The Sacramento History Museum (SHM) can be found within the boundaries of the Old Sacramento Historic District situated along the Sacramento River. The museum traces the history of the city and county of Sacramento from the communities that lived in the area before settlement, through the Gold Rush period and into the 21st century. The Museum has been a feature of the District since it first opened in 1985.
The Sacramento History Museum is dedicated to providing innovative educational experiences to all visitors to the Old Sacramento district. The SHM leads regular tours of Old Sacramento, produces exhibitions in the Museum galleries, manages a robust schedule of school group programs, and participates in large-scale community events. Today, the Museum serves a diverse audience of locals from the Sacramento region, out-of-town visitors, and a growing international following thanks to the popularity of our social media videos with volunteer Docent, Howard Hatch and our Social Media Manager, Jared Jones.
Locally, we directly serve the individuals and families who reside in Sacramento, Amador, El Dorado, Placer, Yuba, Sutter, and Yolo counties. The SHM works closely with the Sacramento Association of Museums, the Convention and Visitor's Bureau, local arts organizations, schools, and community service groups to form partnerships and collaborations. The projects, events, and programs that develop from these collaborations help to ensure that the Sacramento History Alliance succeeds in its vision of bringing history to life for the benefit of the individuals and families who reside in or travel to the Sacramento region.