Your Guide to Museums in Sacramento & Beyond: Art, History, Science & More!

Whether you’re into art, history, or science and technology, you can get your fix at one of the many museums in the Sacramento region. Both visitors and locals alike can immerse themselves in another world while learning about the city’s rich cultural heritage. Some of the experiences are hands-on, while others host special events so you can make a day of it.

Visiting a museum is especially popular for those seeking a way to keep the kids busy over winter break, and some even have special programming this time of year. They’re also popular for those looking to entertain out-of-town guests. Of course, museums are also great for locals as well, as many of their exhibits are constantly changing. 

Following are some of the top museums in the greater Sacramento area to check out.

Art Museums

Crocker Art Museum | Downtown Sacramento

This notable art museum in Downtown Sacramento is the oldest art museum in the Western United States. It has an expansive collection of California art (including Native American art), as well as art from European masters, Asia, Africa, and contemporary works. The original building, a 19th-century Italianate mansion, is a work of art itself. They also host after-hour events, lectures, and hands-on activities for kids.

Jan Shrem and Maria Manetti Shrem Museum of Art | Davis

Located on the U.C. Davis campus, the Shrem Museum contains the work of regional artists in a range of mediums, including paintings, ceramics, and experimental mediums. They feature works by faculty and alumni as well as rotating exhibits of regional, contemporary artists.

History Museums

Sacramento History Museum | Old Sacramento

There’s gold in them thar hills, and you can learn all about it at this museum in Old Sacramento. Exhibits on the Gold Rush feature artifacts from the 1800s, replica historic buildings, even gold-panning activities. There are also underground tours where you can see the city’s original streets, which were raised in the late 1800s to prevent flooding.

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Gold Rush Museum | Auburn

Gold Rush buffs shouldn’t pass up a chance to visit this museum, located in Auburn. There are interactive and hands-on exhibits, including a replica mining tunnel, stamp mill, and gold panning. Exhibits explain how the discovery of gold in 1848 transformed Auburn, Placer County and the entire state of California.

Folsom History Museum | Folsom

Photo courtesy of Folsom History

Located in Folsom’s historic district, this museum depicts life in the 19th century, when the town was a hub for Gold Rush settlers. Exhibits tell the story of early pioneers, Native American Culture, and the industries that shaped the region. There are historic relics such as mining tools, cookware and clothing. There’s also a miner’s cabin and railroad caboose to explore.

El Dorado County Historical Museum | Placerville

El Dorado County was a key player in the California Gold Rush, and this museum in Placerville depicts its history and growth. It features hundreds of historic artifacts, including mining tools, railroad equipment, and wagons. It also has a collection of Native American baskets and tools, an old general store, and antique household items and furnishings.

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Placer County Museum | Auburn

Located in the historic courthouse in downtown Auburn, this museum houses a collection that depicts the history of the region from prehistoric days to the present. There are exhibits on the Native American people who inhabited the area, the Gold Rush, and the history of the county through the years.

California Museum | Downtown Sacramento

Photo courtesy of The California Museum

The social and cultural history of California is the theme of this modern museum in Downtown Sacramento. It houses the California Hall of Fame, honoring notable Californians, and has exhibits on Native American history and social justice movements that shaped the state.

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State Indian Museum | Midtown Sacramento

This one-of-a-kind museum near Sutter’s Fort in Midtown Sacramento showcases the history of the native people who once lived on this land. Artifacts include woven baskets, beadwork, hunting tools and ceremonial items, which provide insight into the lives of the Native Americans.

Maidu Museum | Roseville

Photo courtesy of Maidu Museum

The Nisenan Maidu were native peoples who inhabited the land that is now Placer County for thousands of years. This museum and historic site offer a glimpse into their lives, with a focus on basket weaving and acorn processing. Trails throughout the site have hundreds of bedrock mortars, ancient petroglyphs, and native plants used by the native people for medicinal purposes.

Bernhard Museum | Auburn

This Auburn museum provides visitors with a glimpse into life in the late 19th century. Previously an inn, winery, and farmhouse, the building has been restored as a Victorian-era home, with period furnishings. It also has a lovely garden just waiting to be explored.

Dai Loy Museum | Locke

Located in southern Sacramento County, the entire town of Locke is a designated Historic Landmark. It was built by and for Chinese immigrants who came here to work the land. The town is chock-full of historically significant buildings, including the Dai Loy Museum, which was built in 1916 as a gambling house. Another key spot is the Locke Boarding House Museum, which has historic artifacts.

Science & Technology Museums

Aerospace Museum of California | McClellan Park

Photo courtesy of Aerospace CA

Have an airplane fanatic in your household? This museum, located at McClellan Air Force Base near North Highlands, depicts the history of aviation and aerospace. They have more than 40 historic aircraft on display in their four-acre outdoor airpark, plus a massive exhibit hall with hands-on activities for kids.

MOSAC | Sacramento

The SMUD Museum of Science and Curiosity is a kid-friendly interactive space that focuses on science, technology, and engineering. Visitors can spend time in the design lab, imagine themselves as an astronaut, or learn about the solar system in the multiverse theater.

Specialty Museums

California Automobile Museum | Sacramento

Cal Auto Museum

Crazy about cars? This museum has everything you’d expect in a world-class automobile museum. Their collection includes vehicles from the 1880s to today, including more than 150 classic cars, steam cars, crank cars, muscle cars, and race cars. You can even take a drive in a vintage car the third Sunday of the month.

Folsom Prison Museum | Folsom

One of the state’s most notorious correctional facilities offers visitors a look into its past. The Folsom Prison Museum showcases the institution’s history since its opening in 1880. There’s a large collection of memorabilia from Johnny Cash’s notorious visit in 1968, where he performed his hit song, “Folsom Prison Blues.”

California Agriculture Museum | Woodland

Agriculture shaped the entire Sacramento region, and its impact on the growth of the area is on display at this charming museum in Woodland. They have antique ag equipment, including more than 100 tractors and farm trucks, plus all kinds of farming-related artifacts, a blacksmith shop, and a historic barn.

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California State Railroad Museum | Old Sacramento

Photo courtesy of CA State Railroad Museum

Located in Old Sacramento, the California State Railroad Museum is one of the largest and most impressive railroad museums in the country. Perfect for train enthusiasts and history buffs, this museum showcases beautifully restored steam locomotives, historic cars, and exhibits that trace the impact of railroads on the growth of Sacramento and California. Visitors can even take a train ride along the waterfront or experience the “Polar Express” during the holidays.

Fountain & Tallman Museum | Placerville

Today, we don’t give it much thought when we crack open a can of soda or get a refill at the fountain. But soda has been big business for hundreds of years. In the 1800s, Fountain & Tallman Soda Works was a bustling business in downtown Placerville that provided soda water and refreshments to townsfolk. You can visit the historic building, which is on the National Register of Historic Buildings, and see how soda was processed from the spring out back to the bottle.