Sacramento History Museum facts for kids
The Sacramento History Museum is a cool place in Sacramento, California. It helps you learn about Sacramento's past and the exciting California Gold Rush. You can find it in the Old Sacramento State Historic Park, right by the Sacramento River. It's located between the famous Tower Bridge and the I Street Bridge.
Sacramento History Museum entrance
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| Former name | Sacramento History Center Discovery Museum Gold Rush History Center |
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| Established | 1985 |
| Location | 101 I Street, Sacramento, California, United States |
| Type | Historical museum |
Contents
A Look Back: Museum History
The museum first opened in 1985. Back then, it was called the Sacramento History Center. Its goal was to show off old items and records. These came from the Sacramento Archives and Museum Collection Center.
In 1993, something new happened. The Sacramento History Center joined with the Sacramento Science Center. Together, they became the Sacramento Museum of History, Science, and Technology. This new museum ran two locations. The one in Old Sacramento focused on history. It was renamed the "Discovery Museum Gold Rush History Center."
In 2008, the history and science parts separated. The museum became the Sacramento History Museum. It is now managed by the City and County of Sacramento. A group called the Sacramento History Alliance also helps run it. This group works hard to save Sacramento's history.
The Museum Building: A Historic Look
The museum building looks like Sacramento's first City Hall. That original building was built in 1854. The museum building is made of natural brick. It has two stories with large double doors at the front. Inside, there are 7,000 square feet of space for exhibits. It even has a historic print shop!
The original City Hall was Sacramento's very first city building. Construction started in 1853. It cost a lot of money back then, about $120,000. This building held many city offices. It had the mayor's office, a city jail, and a court. City offices used the building until 1909. The original building was torn down in 1913. Only a small part of the old jail remains today.
What You Can See: Museum Exhibits
The museum has many interesting exhibits. You can learn about the Gold Rush and mining. There are also displays about the Nisenan and Maidu Indian Nations. Other topics include fur trapping and farming. You can also explore Sacramento's cultural heritage. Many items on display come from the Center for Sacramento History. This center keeps the city's old records and objects.
The Amazing Print Shop
One of the coolest parts is the working print shop. It has old printing presses that still work! In 2020, the museum closed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. To stay in touch with people, they started a TikTok account.
Videos of a volunteer named Howard Hatch became super popular. He showed how to use the printing presses. As of March 2024, the museum's YouTube channel has over 2.88 million followers. It has also had over one billion views! Their TikTok account also has more than 2.7 million followers.
Fun Activities: Museum Programs
The Sacramento History Alliance and the museum offer tours of Old Sacramento. One popular tour is the "Old Sacramento Underground." This tour shows how the city was raised up. This happened after floods destroyed many buildings in the 1860s and 1870s. It's a great way to see how the city changed!
See Also
