CapRadio: Local museums to participate in Free Museum Weekend

Keyshawn Davis, CapRadio
February 19, 2025

For the 27th consecutive year, the public will have the opportunity to access art, history and culture in some of the region’s most popular museums for free. 

More than 20 local museums including the Crocker Art Museum, Aerospace Museum of California and Sojourner Truth African Heritage Museum will participate in Free Museum Weekend on March 1-2, 2025. 

According to a press release, advanced registration is required, and capacity will be limited for each museum.

Nearly 30,000 tickets will be available across all participating museums, and the number will vary by museum and day. 

The general public can register for free tickets on Monday, February 24, beginning at 9 a.m., until all tickets are gone. According to the release, to make the event more accessible to the underserved community, pre-selected nonprofit organizations will have access to tickets mid-February.

All participating museums will be open both days at 10 a.m., and the last entry will be one hour before the museum closes. 

The California Museum is one of the museums that people can visit for the free weekend. The museum has participated in the event since it was offered in February 1999, according to Executive Director Amanda Meeker. 

Admission to the California Museum is usually $10 for adults 18 years or older. Meeker said in an email that Free Museum Weekend fulfills its commitment to making its exhibits accessible to people of all income levels.

“This weekend raises awareness of the many museums that make Sacramento such a rich cultural hub and provides an opportunity for visitors to sample museums they may not have visited previously,” Meeker said. “It allows people who might find admission fees a deterrent to enjoy all that Sacramento museums have to offer.” 

According to the California Museum’s Director of Marketing and Communications Danielle Wood, the museum will have 900 tickets available on Saturday, March 1, and 700 on Sunday, March 2.

Wood said in an email visitors will be able to see signature exhibits including, The Unity Center, Gold Mountain: Chinese Californian Stories, Uprooted: An American Story, Women Inspire: California Women Changing Our World, Our War Too: Women in Service and more!

“We encourage visitors to kick off Women’s History Month during Free Museum Weekend at the California Museum!” Wood said. 

Additional museums participating include the California State Library, Locke Boarding House Museum, Sacramento Children’s Museum, State Indian Museum, Sutter’s Fort State Historic Park, Sacramento History Museum, and others.