If you’ve ever wondered about how Sacramento became the city it is today, or even the early beginnings of California, then a trip to the Sacramento History Museum is a must during your stay in California’s capital.
The Sacramento History Museum, located at the historic Old Sacramento Waterfront, is a reproduction of the 1854 City Hall and Waterworks building. The museum shares the story of early Sacramento, from the Indigenous people who still call our city home, to the great diversity of people who came to Sacramento in search of prosperity and a new way of life.
Sacramento’s vibrant story unfolds with the ever-changing exhibits inside the R. Burnett & Mimi Miller Gallery. Here, you’ll encounter rotating exhibits delving into diverse themes, alongside permanent displays like the Sacramento Theatres exhibit and Momtim Pewinan- River People, an exhibit curated and created by the Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians.
Image Courtesy of: Rachael Durling
There is, however, one exhibit at the museum that Delta Pick Mello, President & CEO of the Sacramento History Museum, says, “No visit to the museum is complete without checking this out,” and that is the Historic Print Shop. If you’re a social media guru, or have even scrolled on TikTok at least once, you might recognize Howard and Jared, the stars of the museum’s popular social media videos, preserving the art of traditional printing right there at the Print Shop. While Howard is not there actively printing every day, we can promise you a photo opportunity with the cardboard cutout of “Howard the Printer.”
Mello says the museum’s unexpected social media fame on both TikTok and YouTube has allowed them to highlight the communication methods of hundreds of years ago. Howard’s passion and authenticity, along with the dedication of other museum staff members, have garnered the museum a global following of 2.7 million followers on TikTok and 3.37 million subscribers on YouTube. According to Mello, the museum’s online presence has translated into a real-world impact, with visitor numbers steadily increasing since its reopening in 2021.
Image Courtesy of: Rachael Durling
Beyond exhibits, the museum offers a variety of tours seven days a week. Each tour, unique in its own way, is led by a local expert fully in character of a significant figure in Sacramento’s history. If you’re lucky, your tour guide might just be Benjamin Franklin Hastings himself.
The Underground Tours are perfect for families of all ages and provide a fun and engaging introduction to the city’s past. According to Mello, the Underground Tours are by far the most popular and interactive activity the museum has to offer, as they take guests outside of the museum walls and immerse them in the place, and stories, of the people who lived their lives in early Sacramento. In addition to the traditional Underground Tours, the museum also offers Underground After-Hours tours, which unveil the city’s bawdier side as guests 18 and older tour the saloons, gaming halls, theaters and houses of ill-repute, as well as seasonal Paranormal Tours, which take you on a ghost hunt through Sacramento’s historic sites.
So, on your next visit to Sacramento, step into the Sacramento History Museum and embark on a journey through time, where the city’s rich history unfolds before your eyes. For more information, including information about booking tours and which seasonal exhibits are currently on display, visit SacramentoHistoryMuseum.org.
