California Museum Executive Director Amanda Meeker Set to Retire

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — January 16, 2026: California Museum Executive Director Amanda Meeker announced that she will retire in the summer of 2026, after more than a decade in the role and 28 years of service to the Museum. A respected cultural leader, Meeker has dedicated her career to advancing the Museum’s mission to educate people about California’s rich history, diversity, and culture.

During her tenure, Meeker has played a central role in solidifying the California Museum’s position as a trusted civic institution—expanding its reach, modernizing its exhibitions, strengthening its public-facing programs, and deepening its commitment to inclusive, community-centered storytelling. Under her leadership, the Museum has become known for elevating underrepresented histories and tackling contemporary issues shaping California today.

“Amanda has been pivotal in establishing the Museum’s identity as a center of storytelling representative of the diverse people and cultures that make up the Golden State,” said Anne Marie Petrie, Chair of the California Museum Board of Trustees. “Her passion for public education and her steady leadership has advanced the Museum’s ability to share knowledge, spark dialogue, and inspire civic engagement.”

Meeker joined the then-Golden State Museum as its first official employee ahead of its opening in 1998, after having supported its development as a student intern. From the start, she helped shape the Museum’s vision, developing exhibitions and programs that reflected California’s complex social, political, and cultural history. Since being appointed executive director in 2015, she has guided the Museum through a period of unprecedented growth and change, increasing its relevance to the communities it serves.

Throughout her career, Meeker has been known for her collaborative leadership style, fostering strong partnerships with educators, community organizations, artists, scholars, and civic leaders across the state. Her work has reinforced the Museum’s role as a place of historical storytelling and as a dynamic forum for public engagement.

“It has been a privilege to steward the California Museum’s mission over the years, working alongside dedicated staff, board members, educators, and community partners who believe in the power of history to inform and inspire positive change,” Meeker reflected. “The Museum’s strength comes from the people whose stories it uplifts, and I’m confident it will continue to grow as a space where Californians see themselves reflected for generations to come.”

The California Museum Board of Trustees has engaged executive search partner Isaacson Miller to help identify Meeker’s successor—someone who will build on her legacy while leading the institution into its next chapter.

“Amanda’s retirement marks the close of a remarkable career. The Board expresses its deep appreciation for her vision and integrity that helped define who we are today,” Petrie remarked. “Her legacy of leadership will continue to inspire those who follow her footsteps in maintaining the museum’s mission. But most of all she will be missed for her kindness and incredible capacity to care for all of us here and her community.”

As she prepares for retirement, Meeker looks forward to traveling and pursuing personal projects, while remaining an advocate for museums and public history.

ABOUT THE CALIFORNIA MUSEUM:

The California Museum—home of the California Hall of Fame—focuses on the state’s rich history, its diversity and its unique influence on the world of ideas, innovation, art and culture. Through interactive experiences, the Museum inspires visitors to make a mark on history. Located at 1020 O Street in the March Fong Eu Secretary of State complex, the Museum is open Tuesday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. General admission is $8-$10. Plan a visit at californiamuseum.org