California State Capitol Museum

The California State Capitol Museum is a museum located around the California State Capitol in Sacramento, California, USA. Since 1869, the building has housed the California State Legislature. Since 1982, the State Capitol Museum has been a part of the California State Parks system.

The Capitol Museum

Despite its status as a museum, the Capitol Museum's heart is located in the basement and first floor of the original part of the structure. The tourist office (B-27) is located in the basement, along with a tiny theatre that shows numerous short films on the Capitol's history, a gift store, and Arthur Mathews' mural "California History." The reconstructed historic offices of the Secretary of State, Treasurer of State, and Governor of California, as well as two rotating exhibit rooms, may be found on the first level.

Capitol Hill Park

In the neighbouring Capitol Park, there are 40 acres (16 ha) of gardens with trees and shrubs from all over the world. The park has roughly 1140 trees (excluding bushes) representing almost 200 different varieties of trees.There are also roughly 155 memorials commemorating key events and persons in California, as well as other sites of interest on the grounds. Only a few are included here, sorted by section and then by north (L Street) to south (N Street) within each section, roughly from west to east (9th Street to 15th Street):

Between 9th and 10th Avenues:

The Earl Warren Walk, named after the former Governor and Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court, follows the path he used on his walks from the Capitol to the Sutter House.El Soldado Tribute to Mexican American Soldiers of WWII, commissioned by the Sociedad de Madres Mexicana's, Gold Star mothers.

The California Peace Officers' Memorial honors officers who have died in the line of duty while also commemorating those who have been left behind.

Between the tenth and eleventh streets:

The Capitol Complex is a California Registered Historical Landmark No. 872.

The Great Seal of California, made in bronze and installed on the west steps in 1952, was followed in 2002 by the Native American and Spanish-Mexican Commemorative seals.

The Capitol Cornerstone, at the north entrance, was installed in 1978 to replace the earlier cornerstone from 1861.

The Apollo 14 Moon Tree, established as a seedling in 1976, sprang from a seed carried by command module pilot Stuart Roosa during the 1971 mission.

The Sisters of Mercy Memorial honours the religious order that arrived in Sacramento in 1857 to care for miners' children and help the sick and poor. The property they bought for a school eventually became the location of the Capitol.

The September 11 Memorial, which includes a plaque and three rose plants, was erected one year after the attacks.

The California Civil War Veterans plaque, placed at the east gate, was dedicated to California Civil War veterans in 1963.

The United States Coast and Geodetic Survey Marker, which was installed in 1888, is situated at 38°34'35"N 121°29'33"W.

Senator Capitol Kitty Memorial, honouring Capitol Park's favourite feline occupant.

Hours

Weekdays: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Weekends are CLOSED.

Visitors are welcome to enter through the North and South Entrances.