I attended the most wonderful tour of the California State Capitol, my first since my last tour since the 80's. Though, I have been to the Capitol for work (hearings, etc) I was able to see plenty of changes since much of the construction and what stayed the same. What stayed the same was the beauty and the history of the building. It was really nostalgic for me. We had a wonderful tour guide, who met us to begin the tour in the 1st floor Capitol rotunda. The first thing i noticed was the huge statue of Queen Isabell and Christopher Columbus that used to sit in the middle of the rotunda. It is now open, and what a wonderful view to look up to see the top of the dome and the incredible artwork and painting. Did you know it really does take 3 people to change a light bulb? Yes, at the top of the dome! We started our tour on the 3rd floor with the view of the Legislature from both the Assembly and Senate galleries. It is absolutely beautiful, with carefully chosen paintings and artistry of the walls, ceiling, and room that held a lot of significance to the States history. Plaques of Minerva, the state bear, and eagle throughout the building. Looking down at the floor and visualizing the Legislature at work, presenting their case, casting their votes, makes the democratic process so real and fascinating. The beautifully carved wooden stairwells, and ceramic tiles and flooring were so meticulously placed. We toured the Governor's office, Secretary of State, and the Treasurer's Office from before 1906. The historic furniture of the past and how state operations worked in those days were incredibly interesting, and the tour can go on forever. I love our state capitol!! read more

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I have lived in California my whole live but had never been to the State Capital so when I had a chance to check it out I did not want to miss the opportunity. The building is impressive and grand! They offer free tours every hour and I would highly recommend as it only takes about 30-45 minutes to complete and after that you are still welcome to wander around at your leisure. State congress was in session so I was able to watch for a few minutes to see how it is done. read more

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On a day trip to Sacramento, we stopped by the California State Capitol Museum for a quick self-guided walk. If we had more time, we would have taken one of the public tours, which usually last 45 minutes to an hour. We went up to the 4th floor thinking we might be able to listen in on the State Assembly session, but because of time constraints we had to leave and made our way down through the 3rd floor, 2nd floor, lobby, and basement. There's a lot to see, including the 1st floor Rotunda and county exhibits, the 2nd floor Senate and Assembly Chambers plus historic Governor's offices, and the 3rd floor portraits. There's definitely more to explore, and I'd like to revisit the California State Capitol Museum on another Sacramento day trip. read more

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Came on a Sunday on our way to the airport. Nice photo op with great 15 min parking to shoot your shot. It seemed very clean as well. read more

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The state capital building has been the seat of California government since 1869. This iconic building is a testament not only to the service of the people but a preservation of the state's history. Check out the inside that houses the museum, the Assembly and Senate chambers and the offices of the constitutional elected seats. Outside is the capital park with veteran memorial, capital lawn, civil war memorial. Tours are scheduled daily or you can self guide. I have sat in live sessions of the legislature a couple of times. Government at work read more

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There is something to be said about being a tourist in your own hometown. As both a native Californian and a native Sacramentan, I really enjoyed the historical tour my daughter and I took with guide Margo recently. We learned a lot of surprising history and got to see things (like the Treasury Room) we wouldn't usually see wandering around. Margo kept a good balance of information and interaction with the group to keep us engaged. If you're in Sacramento, or just visiting, consider adding it to your day. It's less than an hour and free, which is hard to beat. read more

California State Capitol Museum - Capitol rotunda. - Museums Near Me - Sacramento, California

We visited the capital in Sacramento last weekend. Part of it is a museum of restored areas curated by the California state park system. This is a very interesting area in which to spend some time. As we wandered through the rooms, we came upon an attendant. She wasn't there as an official docent, but as an employee of the state park system. System. She asked if we had any questions, and then answered everything. We wanted to know with very complete answers and told us a lot of information about the place. It was very informative. If you're in Sacramento, I recommend visiting the capitol. It's great to see where our state government really happens. read more

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In all my years of living in Sacramento, it was the first time I had the chance to visit! And it is a must-see if you are coming from out of town. This museum is free entry, however expect to go through scanners as you would normally do at the airport. While it is not as big and exciting as other museums in town, this one was very chill and spacious for your viewing pleasures. Keep your eyes peeled though cause there are Easter eggs and fun treats installed through out the building. Highly recommend if you are visiting Sacramento for the first time or been living here forever! read more

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I have been wanting to come to the capitol for years. We finally made it during a rainy week on the day that was not raining. The capital is so beautiful inside and looks brand new and is very clean. You have to go through a small building in the front that is relatively ugly but is for security purposes. It's like going through the airport. After that, you get to enter into the main building which is gorgeous. The lobby is actually relatively small. They have tours every hour. We were the only two people for the tour in the beginning. Nine people joined the tour later on. The tour guy was a very nice senior man. He is from Wisconsin originally. He made lots of jokes. His name was Joe. My husband thought he was cheesy and embarrassing. For a free 1 hour tour, it was quite fun. Definitely try the tour at least once. Joe had the key to the assembly room. We were able to sit inside the assembly room for the last portion of our tour. He also showed us paintings and talked about the different paintings of the governors. For example, Arnold Schwarzenegger had no name on his painting because he's a movie star. He assumed everyone knows who he is. Governor Gerry Brown had a strange cartoon like painting because he wanted to be modern. There were clean bathrooms everywhere. After the tour, we went to the best Mediterranean restaurant in Sacramento called Maydoon. It's probably the best Mediterranean restaurant in the Bay Area so I always come here if I'm in Sacramento. read more

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Very fun free hour tour. You NEED TO try to get Joe as your guide. He makes things interesting and makes you act out as a senator, teaches you how to point like one (gesticulate), and has many stories. The capitol museum is part of the Sacramento Badge Pass. I didn't realize it until I left that I could've received a discount for showing my event badge. Parking kind of sucked. I didn't know where to park so I parked in a structure on 13th and P. If you're visiting when they're still doing the construction for the expansion of the capitol building, then I would suggest parking on the western side of 11th or 12th street. You can only access the building on L or N streets through a security checkpoint on either the north side or south side of the building. The front side (from 10th street) is not an entrance. However, that's the best place to take pictures. I would've explored the garden, but it was way too hot to venture outside of the a/c for too long. I visited on early August where the temperature was 100-104. read more

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While driving home from Rocklin, CA, we stopped off in Sacramento and while my wife was looking for a place to eat, I decided to visit the California State Capitol Building. It was closed for Labor Day, but I was able to walk around the grounds and see the exterior. I've visited 4 other state capitals. I have a ways to go, but my list has started. -Sacramento, California -Salt Lake City, Utah -Phoenix, Arizona -Olympia, Washington -The Capitol, Washington D.C. My other missed opportunities were... -Honolulu, Oahu Hawaii -Austin, Texas -Carson City, Nevada -Des Moines, Iowa If you live in California, you have to visit the capital at least once in your lifetime. LOL. read more

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Our tour guide Margo was amazing. I learned so much about a beautiful building I've usually only seen from the outside. Everything from the Historic safe conundrum, architecture, to the lengths the staff need to go to to change a light bulb and the changes that were made in response to crazy people over the years. It was a wonderfully memorable experience anyone local or stopping by should have at least once. read more

What a great experience! Inside and out the Capitol is gorgeous. They've restored early 1900 state official offices and it's quite remarkable. Tours available on top of the hour from employees dressed for that time period and a wealth of information. California is impressive and it took a lot of help from these people who have graced the halls! Additionally, the whole area surrounding Capitol has lots to see and is beautifully landscaped. read more

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We went yesterday to the Capital for Agriculture Day at the capital. The event lasted from 11:30am - 2:30 pm. We went at 11:30 am and it was already bustling with people. We even passed people leaving with their bouquet of flowers and cartons of chocolate milk. It's a fun annual event. It's located near the front steps of the capital. Vendors bring in horses and cows to show off their livestock. They have lots of food samples, free pencils, pens, brochures, and bouquets of flowers. My favorite sample was the bouquet of flowers I got and a hard boiled egg on a stick. They also served chocolate milk, but by the time we arrived it was gone. This year they served tri-tip sandwiches and pizza. There was no line for the pizza, but a long line for the sandwiches and bouquets of flowers. It was overflowing with free stuff. They were passing out lots of free reuseable bags too. I have too many so I passed, but it sure was a nice gift. I saw several people with boxes of strawberries. I just took a few to eat, I didn't know you could get a whole box. I did take a few pencils as I love using pencils with fresh erasers on top. If you have time this is an event worth going to. And if you like free samples and gifts this is an event for you. read more

California State Capitol Museum - Ag day at the capital - Museums Near Me - Sacramento, California

State of California is the best of the best. Proud to be born here. Such diversity in the people. Unmatched diversity in the landscape. I'm never leaving. read more

California State Capitol Museum - Museums Near Me - Sacramento, California

Took the on the hour tour and it was very insightful! Highly recommend as it was only an hour and is free! Leave your little kids at home. It really is not appropriate for them and can be annoying to the others trying to listen to the guide. read more

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Although the entrance is around construction, there are still free tours available on the hour. Just showed up and another tour started in 15 minutes. Spent some time browsing in the basement gift store and then took the tour: a history briefing in a hearing room, and then time with the Assembly and Senate in the gallery. What a great tour! read more

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I'm so glad we were able to quickly squeeze in a trip inside the capital building. With my son set to learn about California history, we thought it would be fun to give him a bit of a primer of the state capital. We got there about 30~45 minutes before closing and basically had the whole building to ourselves. It also 'helped' (but was also a bit of a disappointment) that the state senate had started their summer recess the day before so there was nothing going on. But we breezed through security and got to roam the main areas of the building all to ourselves. We even got to let our 3 kids, niece, and nephew just run around and explore without having to worry about them getting in anyone's way. The building is just absolutely gorgeous. Both inside and out. Having visited D.C., you really feel like you are in a smaller version of the nation's capital building and I really appreciated that. It gives it a nice sense of connection with the federal government even on the state level. Parking isn't the best. You will most likely have to either circle around for awhile or park a little bit away, but it's totally worth it. If you are in Sacramento, you really should spend even a little bit seeing where things get done for the Golden State. And if you can be there while one of the houses is in session, that's an even greater experience. read more

Came here after visiting some family this summer In Sacramento! We love visiting state capitol buildings, touring inside and outside, and discovering and learning. Parking around this area, as most capitol building are, is a bit challenging, so if you are unable to walk farther distances, you may be have a hard time getting here. Because the front entrances are blocked off at the front, you will find side entrances. Since it was our first time, it took us quite a bit of time figuring out how to get to any entrance coming from the side/back garden area, with some frustration because of lack of signage. The outside garden is well kept for the most part, and although there is quite a lot of construction, we enjoyed the garden area! It was huge and was a nice walk (although, it is still downtown). Inside after security was very cool to see! We loved being able to walk through different hallways, all the way up the different stories/levels and peak our heads into room displays and historically staged areas. There were some educational areas you could walk through, as well as the actual rooms where meeting are conducted and you can watch from the balcony above. A bonus that there are elevators and stairs, restrooms and water fountains that are well kept! Overall, we enjoyed the experience walking through each floor and getting to experience the capitol building of the state we once lived in. It is a lower volume place, so I wouldn't suggest going with younger kids that can't keep inside voices, and there aren't many interactives inside to keep them excited, but for adults who want to take in the history and present, it's a cool place to be! read more

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First and foremost our tour guide was amazing! Isabel has been there for six years giving tours and she is very knowledgeable about the history of the capital as well as California. I wish everyone could request her. Did you know that they almost demolished that beautiful building and replaced it with twin high rises? Do you know why Sacramento is the capital of California? These are just some of the facts you can learn. Old and young can learn from this tour. Our visit this time of the year also included a special event of the local high school symphony orchestra and chorus performance. Awesome acoustics in this beautiful rotunda and they certainly "broke a leg." If you do nothing else in Sacramento, this is worth the trip alone. Enjoy. PS- Don't forget to visit the Jerry Brown portrait! read more

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During My Visit To Sacramento Ca The State Capitol Of California Was The One Place That I Have Never Been To & This Time On Last Visit I Finally Had The Chance To Go Inside!!!! read more

We were visiting the area for a work conference. We knew we wanted to visit the State Capitol, but we didn't get there in time for a tour with a guide. We ended up doing a self tour in the areas we were able to go to. Currently, they are renovating the area and they had a separate entrance. There a lot of photo opportunities of the State's history and a LOT of stairs. They do have elevators to get you up and down to each level you're aiming to go on. I found the treasury office was the neatest. read more

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It was okay. It wasn't as impressive as other state capitol buildings or even some city halls I've seen. If you're from California, it's nice to see once in your life, but that's about it. read more

Short but free! The first time I visited, I took my daughter to get her used to walking around old buildings. There's a lot of interesting history in this three-story building. I went with a friend the second time. We walked through everything we were permitted to in an hour. Parking on the street was $2/hr. The security was friendly. Some of the rooms are still used. You can also schedule a tour. read more

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A nice building, very busy while in session. Some key points of interest. There are a few museums in the building. A great statue of Ronald Reagan, "hidden" in the basement floor. This should be on the main floor. We'll I guess he wanna Democrat, so there you go. See our YouTube channel Coolest Life. read more

California State Capitol Museum - Outside - Museums Near Me - Sacramento, California

SO cute during Christmas with decor outside and it was wonderful to look at old time rooms. I didn't do a tour but I think they are free. There was not really parking so we went from golden one stadium. I thought it was nice to see the past here :) especially being form CA you get to see history and where the representatives meet read more

California State Capitol Museum - Christmas 2024 - Museums Near Me - Sacramento, California

I was just in Sacramento, and on a whim I went to see the Capitol. I stepped in just as a tour was launching, so I merged in with it. OMG, the gorgeousness of every inch of that place is beyond belief! The guide was a gal named Margo, who was awesome! Funny! And yet super informative. Who knew a dull (to me) topic like state government could be entertaining? I wish I'd had her for high school civics class. And the trivia she throw in was priceless. I highly recommend a visit to that amazing building. It's a feast for the eyes every way you turn your head! Maybe if you're allowed to make requests, you can ask for Margo. read more

Hubby & I were on an overnight trip to Sacramento. We decided to visit the State Capitol during our stay last week. We found paid street parking about 1/4 mile away. Currently the Capitol is under renovation but there's a side entrance. We went through security and made our way to the rotunda where there's a tour desk. We made it for the 1 pm guided tour. Tours given on the hour on weekdays. It was very busy due to spring break. Many visitors including school age kids. The docent led tour begins on the ground floor, then moves upstairs. We were lucky the day we visited. Both the Assembly and the Senate were in session. After the tour ended hubby and I went down to the basement. There's a small gift shop, an eating area, and a statue of Ronald Reagan, former California governor and US president. We spent about 1 1/2 hours. read more

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A whole lot of neat stuff in here , the California state Capitol building is a beautiful place with lots of history, the tours are neat and informative. I've been here twice over the years and have enjoyed my visit each and every time . Definitely worth a visit , I got to see a live session of the California state assembly , that was awesome . read more

California State Capitol Museum - The Capitol - Museums Near Me - Sacramento, California

Long time ago when I was young, we went to the Capitol in Downtown Sacramento. Five months ago, I went to the State Capitol Museum during the field trip at Meristem. This place is about a history of California. I saw the picture of Ronald Reagan because he is the 40th president of the United States. He was born in 1911 and he died in 2004. The Ronald Reagan Library is a library museum in Simi Valley when it opens in 1988. I saw the US and the California flag inside, just like us where I live. read more

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This capitol building also considers itself a museum. I was able to take a very informative tour of the building, and afterwards visit the museum exhibit rooms inside the building. It's a beautiful historic building, like most capitol buildings. I was surprised it's on the small side, when California is the country's most populous state. They had to build both a court building and another office building next to it because it's not big enough to run the business of the state. The capitol has a pretty dome and a nice rotunda underneath it. Symbols of the state are embedded throughout the design. The state seal and motto are prominent throughout. Nothing wowed me like other capitol buildings. The museum exhibits do make this capitol unique. The California state museum was closed when I visited, so it was a big help to me to be able to learn more about California's history right here in the Capitol building. read more

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I'm somewhat surprised I had never been inside here before, especially as a youngster tortured on a school bus during a field trip with my civics class. But no such educational voyage occurred. Budget limitations no doubt. So here I was better late than never this past fall when I spent a crisp afternoon in Sacramento. This city has its charms, but it will always be known as the seat of our state government for better or worse. It's no surprise that it looks like the Weight Watchers version of the U.S. Capitol because that's the architectural inspiration. I didn't visit at an ideal time since much of it appeared under renovation including much of the surrounding Capitol Park. I entered the building from the 12th Avenue entrance where I found the security clearance quite a breeze. Walking through the hallways, I perused several preserved historic rooms. There was also a separate room dedicated to the state's iconic symbols. Apparently there are 42 of them. Who knew? This led to the Rotunda, the high point in more ways than one (photo). Unfortunately the lower level was closed which meant I couldn't see the murals or the exhibit highlighting each county of the state. However, I was able to go up to the third floor where the governor portraits hang. Yes, Ah-nuld was there (photo: https://bit.ly/3VLwuie). Did I mention it was free? RELATED - Exploring Sacramento? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://bit.ly/3UetBpa read more

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4.5 stars. Our tax dollars at work here. I love being able to visit the state capitol with no entry fee. They are checking bags and you go through a metal detector now, but it's a small inconvenience for seeing a beautiful building with no entrance fee. Staff are very helpful. Self guided tours are available as well as docent led tours. Very nice architecture and woodwork. If in Sacramento, it's worth a visit. read more

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Wow 10 stars and free! Tours on top of the hour. I suggest calling ahead of time to ensure there are tours! read more

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Tonight I attended a Summer Soirée, Pop Up Market, Local Small Home Businesses, Sacramento Yelp Event at the California Museum. I was there as part of the Sacramento Yelp/Yelp Elite Invitation only group. Lovely event, beautiful museum. Although I was unable to see the entire museum, what I did see was beautiful, informative, cool displays and very cordial, professional staff members. There were some commemorative Mickey Mouse statues on display along with plaques describing them. Beautiful display of people recognized by the museum including Steve Jobs, Ronald Regan, Ansel Adams, Willie Mays, Robert Mondavi and more. Architecture, decor, design and colors beautiful, vibrant and contemporary. The courtyard outside is also quite beautiful, spacious and the DJ music sounded amazing for the area. Lots of small, home based vendors. I will be returning soon to spend as much time as needed to see the entire museum. I know it will not disappoint and I look forward to my return visit. read more

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Came here on a solo field trip, went thru some metal detectors to get in, and not complaining, I like to be safe. I finished the while building due to its reconstruction in about an hour. Hit the gift shop at the end, I fully recommend it. Tons read about. read more

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Thoroughly enjoyable! The architecture here is breathtaking. I was pleasantly surprised by the entire experience. Gardens are majestic and make for such an lovely afternoon. Building and grounds kept immaculate. read more

Dated, but so worth the visit! I feel like a lot of the state capitals around the US have a very similar layout and the California State Capitol is no exception (Long hallways with your typical dome in the middle). Unsure why they list this as a museum as it made me laugh a tad as this is a functioning state business building, while you can walk around viewing some art work on the wall, it is not a museum. Cost is free, and the staff are extremely helpful if you need any directions, but please be aware of the rules as they carefully watch all guests. You can easily spend an hour or two here as an adult, but I'd expect the kids to be quite bored unless they are really into California history (Governors, Counties, etc.). While the inside is quite nice especially if its summer time and outside is blistering, do not forget to walk the external grounds! Another fun spot to hit if you have some spare time in Sacramento. read more

Whatever you do, if you're in beautiful Sacramento make sure you visit the incredible beautiful California State Capitol Museum!! Not only is it free but it also offers a lot of cool displays and California History! This was one of my favorite places to visit while in town and I'm glad I did. I'll be back!!! read more

California State Capitol Museum - State Capitol - Museums Near Me - Sacramento, California

I'm so glad I had extra time to explore this park on my last visit to Sacramento. Even though it was during the rainy season the grounds were just as beautiful with the vibrant colored fall leaves and trees. There's something about the rain that enhances the colors. My favorite part of this park was the firefighters memorial tribute. The statues were all beautiful, and the memorial wall of our fallen heroes was a very nice remembrance to honor those who are no longer with us. I didn't get to explore the rose garden, but walking past it smelled very fragrant . There are tons of beautiful trees, foliage, squirrels, the state capitol, the firefighters memorial, and I'm sure much much more that I didn't cover. I can imagine this park being jam packed with people during the spring and summertime. I know I would be here taking advantage of it. Overall a very enjoyable place to check out! read more

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