Sacramento History Museum | Sacramento

The Sacramento History Museum is a deeply immersive and educational institution that tells the story of California’s capital city, from its Native American heritage through the tumultuous Gold Rush and into the 20th century. Situated in the heart of Old Sacramento, the museum not only preserves artifacts but brings history to life through hands-on exhibits, living history programs, and guided tours.

Overview

Location: 101 I Street, Sacramento, CA 95814

Setting: Located in Old Sacramento State Historic Park, the building is a near-exact replica of the 1854 City Hall and Waterworks Building.

Focus: The museum centers on Sacramento’s history, but also expands into regional and state history with a strong emphasis on 19th-century life, innovation, and transformation.

Building: The museum's brick façade reflects mid-19th-century architecture, aligning with the look and feel of the Gold Rush district it inhabits.

Permanent Exhibits

Gold Rush Sacramento

Displays on miners, merchants, transportation, and the explosion of economic and population growth following the 1848 gold discovery at Sutter’s Mill.

Period artifacts: gold pans, tools, clothing, and personal diaries.

Interactive elements allow visitors to try their hand at “panning for gold.”

Print Shop

A fully functioning 19th-century printing press operated by costumed interpreters.

Demonstrations showcase how newspapers, pamphlets, and posters were printed.

The museum has gained viral fame on social media (notably TikTok) through humorous, informative printing videos.

Native Peoples of the Region: “Mómtim Péwinan – River People”

Curated by the Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians.

Offers insights into life before European-American settlement.

Exhibits include regalia, basketry, hunting tools, and cultural practices linked to the Sacramento River ecosystem.

Early Sacramento

Chronicles the city’s struggles and triumphs including major floods, fires, and disease outbreaks.

Features maps, models, and artifacts that show how the city evolved and how it physically raised its streets to survive flood seasons.

Temporary & Rotating Exhibits

America’s Monsters, Superheroes, and Villains (through early 2025)

Features over 400 toys, comics, posters, and action figures from the 20th century.

Highlights how pop culture icons such as Superman, Wonder Woman, and Dracula reflect American values and fears.

Earthquakes to Epidemics

Explores how disasters have shaped California’s communities and public policy.

Includes original documents, survival kits, and interactive displays on historic and modern responses to crises.

Tours & Experiences

Old Sacramento Underground Tours

One of the museum’s signature experiences.

Visitors descend below street level to explore foundations of the original city before it was raised in the 1860s and 1870s to escape constant flooding.

Tours last about one hour, led by costumed docents and often include museum admission.

Includes historical stories of engineering, community struggle, and architectural adaptation.

After-Hours Adult Tours

These themed evening tours cover Sacramento’s seamier past, including topics such as gambling, saloons, red-light districts, and prohibition.

Often humorous and PG-13 in tone, aimed at adult audiences.

Ghost Tours & Paranormal Investigations

Seasonal (usually around Halloween), these tours are based on historical events and ghost stories tied to documented hauntings.

Includes the opportunity to use basic paranormal investigation tools like EMF meters.

Educational Programs

School and Group Programs

Offers curriculum-aligned tours and activities for students from grade school to college.

Emphasis on hands-on learning, including print shop activities and history scavenger hunts.

Family Events

The museum hosts family days, craft workshops, and living history demonstrations throughout the year.

Characters from Sacramento’s past—such as newspaper editors, miners, and pioneers—appear in full costume.

Accessibility and Amenities

ADA Accessible with elevators, ramps, and restrooms.

Museum Store offers books, historic maps, toys, and Gold Rush-themed memorabilia.

Restrooms and drinking fountains on site.

Parking available at nearby public garages (Old Sacramento Garage and Tower Bridge Garage) and metered street spots.

Free admission for museum members, tribal members, and Museums for All participants (with EBT or equivalent documentation).

Cultural and Civic Role

The Sacramento History Museum serves not only as a depository of artifacts but as an active community center for historical engagement. Through partnerships with local Native American tribes, schools, and historical organizations, the museum fosters an inclusive view of Sacramento’s evolution. It functions as both a family-friendly attraction and a respected scholarly resource.

The museum is ideal for those who want a vivid, tangible look into the forces that shaped Sacramento and the West Coast—blending archaeological finds, human stories, and technological advancements into a dynamic educational journey.