"… Californians,
especially notoriously good fighters, were standing up to the
rack like men, dealing out to us the best they had. They rallied
at every call on them and went down with banners flying."
-John
W. Munson, Commenting on the California Cavalry Battalion from
Reminiscences of a Mosby Guerrilla.
Spanish
Soldado de Cuera - circa 1790 (US Army Art Collection)
Welcome to
California Military History Online!
Thank you for taking
the time to visit our web site. We hope you find it educational
and enlightening.
It should be noted that
this site does not glorify war. Rather, its intent is to remind
this and future generations of the sacrifices made by previous
generations to keep our state and nation free.
Californians have a long
and proud tradition of service that stretches back over two centuries
when Alta California was a Spanish colony and later a Mexican
province. Since joining the Union, California has provided more
of its citizens to our common defense than any other state. From
the lonely 18th century colonial presidios of the El Real Ejército
de California (Royal Spanish Army of California) to the mountains
of Afghanistan, Californians have always been there and continue
the tradition of selfless service.
Californians who have
served our nation reads like a who's who of American Military
History. Generals William T. Sherman, Henry Halleck and Joseph Hooker all served in the California State Militia before
the Civil War. Many of the leaders on both sides of that war served
in California. The California Volunteers were among the first
to enter Manila during the Spanish-American War. Nelson Holderman, considered by many to be the most
decorated American soldier of the First World War, served in the
California National Guard before and after the war. Generals George
Patton and James
Doolittle were native
Californians and Fleet Admiral Chester
Nimitz and General
of the Air Force Henry "Hap" Arnold considered California
their home state.
Again, thanks for "surfing
in" and we hope you visit us soon.
Status of
the California Military Museum System
Opened in 1991, The
California State Military Museum was operated for the California
Military Department by a non-profit organization, as the State
did not have a mechanism to receive donated artifacts and funds.
The museum operated under this arrangement until 2013 when a
combination of factors resulted in the termination of the relationship
with that non-profit organization. At the same time the state's
budget crisis and limitations on state funds resulted in the
closing of the Sacramento museum, which was occupying very expensive
commercial rental property in Old Sacramento. In the interim,
the Camp
Roberts Historical Museum
is functioning as the State's official military museum and US
Army Museum Activity until the Sacramento museum is reestablished.
The Military Department's strategic plan for the museum system
is located HERE
A recent change in
California state law now gives the California Military Department
the authority to solicit and receive artifacts, monetary and
other tax deductible contributions for the California Military
Museum System without requiring the use of an outside non-profit
organization.
For your tax planning
purposes here are the Federal and California tax citations:
