #: | 119 |
The Oakland Museum of California, or OMCA, is a special museum in Oakland, California. It's all about the art, history, and natural science of California. The museum has over 1.8 million items! These items help tell the amazing story of California. You can find it at 1000 Oak Street.
Contents
How the Museum Started
The OMCA opened in 1969. It was created by joining three smaller museums in the area. These were the Oakland Public Museum, the Oakland Art Gallery, and the Snow Museum of Natural History.
The idea to combine them began in 1954. The groups wanted to bring their collections together. In 1961, people voted to approve money for the new museum. This money helped build the OMCA campus near Lake Merritt.
When it started, the museum wanted to be a "people's museum." This meant it aimed to show the many different communities in Oakland. This idea was important because of the Civil rights movement happening in the 1960s. The museum wanted to be a place for everyone.
The first director, Jim Holliday, wanted to include community members in decisions. He suggested forming a special committee. This idea caused some disagreement, and he left before the museum opened. But his efforts led to important changes.
Later, the museum hired a local artist named Ben Hazard. He worked with the community to create the Cultural and Ethnic Affairs Guild. This group helped plan events and formed committees based on different cultures. These groups still help shape how the museum works today.
The Museum Building
The museum building is a great example of modern architecture. It was designed by Kevin Roche and Dan Kiley. The building blends indoor and outdoor spaces. It has three main levels. Each level focuses on a different collection: art, history, or natural science.
There are also galleries for temporary exhibits. You can find an auditorium, a restaurant, and other areas too. Outside, there are terraced roof gardens and patios. You can also see outdoor sculptures, a big lawn, and a koi pond.
Between 2009 and 2013, the museum had a big makeover. The art and history galleries were updated first. Then the natural science gallery and education areas were improved. These changes helped make the museum even better for visitors. The museum also plans to update its outdoor areas. This will make it easier to connect with the neighborhood.
What You Can See: Collections
The OMCA has huge collections that tell California's story.
California Art
The museum has over 70,000 pieces of California art and design. These artworks were created from the mid-1800s until today. You can see paintings by famous artists like Albert Bierstadt and Wayne Thiebaud. The museum also has many photos. It holds the personal collection of Dorothea Lange, a very important photographer. Her collection includes thousands of photos and notes.
On the museum's rooftop, you can see a large yellow sculpture. It's a peace sign called "Big Peace IV" by Tony Labat.
Craftsman Movement Art
The museum has a special collection from the American Craftsman movement. This includes paintings and decorative items. A large part of this collection is by Arthur Frank Mathews and his wife Lucia Kleinhans Mathews. The museum has over 500 of their paintings, drawings, and furniture. It also keeps their notes and sketches.
California History
More than 1.8 million items show California's history. These items cover everything from before Europeans arrived to the 21st century. Some of the strongest collections include:
- Photographs
- Native Californian baskets
- Items from the California Gold Rush
- Things related to California's technology, farming, and daily life.
The Native Californian basket collection has about 2,500 baskets. They come from different parts of California and different cultures. One special basket was made in 2010 by Ohlone artist Linda Yamane.
California Natural Sciences
This collection shows why California is a "biodiversity hotspot." This means it has a huge variety of plants and animals. The museum has over 100,000 specimens. These include:
- Over 10,000 insect specimens
- More than 5,000 shells
- Over 2,000 bird and mammal study skins
- Thousands of bird eggs
- Many plant specimens
- Collections of reptiles, amphibians, fish, and other creatures.
Museums Before OMCA
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The Oakland Public Museum opened in 1910. It was in the Camron-Stanford House. Its first curator, Charles P. Wilcomb, collected items about Native Americans and early settlers.
The Oakland Art Gallery opened in 1916. It was part of the Oakland Public Museum at first.
The Snow Museum of Natural History opened in 1922. It was in the Cutting mansion, also near Lake Merritt.
Even though OMCA focuses on California, it still has some older items from outside the state. These are "legacy" pieces from the original museums. For example, there's a collection of snuff bottles and a carved jade pagoda.
See also
In Spanish: Oakland Museum of California para niños
