The State Indian Museum, opened in 1940, depicts three major themes of California Indian life: Nature, Spirit, and Family.  Native peoples lived prosperously for thousands of years in what is now California.  All of the exhibits and photographs on display in the museum are presented with respect for those who went before us on this land and continue to live in California communities today.
 
California Indian cultural items in the museum include traditional baskets, along with some of the smallest in the world, a redwood dugout canoe, ceremonial regalia, beadwork, and hunting & fishing tools-some of which are more than twenty-four hundred years old.  There is also an exhibit depicting the life of Ishi, reputedly the last survivor of the Yahi tribe, illustrating how Native culture was powerfully impacted and forever changed when outsiders arrived. 

Many Native people have donated photographs of family and friends for viewing in the museum.  There is also a wall of photographs devoted to honoring California Elders, and a hands-on area where visitors have the opportunity to utilize Indian tools like the pump drill, used for making holes in shell beads, and the mortar & pestle, used for grinding acorns.

Visit Our Museum Store
Please visit our store, located inside the museum, for Native-made jewelry, gourds, hand-crafted dolls, baskets, soapstone carvings, and the area's largest selection of California Indian books.

Location and Parking:

The State Indian Museum is located in the downtown area of Sacramento at 26th and K Streets.

Traveling on I-80, from San Francisco, take Business 80/Hwy 50 east. Take the Business 80 exit (north towards Reno) to the N Street exit.  Travel straight on 30th Street, then turn left under the freeway at L Street and travel on L Street to 26th Street.  Bus parking is available on L Street by Sutter's Fort.  Metered automobile parking is available on 26th and K Streets.

Seasons/Climate/Recommended Clothing

Summer and spring are warm; fall and winter can be cool. Layered clothing is advised.

Photography

Photography in general is prohibited at the museum.

Commercial photography is allowed on a case by case basis by advance arrangement. Visit www.film.ca.gov for more information.

Essential Art: Native Basketry from the California Indian Heritage Center
by Brian Bibby

Available now Essential Art: Native Basketry from the California Indian Heritage Center by Brian Bibby.  The catalog of the California Native basketry collection in the stewardship of the State Indian Museum/California Indian Heritage Center, this book offers a glimpse into one of the most culturally valuable and diverse collections of California Indian basketry anywhere in the world. Feature articles and stunning photos illustrate the history of this unique collection. It also features the background story of several of the Native women whose baskets are curated at the museum, and provides a peek into a world where basketry was part of everyday life.

Essential Art: Native Basketry from the California Indian Heritage Center is available at the State Indian Museum at 2618 K Street (916) 324-0971 or through the Heyday Books website at www.heydaybooks.com.

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