Opening of New Collections Center

Statewide Museum Collections Center

The new California Statewide Museum Collections Center (SMCC) officially opened to the public today.  Located in Sacramento’s McClellan Business Park, formerly McClellan Air Force Base, the new facility cost $15 million, has more than 12 miles of shelving, and holds over 1 million artifacts. The center’s collection includes firefighting equipment from the 1800s, gold rush objects, furniture from Governor Ronald Reagan’s residence, more than 2,600 pieces of art to include John Sutter’s portrait and more than 500 sketches, drawings and paintings by artists working for the Depression-era Works Progress Administration.  The center houses the largest collection of Native American basketry caps in the world and several items from the survivors of the Donner Party; the group of American pioneers snowbound in the Sierras in the winter of 1846-1847.

The center’s Allensworth collection has interviews with town residents like Henry Singleton, Grace Hackett, Helatha Smith and Elizabeth Payne McGee, daughter of Professor William Payne.

“As stewards of the people’s resources, the opening of this new facility is a tremendous step  forward, as historic collections of artifacts will have a longer life, and will now be open to the public,” said Major General Anthony L. Jackson, USMC (Ret.), Director of California State Parks.

The center will have rotating exhibits of the historic and cultural artifacts throughout the year. The current exhibit features the diversity of California’s history, from artifacts in Sutter’s Fort, to American Indian baskets, to the history of Angel Island.

When Chaplain Allensworth was injured during the Spanish-American War the army transferred him to Fort McDowell, Angel Island.  Here he held church services and taught school in the Camp Reynolds Chapel of Saint Marie on the west end of the island.

Tours of the SMCC are available by reservation only and may be arranged by emailing California State Parks at smmc.tours@parks.ca.gov For more information about the SMCC contact Vicky Waters at Vicky.Waters@parks.ca.gov or (916) 653-5115.