Are you looking for a unique and fun way to learn about California history? Head to the California State Capitol, located in the heart of Sacramento. This neoclassical structure was completed between 1861 and 1874, with the north border of L Street, south border of N Street, west border of 10th Street and east border of 15th Street. The capitol and grounds were listed as California historical landmarks.

California State Capitol serves as home to the government of California. The building also houses a museum (California State Capitol Museum) with exhibits involved in various parts of California's history and geography. The museum also hosts a variety of events and activities all year round. These events would be a great way to help you gain a better understanding of California history. Now, a wealth of events is occurring at the museum.

Till May 31, 2011, there are two exhibits everyday, including History of California State Parks: A Most Glorious Heritage and This Means War: California's Role in the Spanish American War. These two exhibits start at 9am through 5pm daily.

- History of California State Parks: A Most Glorious Heritage - This exhibit explores the history and legacy of California State Parks

- This Means War: California's Role in the Spanish American War - American declared war on Spain in 1898. This exhibit takes your to discover California's role in this conflict.

From June 1 to August 31, there will be only one exhibit in the museum - History of California State Parks: A Most Glorious Heritage. The ongoing and upcoming events will be posted and updated on the museum's official website. To explore these events, click here:

Event Calendar for California State Capitol Museum

http://capitolmuseum.ca.gov/Calendar.aspx

Is there any admission to the museum's exhibits? The admission to the capitol museum is free. So these exhibits are also admitted free. The hours of the museum are from 9am to 5pm daily. Tours are available hourly during the operating hours.

Behind the Capitol building is the Capitol Park with fine gardens, fountains, trees, flowers and war memories. Many annual events are just held in the Capitol Park. For instance,

- Camellia Day is celebrated by capitol museum each February 26. The museum volunteers create and distribute free camellia corsages to park and capitol visitors on that day.

- The freighters and police officers who lost their lives in the line of duty are honored at separate events held in each May at their respective memorials in Capitol Park.

- Each September 9, California Admission Day (the day California became the 31st state) is celebrated on the park grounds.

- In memory of Veteran's Day, there are also special events held at the park each November.

Additionally, Christmas time is always a bit special at Capitol Park. An official tree lighting ceremony, concerts and tours of the seasonally decorated statehouse are usually held in celebration of Christmas Day. To learn more about the Capitol Park, visit this page:

Capitol Park

http://capitolmuseum.ca.gov/VirtualTour.aspx?Content1=1416&Content2=1420&Content3=542

Some special events may be allowed at the State Capitol museum, building and grounds. But they are required to receive special admits issued by the California Highway Patrol (CHP), as the museum, building and grounds are a section of a working government facility and under the jurisdiction of the California Highway Patrol (CHP). Special events may include:

- Weddings

- Large gatherings

- Rallies

- Other special Events

The California State Capitol is located at the west end of Capitol Park, Sacramento. It houses the California State Legislature as well as the Office of the Governor of California. Constructed with the Neoclassical Style, the Building has the California Senate Chambers and has become one of the most visited places in California.

About California State Capitol

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_State_Capitol

Tour Reservation

http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=1032

Depending on the size of the tour group, the tourists should ensure that they get a confirmed reservation since the State Capitol comes with a limited capacity of 35 for all tours. In order to avoid ending up in a self-guided tour, the group should ensure that they make their reservation on time sice this will determine the space availability.

Know What to carry

http://capitolmuseum.ca.gov/detail.aspx?content2=2296&content3=1576

The State Capitol has put in place different measures that are useful in ensuring safety not only to the visitors but also the officials and employees. It is important that the guests know what they carry to the venue since some items are prohibited. The guests need to carry their identification papers since they will be checked.

Visit the Exhibits

http://www.capitolmuseum.ca.gov/Exhibits.aspx

With a rich history, the Capitol has an Art program that maintains the collected works from different artists and eras. The guests should visit the exhibits and see the collection as they display the lifestyle and people of California. They will also get the see the different portraits of the Goveners of the State. They will also see a wide collection of murals, artefact's and antiques as well as contemporary art collection. They can also check the capitol learning to discover new things about California through a fun and fascinating methods.

Situated in downtown Sacramento, California State Capitol is a registered California historical building landmark, housing the bicameral state legislature and the office of the governor. It also serves as home not only to the state's working seat of government, but also to a museum.

Designed in the neoclassical style, the whole construction is modeled after the U.S. capitol building in Washington DC. If you want to learn about California history in a special way, pay a visit to the California State Capitol. When exploring the capitol, you can experience California's rich history, admire the architecture and art as well as witness the making of history through the modern lawmaking process.

For those who are planning a visit to the capitol, the hours of the building are from 8am to 5pm from Monday to Friday and from 9am to 5pm on weekends. Open 362 days a year, the building is closed on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Year's Day. The best part of touring the Capitol is that the admission is free.

There is a Basement Theater in the capitol. Films are shown there daily. The hours of the theater are from 9am to 5pm, with free admission.

To enhance your Capitol experience, take part in a California State Capitol tour. The capitol provides visitors with various tours, including public tours and school / group tours.

- Public Tours

Public tours are conducted daily on the hour, from 10am to 4pm. If you want to learn more about tour information, contact Tour Office, which is located in basement Room B-27. The Tour Office is open from 9am to 5pm daily. The contact No. is (916) 324-0333.

- School / Group tours

School / group tours are available at California State Capitol. Best of all, there is no admission for these tours also. However, these free guided school and group tours are only available by reservation for groups from 10 to 35 persons. A ratio of one adult chaperone to ten students is recommended.

You can contact ReserveAmerica at (866) 240-4655 to make a reservation. If you have more questions about school or group tours, group rules, tour restriction and educational materials, contact Tour Office at (916) 324-0333.

All these tours are wheelchair accessible. Those who use wheelchairs can access the building from the north and south Annex entrances and elevators. There are also restrooms offered for them. As for assistive listening devices, they are available upon request at the Tour Office. For more info and details, contact the Tour Office.

Note: The State Capitol museum, building and grounds are a section of a working government facility and under the domination of the CHP - California Highway Patrol. So visitors entering the capitol building need to subject to security-control measures and checks which include, but are not limited to:

- Passing through a metal detector

- X-ray and visual examination of all packages

- Presentation of positive identification

You can find more info about visitor security on this page:

Visitor Security for California State Capitol

http://capitolmuseum.ca.gov/detail.aspx?content2=2296&content3=1576

Can't make it to Sacramento? Don't be dejected. There are also California State Capitol Museum virtual tours that give visitors a special opportunity to visit California's Capitol in Sacramento from any location in the world. To learn more about the virtual tours, check this page:

California State Capitol Museum Virtual Tours

http://capitolmuseum.ca.gov/VirtualTour.aspx?content1=1370&Content2=1368&Content3=218

When touring the capitol, you also have opportunities to buy souvenirs. California State Capitol boasts a gift shop serving unique gifts and items related to California and the State Capitol.

The shop can be found in the basement of the capitol. The hours of operation are from 9:30am to 4pm from Monday to Friday and from 10:30am to 4pm on weekends.

If you get hungry while touring the capitol, food service is also available to serve your needs at the building. You can find cafeteria-style restaurants in the basement and on the sixth floor. These restaurants are open from 7:30am to 4pm from Monday to Friday (closing on weekends).

In addition, there is also a Coffee Cart, situated in the basement. It is also open from 7:30am to 4pm from Monday to Friday (closing on weekends). For the sake of visitors' convenience, ATMs and Vending Machines are also available during operating hours. They can be found in the basement next to Cafeteria seating area.

California State Capitol and Museum is a must stop for anyone living or planning a trip to Sacramento. Serving as the home to the California government and a public museum, it is modeled after the US White House and showcases its own splendor through the rich and storied history. The whole structure is in Neoclassical style and was finished around 1861 to 1874. Its marvelous architectural art deserves a good visit, not to mention the impressive and extensive collection of artifacts, artworks and exhibits stemming from the historical California to modern days.

Visitors are encouraged to take the free and informative guided tours for a better glimpse into California's lawmaking history while having fun. Of course the self-guided tours are also packed with amazement and inspiration. Detailed introduction about this awesome architecture is easy to find on:

California State Capitol Homepage

http://capitolmuseum.ca.gov/

California State Capitol Museum is located at 1315 10th Street in Sacramento, encircled by 10th Street to the west, L Street to the North, 15th Street to the east and N Street to the South. Standing closely to Downtown Sacramento, the Capitol occupies an envious location to a wealth range of attractions and landmarks in the city, like the historic Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament, stunning Esquire IMAX Theatre and versatile Sacramento Convention Center 3 or 4 blocks away. Behind the Capitol building sits the Capitol Mall which houses a plethora of prominent business and law firms in the city. Narrow the location and directions of California State Capitol Museum on online maps:

California State Capitol Museum on Google Maps

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=1315+10th+Street+in+Sacramento

California State Capitol Museum on CitySearch

http://sacramento.citysearch.com/profile/1244148/sacramento_ca/california_state_capitol_museum.html

After knowing the location of California State Capitol & Museum, and now let's turn to a practical issue. That is how to drive to the building. Do you feel perplexed when referring to the complicated maps? It is much worse if you are the one with weak sense of directions. Considering this, we offer an easy and fast driving directions guide to the museum.

- If you are coming from West Sacramento, head east on I-80 towards Sacramento and take exit 3 towards Downtown Sacramento. Merge onto W Sacramento Freeway/Tower Bridge Gateway. Continue and turn right to stay on Capitol Mall. Take the first right and merge onto 10th Street.

- If you are coming from the south & Sacramento Executive Airport, head south on S Land Park Drive towards Kahila City. Then turn right at Florin Road and merge onto I-5 N via the ramp to Redding. Take exit 519A towards Q Street. Veer right slightly at Q Street and turn left onto 10th Street.

- If you are driving west on US-50, stay northwest on it and take exit 5 for 16th Street. Turn right at 16th Street and then another left at P Street. Veer right at the second cross street onto 10th Street.

- If you happen to head south on CA-160 S, merge onto CA-160 S/N 12th Street and turn right at F Street. Take the third left onto 9th Street. Turn left at N Street and take the first left to merge onto 10th Street.

For tourists visiting Sacramento, a visit to the California State Capitol is a must. California state capitol is an ornate attractive state capitol building situated at the west end of the capitol park. The building opened its door in the year 1869 and since then it has been continuously in operation. It's the only place in California where future, past and present can be seen blended and working with equal force.

Basic overview

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_State_Capitol

Official website

http://capitolmuseum.ca.gov/

The building serves as a working seat for the government and is also a museum. Visitors to the building can experience the rich history of California and witness its making through the modern law making process.

The address of the California State Capitol is 10th and L Streets, State Capitol, Sacramento, CA 95814. The building boosts fantastic neo classical architecture which is complemented with stunning examples of symbolism, artistry and statutory which are truly unique. Legislatures have assembled in the building since the beginning of California's state hood and hence there is an amazing collection of artwork, artifacts, priceless historic paintings and some antique furnishings.

Then there are historic rooms which have preserved the exact recreation of varied architectural and legislation eras. The tour is not complete until one visits the lush green parks. Spread over 40 acres, the park is the real jewel of the museum. Varied plants, historic trees, inspirational memorials and exquisite gardens are all blended perfectly to impart the real beauty. The working hours on weekdays is 8 to 5 and on weekends 9 to 5. Public tours are held daily from 10 to 4. And admission is absolutely free.

Tour information

http://capitolmuseum.ca.gov/detail.aspx?content2=2288&content3=1036

Events

http://capitolmuseum.ca.gov/Calendar.aspx

California State Capitol is the state's working seat of government. The basement of the building also has a museum with various exhibits, displaying all parts of California history and geography. The grounds and buildings of the California State Capitol are often referred to as the California State Capitol Museum. The building is home of the office of the governor and the bicameral state legislature.

The Capitol is a lovely state capitol building, featuring a portico opening into a central rotunda rising into a dome. Once you get to the Capitol, you can experience California's rich history. Another bonus for your visit is to witness the making of the state history though the modern lawmaking process.

Homepage of California Sate Capitol Museum

http://capitolmuseum.ca.gov

California State Capitol has a long history since its construction. The Capitol and grounds are designated a California Historical Landmark in 1974. Afterwards the buildings underwent many renovations and expansions. All the efforts were made to restore the Capitol to its former grandeur and beauty. Generally, California State Capitol has experienced several different stages.

- Planning

California did not have its permanent seat of government until 1860. The plans to build a capitol for the 31st state in the union were approved at the 1849 Constitutional Convention. Delegates argued for the suitable location for the seat of California's government during the convention. It took five years for California's Capitol to move to its final location: Sacramento.

As the 31st state to join the Union, the design for the California State Capitol was deeply influenced by the architectural styles employed in American public buildings, like the Virginia State Capitol and the Massachusetts State House. After several controversies over the Capitol's design, California State Capitol was finally designed by architects M.F. Butler and Reuben Clark. Three branches of government were included in Reuben Clark's design: Legislative, Executive and Judicial. Today, the legislative and executive branches are based at the Capitol. The Judicial branch can be found across the street in the Library and Courts building.

- Construction

The construction of the Capitol began four years after the approved architectural designs. The groundbreaking ceremony took place on December 4, 1860. It took almost 14 years and several administrations to complete the building project with funds, politics and other problems during the process.

The Capitol was partially completed in 1869. At that time, the building could accommodate the Legislature and several other state officers, including the Governor. It took five more years to finish the building. Completed in 1874, the Capitol cost a total of $2.5 million.

- Growth

Additional space at the Capitol was needed with the growth of the California State and expanding government responsibility. The California Sate Capitol has made several expansion efforts to accommodate the continual expansion of the prosperous state.

1928Library and Courts Building

Expansion was desperately needed for the Capitol by the early 1920s. The Library and Courts was moved off-site after the exquisite building completed in 1928. The new Library and Courts building features pediment and Neo-classical design, complementing the Classical Revival style of the Capitol perfectly. The new building boasts grand entrance lobby, majestic murals and various attractive decorative features.

19281949: Apse

After the Library and Courts moved out the semicircular apse, the Controller's Office moved in. But with the growth and modernization of the Capitol building, the entire apse was destroyed completely to accommodate the new expansion.

1949 -1952: East Annex

It took four years for the construction of the East Annex, which was completed in 1952. The Governor, Lieutenant Governor, legislators and other state officials moved to the newly built East Annex after construction.

- Restoration

The California State Capitol underwent a major renovation from 1975 to 1982. The restoration was aimed to restore the capitol to its former glory and beauty. The restoration created one of the largest projects of its kind in California's history. The whole building was blended with modern technology while retaining its original appearance and splendor.

The newly restored building reopened to the public in January 1982. Now, most of the rooms in the Capitol are used as state offices. During the restoration, some key rooms, like the Governor's offices, were fortunately set aside for the Museum. They were restored to their 1906 appearance.

Architecture of Capitol Buildings

http://capitolmuseum.ca.gov/architecture.aspx