January – March 2026 Exhibitions & Events

JANUARY

TIME OF REMEMBRANCE VOLUNTEER OPEN HOUSE
1/15/26

The California Museum is seeking volunteers to assist with Time of Remembrance, the popular field trip program offered at the Museum for eight weeks each winter. Focused on the wrongful incarceration of Japanese Americans during WWII, the program introduces young audiences to the concepts of citizenship, constitutionality and redress and teaches them about the importance of standing up for their rights and the rights of others. You don’t need to be a camp survivor or descendant to participate— we welcome volunteers of all backgrounds to serve as group leaders, classroom presenters, and tour guides. Volunteers must have daytime availability during the school week. For more information, visit CaliforniaMuseum.org/TOR-Volunteer.

BEHIND BARBED WIRE: A TIME OF REMEMBRANCE EVENT                                                                          
1/17/26

For the first time ever, the California Museum is offering visitors of all ages a chance to experience our powerful Time of Remembrance student program at this special weekend event. Tailored for general audiences, Behind Barbed Wire will examine the wrongful incarceration of Japanese Americans during WWII through historical context and impactful personal stories from camp survivors and their descendants. Attendees will enjoy a guided tour of “Uprooted: An American Story” and a seminar presentation providing a deep look at life before, during, and after the incarceration, allowing participants to connect individual experiences to broader themes of justice, constitutional rights, and resilience. This event is sold out. Learn more at CaliforniaMuseum.org/Behind-Barbed-Wire.

TIME OF REMEMBRANCE FIELD TRIP PROGRAM
1/26/26 – 3/20/26

Exploring citizenship, constitutionality and redress, the annual Time of Remembrance field trip program brings a pivotal chapter of history to life for students through the first-hand accounts of Japanese American docents who experienced life behind barbed wire during WWII. The program includes a guided tour of “Uprooted: An American Story,” an interactive classroom program, plus lesson plans, digital artifact kit and follow-up activities related to current issues. For more information, visit CaliforniaMuseum.org/TOR.

EXPLORING SACRAMENTO’S LOST JAPANTOWN (MEMBER-ONLY WALKING TOURS)
1/24/26

In conjunction with the return of the California Museum’s “Kokoro: The Story of Sacramento’s Lost Japantown” exhibit, Preservation Sacramento president and local historian William Burg will lead two free member-exclusive walking tours, offering members of both organizations an opportunity to discover a vital chapter of Sacramento’s history. Each 90-minute tour explores the history of Sacramento’s former eight-block Japantown, which once housed over 200 Japanese American homes, businesses and organizations before its mid-century destruction. Participants will visit key sites and view historic photographs to reflect on the community’s resilience and the impact of redevelopment. California Museum members can receive their discount code and registration link by emailing membership@californiamuseum.org.

FEBRUARY

BLACK HISTORY MONTH SELF-GUIDED TOUR                                                        
2/1/26 – 2/28/26

Throughout February, the California Museum presents a self-guided Black History Month Tour—refreshed with new tour stops—highlighting African American contributions to California’s rich history. Focusing on themes of resilience, activism, democracy and community, this exploration of our signature and temporary exhibits highlights notable Black individuals, movements and organizations. The tour is designed for visitors of all ages to explore the Museum at their own pace. Digital and print maps with markers highlighting focal points are available with paid Museum admission. A digital copy of the map will be available by February 1 at CaliforniaMuseum.org/BlackHistory.

WHERE THEY WALKED: BLACK HISTORY WALKING TOUR (MUSEUM MEMBERS ONLY)
2/7/26

Step into Sacramento’s Black history with an exclusive free, Museum members-only walking tour through Sacramento’s central city, highlighting prominent African American families and individuals who helped build community in the city’s earliest Black neighborhoods during the 19th and 20th centuries. The tour will focus on the historic M Street corridor (now Capitol Avenue) and nearby streets, examining how redevelopment and the construction of Interstate 5 erased key cultural and historical sites. Members can reserve a spot for themselves and a guest by emailing membership@californiamuseum.org.

THE IREICHŌ: BOOK OF NAMES
2/14/26 – 2/19/26

The California Museum is honored to host The Ireichō: Book of Names, a monumental record honoring the 125,284 persons of Japanese ancestry unjustly incarcerated in U.S. government-run camps during World War II. This special installation from February 14 – 19, 2026, presented in partnership with the Japanese American National Museum and The Irei Project, is a rare opportunity for the community to engage with this profound work. This rare installation gives the public an opportunity to view the book and add a personal stamp of remembrance (reservations to stamp are now full). Each mark contributes to the project’s goal of honoring every name in the book during its 20-month national tour, which includes stops at each of the 10 former War Relocation Authority incarceration camps. The Sacramento stop, which will include an opening ceremony at Walerga, serves to represent the 15 temporary Assembly Centers. Reservations are now full. Learn more at CaliforniaMuseum.org/Ireicho.

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA TIME OF REMEMBRANCE CEREMONY
2/14/26

Presented by the Northern California Time of Remembrance Committee in partnership with the California Museum, this annual ceremony supports the Time of Remembrance field trip program. This year’s event, “Preserving History,” features Naomi Ostwald Kawamura, executive director of Densho, a Seattle-based nonprofit and digital archive that preserves and shares the history of Japanese American wartime incarceration to promote equity and justice today. Also presenting is Duncan Ryuken Williams, the founder of the Ireichō Project, a national monument that will be onsite at the Museum during the program. Learn more or purchase tickets at CaliforniaMuseum.org/NCTOR.

MARCH

WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH ADMISSION SPECIAL
3/1/26 – 3/31/26

Get two admissions for the price of one when you bring a guest to explore women’s history at the California Museum in March! Start by visiting the “Women Inspire” exhibit, then explore the rest of the Museum together (Hint: Inspiring women can be found in every exhibit!). Enter code WOMEN26 when you book advance tickets or mention Women’s History Month Special at admission. Additional details will be posted by March 1 at CaliforniaMuseum.org/visit/special-offers-promotions.

FREE MUSEUM WEEKEND
3/7/26 – 3/8/26

The California Museum is collaborating with Sacramento Area Museums to present a FREE museum experience on Saturday, March 7 and Sunday, March 8. Whether you’re a first-time or long-time California Museum visitor, we look forward to welcoming you to our signature exhibits and current temporary exhibit, “Kokoro: The Story of Sacramento’s Lost Japantown.” Registration is recommended to guarantee admission , but both registered and non-registered visitors can receive free admission on both days, subject to building capacity limits. Additional details will be posted by February 18 at CaliforniaMuseum.org/Events.

19TH ANNUAL CALIFORNIA HALL OF FAME ARTIFACT EXHIBITION
TO BE ANNOUNCED

Featuring artifacts and ephemera on loan from inductees’ personal collections, this temporary exhibition will explore the lives and legacies of inductees in the 19th class of the California Hall of Fame, inspiring visitors to make their own mark on history. For more information on the California Hall of Fame, visit CAHallofFame.org.

ONGOING PROGRAMS

BANK OF AMERICA MUSEUMS ON US® FREE ADMISSION
1st weekend of every month

Free admission for all current Bank of America®, Merrill Lynch® and U.S. Trust® cardholders through Museums On Us® with valid photo ID. For more information, visit https://californiamuseum.org/visit/special-offers-promotions/museums-on-us-free-admission/.

FIELD TRIPS                                                                                                                                                                          
THROUGH SPRING 2026 

The California Museum is now booking seven unique in-person and online field trip experiences to inspire and educate students on California’s rich and diverse history and culture during the 2025-26 school year. Bring learning to life with a one-of-a-kind interactive learning experience, aligned with state standards. To learn more about each experience and how to book, visit californiamuseum.org/visit/field-trips-groups/.

DOCENT ON DUTY

Join docent Steve Sasaki in “Uprooted: An American Story” or docent Doreen Wong in “Gold Mountain: Chinese Californian Stories” at designated times. Steve shares his family’s experiences of life in the incarceration camps and returning home after WWII, while Doreen dives into military history and her upbringing as a Chinese Californian. Their tours are free with the price of Museum admission. View the current Docent on Duty schedule at https://californiamuseum.org/visit/events-public-programs/docent-on-duty/.

FOURTH FRIDAYS

The California Museum invites all current California state employees to visit for free on the fourth Friday of each month from 12p.m.-3 p.m. Free admission will be provided to the first 100 state employees with a current state employee ID badge who visit the Museum during the 12-3 p.m. Fourth Friday timeframe. Walk-in only. Offer does not apply to advance ticket purchases. For more information, visit https://californiamuseum.org/visit/special-offers-promotions/fourth-fridays/.

MUSEUMS FOR ALL

Organized by the Institute of Museum and Library Services, this branded access program encourages individuals of all backgrounds to visit museums regularly and build lifelong museum habits. Those receiving food assistance benefits can gain reduced $2 admission for themselves and up to three guests by presenting their SNAP EBT (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Electronic Benefit Transfer) card. For more information, visit https://californiamuseum.org/visit/special-offers-promotions/museums-for-all-low-income-access/.

TEMPORARY EXHIBITIONS

“KOKORO: THE STORY OF SACRAMENTO’S LOST JAPANTOWN”                         
12/20/25 – 3/29/26

The California Museum is pleased to announce the return of “Kokoro: The Story of Sacramento’s Lost Japantown,” an exhibition that first appeared at the California Museum in 2017 and remains one of our most beloved and impactful. Featuring rare family photographs drawn from the personal collections of community members, the exhibit documents the memories at the heart of a once-thriving downtown community devastated first by forced removal during WWII and again by redevelopment in the 1950s. Returning visitors can once again walk through the history and heart of this vanished neighborhood, while those experiencing it for the first time will discover a vital chapter of our city’s past—now enriched with additional rare photographs and artifacts from family collections. For more information, visit CaliforniaMuseum.org/Japantown.

CONTINUING EXHIBITIONS

18TH ANNUAL CALIFORNIA HALL OF FAME ARTIFACT EXHIBITION                                                      

Explore the lives and legacies of the 18th class of California Hall of Fame in an all-new artifact exhibit featuring photos and memorabilia on loan from inductees’ personal collections. Inductees in this first all-women inductee class are Julia Child, Vicki Manalo Draves, Ina Donna Coolbrith, Tina Turner, Mitsuye Endo, Dian Fossey, Alice Piper. Learn more or plan a visit at californiamuseum.org/california-hall-of-fame/18th-class/

“CALIFORNIA INDIANS: THE FIRST PEOPLE”  

Initially developed under the direction of a Native Advisory Council in 2011, “California Indians: The First People” is the only exhibit of its kind in the state to present the unique contributions of California’s Native Peoples in their own voice. Through artifacts, original art, oral histories and an interactive language kiosk, the exhibit chronicles the histories and cultural legacies of over 100 tribes. Highlights include the Chipped Stone Bear, California’s official prehistoric artifact; baskets woven by Native artists; and a fur cape owned by Ishi. For details, visit https://californiamuseum.org/exhibitions/signature/california-indians/.

 “CALIFORNIA MISSIONS: A JOURNEY ALONG THE EL CAMINO REAL”     

Designed to correspond with State standards for 4th grade students, this exhibit includes rare artifacts from Missions across the state, such as iron tools handmade at Mission Santa Barbara, a marriage registry document written by Father Junípero Serra, an 1893 painting of Mission San Luis Rey on an original tile from that mission and more. In addition, oral history brings this pivotal chapter of history into the present through the modern perspective of Andrew A. Galvan, the first Native curator of Mission Dolores in San Francisco. For details, visit https://californiamuseum.org/exhibitions/signature/california-missions/.

“GOLD MOUNTAIN: CHINESE CALIFORNIAN STORIES”                                              

Discover the overlooked but significant history and contributions of Chinese Californians from the Gold Rush to the present in “Gold Mountain: Chinese California Stories.” This ongoing exhibit explores the history of Chinese immigrants who came to California in search of a better life and helped build the modern state while triumphing over racism and other obstacles with ingenuity and perseverance. In their stories, visitors will see the contributions Chinese Americans have made to our state’s economy, governance and culture. For more information, go to https://californiamuseum.org/exhibitions/signature/gold-mountain/. 

“HEALTH HAPPENS HERE”                                                                                               

Learn how and why your zip code determines how long and how well you live in the multimedia exhibit “Health Happens Here.” Discover what Californians are doing to build health in communities across the state in this interactive journey through all the places and all the ways health happens in California. Through a series of high-tech games and interactive stations, visitors explore key factors that affect health beyond traditional diet and exercise while earning points that can be donated to one of 10 charities to make health happen for all Californians. Winner of the American Alliance of Museum’s “Excellence In Exhibition” award, visit https://californiamuseum.org/exhibitions/signature/health-happens-here/ for more information.

UNITY CENTER AT CALIFORNIA MUSEUM                                                                     

Initiated in 1999 in response to a series of Northern California hate crimes and launched in 2017, the Unity Center at the California Museum celebrates the state’s diverse people, customs and cultures. Featuring multimedia exhibits exploring significant chapters of California’s civil rights history and a state-of-the-art classroom, the interactive 4,000 sq. ft. gallery encourages visitors to find common ground while embracing their own individuality. Through advocacy tools and engaging educational programs, visitors are empowered to be Unity Activists, exercising their rights and standing up for the rights of others – regardless of belief, background, identity or gender. For details, visit https://californiamuseum.org/exhibitions/signature/unity-center/.

“UPROOTED: AN AMERICAN STORY”

Reopened in 2023, this fully rebuilt, technology-enhanced signature exhibit focuses on the mass incarceration of Japanese Americans during WWII and explores how they responded to their forced removal and incarceration, ranging from quiet endurance to heroic valor to conscientious resistance. The exhibit also highlights Japanese Americans’ ongoing efforts to ensure no other groups experience similar civil rights violations. All-new interactive displays, and never-before-exhibited artifacts from survivors supplement visitor favorites from the previous installation including a video introduction by George Takei and a replica barracks and guard tower. New features include a theater experience and an AI-based component allowing visitors to hold virtual conversations with three incarceration survivors. For details, visit https://californiamuseum.org/exhibitions/signature/uprooted/.

“WOMEN INSPIRE: CALIFORNIA WOMEN CHANGING OUR WORLD”                                                                                              

Developed in collaboration with California First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom and a statewide advisory council of historians, this long-term signature exhibit features the stories of Golden State women from the 1700s to present who inspire change and reflection on the ongoing struggle for equality. For more information, visit https://californiamuseum.org/exhibitions/signature/women-inspire/.