The California State Military Museum is located at 1119 Second Street in Sacramento, CA. The museum opens at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday through Saturday and closes between 5:00 and 6:00 p.m. For specific information on hours call the museum at (916) 854-1900. The museum can host various groups including school groups and veteran's organizations. There is limited street parking at or near the museum. The best parking for the museum is at the parking structure used by visitors to Old Sacramento. This parking structure is located at the intersection of 2nd and I Streets. Street signs clearly indicate the locations of this and other parking structures in the area. In December 2010 admission to the museum was $5.00 for adults, $3.00 for children and free for military personnel.
Main Floor Gallery
The main floor gallery has an intriguing flag display that presents flags from the earliest military units in California to a variety of flags adopted for use by the United States Army. Uniforms on display in the Main Floor Gallery span every military engagement from the Spanish-American War to the present engagements in Iraq and Afghanistan. The displays on the Main Floor Gallery are typically organized by engagement. Units of the California National Guard have served in major military actions oversees and in the defense, expansion, and protection of California's borders.
Equipment Displays
Armor and weapons from all major military engagements are on display at the California State Military Museum. Smooth bore and rifled muskets from the Spanish-American and Civil War are of particular interest to military history buffs. Modern armament like the M-14 rifle and the M-4 carbine will hold the interest of younger museum visitors. Equipment of a personal nature is also on display. Mess kits, entrenching tools, and rucksacks from the various historical periods put a more personal light on the business of warfare. Letters from soldiers to loved ones add to the personal perspective and understanding of soldiers at war.
Global War on Terrorism Wall of Honor
The Global War on Terrorism Wall of Honor pays homage to military members who have died fighting the war on terror. Soldiers from California serving on active duty and in the National Guard are honored on this wall. The memorial wall is set in a quiet section of the museum allowing for the reverence and respect that is appropriate.
The California State Military Museum is a great place for people interested in military history. The museum's location in Old Town Sacramento is appropriate as both attractions are oriented on history. The nearby California Railroad Museum is another great place for fans of California history to visit.
After your visit to the military museum, consider visiting the Aerospace Museum of California in nearby McClellan, CA.
Carl Hoffman - Carl has a Bachelor's degree in Public Administration and is retired from the Nevada National Guard.
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