Sacramento Valley Museum facts for kids
Sacramento Valley Museum when it was still the Williams High School
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| Established | 1963 |
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| Location | 1491 E St, Williams, California 95987 |
| Type | History museum |
| Collection size | 19th to 20th century exhibits |
Welcome to the Sacramento Valley Museum! This cool place is in Williams, California, a small town in Colusa County. It's right in the middle of the beautiful Sacramento Valley in northern California.
The museum is all about showing off the history of the Sacramento Valley. You can see old photos, amazing artifacts (which are old objects made by people), cool fabrics and quilts, old papers, and even vintage newspapers. It's like a time machine that takes you back to see how people lived long ago!
Contents
Discovering the Museum's Past
From School to Museum: A New Beginning
The building where the Sacramento Valley Museum now stands has a long history. It was built in 1911 and used to be the Williams Union High School. Lots of students graduated from this school until 1956, when a new high school was built.
Some famous people went to this old school! For example, Turk Murphy, a jazz musician, was a student here. Kenneth Zumwalt, who was the editor of the Stars and Stripes newspaper during World War II, also attended. Plus, the Fouch family, who were pharmacists, served the Williams community for over 100 years!
After the new school opened, the old building sat empty for six years. But then, people living in the Sacramento Valley decided to save it.
Bringing the Museum to Life
On August 15, 1962, an architect named Alvin Fingado checked out the old school building. He wanted to see what needed fixing to make it usable again. He found that the roof and skylight needed repairs. The electrical wires, heating system, and plumbing also needed attention.
Mr. Fingado thought it would cost about $20,000 to $25,000 to fix everything. But he also said it would cost much less if volunteers helped and people donated money. In February 1964, Lulu Salter, who was the president of the Sacramento Valley Museum Association, said, "Our building has huge possibilities... we just need people and money."
The museum actually opened before all the repairs were finished! In February 1963, a local newspaper called The Williams Farmer wrote that it was rare to see so many people working together as volunteers. From 1962 to 1964, many groups of volunteers worked hard. They fixed up the building and put together the first exhibits.
The first board members of the Sacramento Valley Museum Association wanted to get people excited about the new museum. So, they opened it for visitors in March 1963. This was less than a year after the architect said how much work was needed! The museum stayed open for six months, then closed again for more big repairs. It officially opened its doors in June 1964. Besides showing historical items, the museum also had art exhibits and a special room for art classes for the community.
Plan Your Visit
When to Explore the Museum
The Sacramento Valley Museum is open from March through October. You can visit on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The museum is closed during the winter months, from November through February.
It's usually free to get in! However, if you're coming with a big group or need a special visit, there might be a small fee.
Supporting the Museum
The Sacramento Valley Museum is a non-profit organization. This means it doesn't make money for owners. Instead, it relies on gifts from families, individuals, and companies. These donations help the museum keep running. They also help preserve old items, create new exhibits, and host special events. Your support helps keep history alive!
