It’s our 40th anniversary and we’re offering a special deal in August: Family Memberships for only $40! Discount valid through August 31st. Join today! Family Membership includes: Free admission for two adults and all children (17 and under) in your household, Exclusive invitations to member-only events, Discounts in the Museum Store and tours.

Stop by the Sacramento History Museum for  special guests on August 21, from 4-8PM for  Old Sacramento Waterfront’s Third Thursday event. We will have a demonstration on the art of calligraphy by James McGuiness, a new jewelry artist to our museum store, novelist and artist Keli Gwyn introduces the art of making Wax Seals, and Creek Van Houten, who transforms historic objects into timeless talismans. Admission will be a ‘pay as you wish’ donation.

Join us on August 28, from 4 pm to 6 pm for a special evening  with Shelley Blanton-Stroud; a Northern California author known for her historical mystery series set in San Francisco during the 1930s -1940s. Shelley will talk about her newest book, ‘An Unlikely Prospect’.

This Labor Day weekend, join us from 10 am to 2 pm for the final days of our canning exhibit, “Sacramento in a Can”. Pick up a passport and explore all the activities. Take selfies with “Sacratomato” and other canned vegetable characters. Design your own can label for your favorite food, then plant a veggie for your home garden. Free with your admission ticket to the Sacramento History Museum.

West End Blues: A Sacramento Jazzstory continues September 11, at the Sacramento History Museum for the next installment of this powerful and immersive jazz experience. This ongoing series features new songs, updated multimedia visuals, and a deeper look into Sacramento’s vibrant West End — once the heart of the city’s jazz and cultural scene.

Step Back in Time with a Hands-On Print Shop Experience! Hear the wooden floorboards creak beneath your feet in our historic Print Shop. Slip on a denim apron, roll out the ink, and press your very own Wanted Poster. This rare behind-the-scenes opportunity is perfect for you and three guests.

Summer may be sizzling, but it’s cool underground! We’ve scheduled our Underground Tours earlier in the day… to keep you nice and cool!

Go Underground seven days a week and learn how Sacramento lifted itself up out of the flood waters during the 1860s and 1870s! (Times are listed on the right) Your tour ticket includes museum admission! Tours run rain or shine.

Spend a night on the new town with a shady character from the past, who’ll show you around to the saloons, gaming halls, theaters and houses of ill-fame – places you can only see in the twilight. Meet swindlers, soiled doves and sneaky speculators! Hear all the gossip on murders of passion, political intrigue, and the century’s most notorious woman! 6 pm Fridays and Saturdays.

We are excited to debut “Sacramento In a Can – Featuring the Campbell’s Sacramento Story”. Chronicling the fascinating history of the canning industry in the Capital City, the all-new exhibition takes place on two floors in the Museum and will remain on display through September 1. The limited time exhibit is perfect for visitors interested in learning how Sacramento became the Tomato Soup Capital of the World.

We are teaming up with the River City Food Bank for a canned food drive which will give you half-price admission to see our exhibition, Sacramento In a Can – Featuring the Campbell’s Sacramento Story. From now through Labor Day, September 1^st bring canned food items such as soup, tuna, fruit, veggies, or chili and get half off admission to the Museum. We even accept canned pet food for our furry friends in need. One can per person. No expired items.  

On June 19, 1865,the last of the enslaved people in the South received the orders that slavery was abolished. What has become known as Juneteenth is now a federal holiday and represents the African American struggle for freedom and equality in the United States and is also a celebration of family and community. Our exhibit honors the symbolic date and reflects its significance in the Sacramento area.

We’re proud to say that we are a Blue Star Museum. Blue Star Museums offer free admission to the nation’s active-duty military personnel and their families, including National Guard and Reserve. Present your U.S. Military ID, and up to 5 family members receive free admission to the Museum. Tours are not discounted.

The program runs through Labor Day, September 1, 2025.