Looking for information on how to enjoy free museums in Sacramento?
You’ve come to the right place! I’ve got all the details here on how you can take advantage of Free Museum Day Sacramento 2024, as well as where you can find museums in Sacramento with free admission all year long.
Museums are always at the top of our list of things to do when visiting a new city, and Sacramento has some great ones! In fact, Sacramento is home to more than 30 museums, ranging from the California State Railroad Museum to the Crocker Art Museum, and of course the California State Capitol Museum.
I spend a lot of time in Sacramento, and have visited many! As a mom raising a family in California, museums are especially valuable and a good way to immerse ourselves in local history and culture. (The California Museum and Sacramento History Museum are two excellent examples!) They are almost always worth the price of admission.
But if you are looking for an inexpensive outing, check out one of these amazing museums that are totally free to visit. Here’s the full scoop on free museums in Sacramento!
Free Museums in Sacramento
To help you plan your visit, we’ve divided this article into two sections.
► First we will share how you can get in FREE to almost all the museums in Sacramento during Free Museum Weekend.
► Then we’ll provide detailed information on the museums in Sacramento that offer free admission year-round.
Free Museum Day Sacramento 2024
Each year over one weekend, more than 20 different museums in the Sacramento area participate in Free Museum Weekend. This year, Free Museum Weekend will take place March 2-3, 2024.
Free Museum Weekend used to be Free Museum Day, but its popularity warranted the expansion. This is an amazing opportunity to explore some of the best museums in Sacramento while taking advantage of a free museum experience.
Advance tickets are required and availability may fluctuate by museum due to capacity restrictions. You must pre-register for free museum day Sacramento admission, otherwise, regular admission fees will apply.
You can select which museums you want to visit and make your reservations at sacmuseums.org/free-museum-weekend.
To sweeten the deal and make the museums more accessible for all, Sacramento Regional Transit will once again be offering free rides on its bus routes and light rail trains during Free Museum Weekend. To ride for free, just present a flyer when you board.
For 2024 Free Museum Weekend, participating museums included:
- Aerospace Museum of California
- California Agriculture Museum
- California Automobile Museum
- California Museum
- California Pharmacy Museum
- California State Library
- California State Railroad Museum
- Crocker Art Museum
- Fairytale Town
- Leland Stanford Mansion State Historic Park
- Locke Boarding House Museum
- Maidu Museum & Historic Site
- Museum of Medical History
- Sacramento Children’s Museum
- Sacramento Historic City Cemetery
- Sacramento History Museum
- Sacramento Regional Fire Museum
- SMUD Museum of Science & Curiosity
- State Capitol Museum
- Sojourner Truth African Heritage Museum
- State Indian Museum
- Sutter’s Fort State Historic Park
- Verge Center for the Arts
Sacramento Museums with Free Admission Year-Round
1. California State Capitol Museum
Like most state capitols, the California State Capitol is a working government building that is also open to the public. There is a museum where you can peek into historic rooms, preserved to show what government offices looked like a century ago.
Best of all, admission is totally free!
Pick up a map and take a self-guided tour, or join one of the free daily guided tours. The museum showcases rooms with recreations from their time periods. Featured rooms include the Secretary of State’s Office in 1902, the Attorney General’s Office in 1906, and the State Treasurer Office in 1933.
Admire the rotunda, wander past the Governor’s office, and go the second floor of the Capitol where you may just catch a glimpse of state legislators at work!
2. Capitol Park
When you are done exploring the Capitol, take some time to wander through the beautiful Capitol Park. This lovely park has trees from around the world and memorials to significant state events.
More than a park, the number of statues and memorials on display make this space an outdoor museum. Some examples include the Civil War Memorial Grove, which pays tribute to the thousands of men who lost their lives in the American Civil War, the Firefighters Memorial, Peace Officers Memorial, Veterans Memorial, USS California Bell, and Veterans Memorial.
3. Old Sacramento State Historic Park
Not officially a museum, but wandering around Old Sacramento is a glimpse into history and totally free to enjoy.
Sacramento’s original business district from the Gold Rush era is now a state historic park, with more than 50 historic buildings. This 28-acre town is located right on the banks of the Sacramento River. There is even an 1800s riverboat (now a restaurant and hotel) at the dock.
With its wooden sidewalks and facades, Old Sacramento is straight out of the Old West! This historic area of restored buildings, historical sites, and shops brings life to the Sacramento waterfront.
There used to be two cool free museums in Sacramento Old Town, but in recent years both have unfortunately shut down. One was the Old Sacramento Schoolhouse Museum, a replica schoolhouse opened as a living museum site in 1978, located near the Tower Bridge on the waterfront. The other was the Wells Fargo History Museum, located inside the restored B.F. Hastings Building in Old Sacramento.
We really loved both of these small but engaging free museums, and I was disappointed when they closed. You can still check out the Wells Fargo History Museum in San Francisco; it is the last one still open!
4. Museum of Medical History
If you are interested in health care and medical history, plan a visit to the Museum of Medical History of the Sierra Sacramento Valley Medical Society. The Museum of Medical History offers free general admission.
This museum showcases developments in medicine from the mid-19th century through modern times. Displays include a turn-of-the-century doctor’s office, a functioning 1950-era iron lung, Civil War amputation kits, and a variety medicines, instruments, and more.
5. The Leland Stanford Mansion
Built in 1856, the Leland Stanford Mansion – or just Stanford Mansion, as locals call it – was home to Leland Stanford, who served as the Governor of California from 1862-1863. The structure has served many roles over the years, and was listed as a National Historic Landmark in May 1987.
Today, the mansion has been restored to look as it did in the 1870s, and provides a historically-accurate glimpse into the era. Careful research has guided the restoration, including paintings, draperies, crystal chandeliers, gilded mirrors, wood paneling, and many original Stanford family furnishings. There are also plenty of informational signs around the exterior you can read to learn the history of the mansion.
The Leland Stanford Mansion is located in downtown Sacramento, just a short walk away from the State Capitol.
Access to the 19,000 square foot Stanford Mansion is free but available by guided tour only. Tour depart every hour and are limited to 10 people on a first come, first served basis.
6. California State Library
Established in 1850, the California State Library is the central reference and research library for state government and the Legislature. In addition to its books and maps, the library has a number of exhibits that are free to enter and enjoy.
One of these spaces is the California History Section, which holds an extensive collection – including maps, newspapers, photos, posters, and more – about California’s rich history.
Final Thoughts: Free Museums in Sacramento
Whether you live near Sacramento or are visiting the area, taking the time to explore local museums is a wonderful way to absorb the history and culture of this capital city. And if you are able to save some money while doing it, all the better!
► Be sure to also check out these things to do with kids in Sacramento.
Save This Guide to Sacramento Free Museums for Later!
Planning a trip to Sacramento or California’s Central Valley? Pin the image below for future reference!
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