October – December 2021 Exhibits & Events

OCTOBER

BANK OF AMERICA MUSEUMS ON US® FREE ADMISSION
10/2 & 10/3/21

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/mou-2021.  

DÍA DE LOS MUERTOS 2021:
ESPÍRITUS CREATIVOS DE CALIFORNIA
10/2 – 11/7/21

Celebrating the state’s spirit of creativity, “Día de Los Muertos 2021: Espíritus Creativos de California” (“Day of the Dead 2021: Creative Spirits of California”) honors innovative Californians through original works by California artists Roberta Alvarado, Francisco Franco, John Hancock and Juan Ramos of John Juan Art, John S. Huerta and Rob-O of I Love Sugar Skulls. A journey through life, love and death, the exhibition explores the Mexican cultural tradition of honoring deceased loved ones each year on November 1 and 2, which has evolved from the Aztecs to modern-day Mexico and California. Members of the public are also invited to celebrate a lost loved one in the adjacent Community Altar. For details, go to https://californiamuseum.org/dia-de-los-muertos-2021.

14TH ANNUAL CALIFORNIA HALL OF FAME VIRTUAL INDUCTION
10/12/21

Watch Governor Gavin Newsom and First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom announce and induct a new class of inductees during the California Hall of Fame Virtual Induction at 7 pm on Tues., Oct. 12, 2021. Tune into this free webcast to learn who will be inducted next as streamed on the California Museum’s YouTube channel at https://youtu.be/mKWvv-u9QX0. The California Hall of Fame celebrates Californians whose achievements have made history and changed the state, the nation and the world. Launched in 2006, the program serves as the Museum’s annual gala and the premise of on-site and online exhibitions inspiring visitors to make a mark on history. Learn more at https://bit.ly/cahalloffame.

14TH ANNUAL CALIFORNIA HALL OF FAME ONLINE EXHIBITION
10/12/21

Explore the lives and legacies of the 14th class of the California Hall of Fame in this all-new online exhibition launching at 7:30 p.m. on Tues., Oct. 12, 2021, at https://www.cahalloffame.org. The California Hall of Fame celebrates Californians whose achievements have made history and changed the state, the nation and the world. Launched in 2006, the program serves as the Museum’s annual gala and the premise of on-site and online exhibitions inspiring visitors to make a mark on history. Learn more at https://bit.ly/cahalloffame.

DÍA DE LOS MUERTOS FIESTA AT HOME
10/21/21

Celebrate the opening of the Museum’s newest exhibition “Día de los Muertos 2021: Espíritus Creativos de California” at the Fiesta at Home on Thurs., Oct. 21, 2021. Festivities from 5 to 6 p.m. include a panel discussion with exhibit artists Roberta Alvarado, Francisco Franco, John Hancock and Juan Ramos of John Juan Art, John S. Huerta and Rob-O of I Love Sugar Skulls; exploring food customs with Tequila Museo Mayahuel; music performance by Dinorah Klingler and more. Free admission for participants with advance registration. For details or to register starting at 10 a.m. on Mon., Sept. 20, go to https://californiamuseum.org/fiesta-2021.

SUGAR SKULLS WORKSHOPS
10/23/21

Learn how to design and decorate your own “calavera de azúcar” (sugar skull) for “Día de los Muertos” (Day of the Dead) online with Rob-O of I Love Sugar Skulls on Sat., Oct. 23, 2021.  Two sessions available to choose from at 10:30 a.m. and 12 p.m. Each session requires a minimum of 10 participants to proceed and an $11 materials fee for a kit including a pre-made sugar skull and royal icing, which may be picked up at the Museum on Sat., Oct. 15,  Sun., Oct. 16 or Fri., Oct. 22 between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. For more information or to register starting at 10 a.m. on Mon., Sept. 20,  go to  https://californiamuseum.org/skulls-2021.

NOVEMBER

BANK OF AMERICA MUSEUMS ON US® FREE ADMISSION
11/6 & 11/7/21

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/mou-2021.  

GAMBATTE! LEGACY OF AN ENDURING SPIRIT
THROUGH 11/7/21

“Gambatte! Legacy of an Enduring Spirit” is a  visual exploration of the Japanese concept of “gambatte” (or to triumph over adversity). It features contemporary photographs of Japanese Americans who survived mass incarceration during WWII taken by photojournalist Paul Kitagaki Jr. of The Sacramento Bee, paired with historic images by U.S. War Relocation Authority photographers including Dorothea Lange. For more information, visit https://californiamuseum.org/gambatte-21.

THANKSGIVING – CLOSED
11/25/21

DECEMBER

BANK OF AMERICA MUSEUMS ON US® FREE ADMISSION
12/4 & 12/5/21

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/mou-2021.  

THE NEGRO MOTORIST GREEN BOOK
12/4/21 – 2/27/22

The traveling exhibit “The Negro Motorist Green Book” offers an immersive look at travel for African Americans in mid-century America, exploring how the annual guide served as an indispensable resource for the nation’s rising African American middle class and evidence of a vibrant business class. Created by the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service (SITES) in collaboration with curator Candacy Taylor, author of “Overground Railroad: The Green Book and the Roots of Black Travel in America,” the exhibit was made possible through the generous support of Exxon Mobil Corporation. For more information or a list of related programs, visit https://californiamuseum.org/green-book.

CHRISTMAS – CLOSED
12/25/21

NEW YEAR’S DAY – CLOSED
1/1/22

CONTINUING ONSITE EXHIBITIONS:

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; a fur cape owned by Ishi; and more. For details, visit https://californiamuseum.org/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/california-missions.

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/health-happens-here for more information.

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/gold-mountain.  

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/unity-center. 

UPROOTED! JAPANESE AMERICANS DURING WORLD WAR II

Highlighting members of the Sacramento Japanese American community, this exhibit presents the history of immigration and mass incarceration during World War II, as well as their successful fight for redress for the loss of constitutional rights. Featuring replica barracks and guard tower, the display includes rare artifacts along with a video introduction by George Takei, an interactive map of the incarceration sites and oral history video kiosks. For details, visit https://californiamuseum.org/uprooted-japanese-americans-during-wwii. 

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 all-new 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/women-inspire.

FREE ONLINE EXHIBITIONS:

DÍA DE LOS MUERTOS 2020                                                   

Launched in November 2020, this online exhibit features original works by California artists Francisco Franco, John S. Huerta, Oscar Magallanes, David Lozeau and Rob-O of I Love Sugar Skulls exploring the Mexican cultural tradition of honoring deceased loved ones each year on November 1 and 2, which has evolved from the Aztecs to modern-day Mexico and California. For details or related programs, go to https://californiamuseum.org/dotd-2020.

FIGHT FOR THE RIGHT: 100 YEARS OF WOMEN VOTING

Featuring artifacts, historic photographs and interactive activities, this online exhibit chronicles women’s struggle for the right to the vote from the mid-19th century to the ratification of the 19th Amendment on Aug. 26, 1920, drawing parallels to the ongoing fight for women’s equality that continues today. Developed in collaboration with First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom, who served as California’s representative on the Women’s Suffrage Centennial Commission, the project launched on Aug. 26. 2020, marking the 100^th anniversary of the 19^th Amendment’s ratification. For details or to view, go to https://californiamuseum.org/womens-vote-100-online.  

INDOMITABLE: THE STORY OF TOMMY KONO               

Explore the life and legacy of legendary weightlifter Tommy Kono (1930-2016) in this all-new online exhibit presented in partnership with Google Arts and Culture for Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. Through historic photographs, video clips and artifact images, the virtual presentation chronicles the journey of the Sacramento native Japanese American who began weightlifting while incarcerated at Tule Lake and went on to set world records in four weight classes, becoming one of the greatest Olympic weightlifters of all time. For more information, go to https://californiamuseum.org/tommy-kono.

KOKORO: THE STORY OF SACRAMENTO’S LOST JAPANTOWN                                                                                

Explore the experiences of local Japanese Americans in the early 20th century in the online version of “Kokoro: The Story of Sacramento’s Lost Japantown.” Featuring photographs from the private collections of community members, the exhibit documents the memories of a once-thriving community devastated first by forced removal during WWII and again by redevelopment in the 1960s. Developed in partnership with former residents of the lost neighborhood and author of “Sacramento’s Historic Japantown” Kevin Wildie, “Kokoro” was originally presented as an onsite exhibit in 2017 to commemorate the 75th anniversary of Executive Order 9066, the presidential decree that led to the unconstitutional incarceration of 120,000 Japanese Americans. For more information or to view, go to https://californiamuseum.org/kokoro.

VICE PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS: FIRST, BUT NOT LAST

Explore the life and career of Vice President Kamala Harris in this new online exhibit launched on the eve of her historic inauguration as the United States’ first woman, first African American and first Indian American Vice President. Developed in partnership with the California State Archives, the virtual presentation documents the rise of the California native from her childhood in Oakland growing up as the daughter of immigrants to becoming the highest-ranking female elected official in American history. For more information or to view, go to https://californiamuseum.org/kamala.

WOMEN INSPIRE: CALIFORNIA WOMEN CHANGING OUR WORLD                                                                                  

Discover the stories of selected Golden State women from the 1700s to the present who inspire change and reflection on the ongoing struggle for equality in the online version of “Women Inspire: California Women Changing Our World.” Developed in collaboration with California First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom, the online Google Arts and Culture project launched August 18, 2020—100 years to the day Tennessee became the 36^th and final state to ratify the amendment granting the women’s vote. For more information or to view, go to https://californiamuseum.org/wi-online.