"… 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.
Museum Main Gallery
Welcome
to California Military History Online!
The California State Military Museum is located at 1119 Second Street in the
Old Sacramento State Historical Park. It is only a few minutes walk from the State Capital,
The California State Railroad Museum and several other fine museums,
parks, and tourist attractions. The museum, opened by Governor
Pete Wilson in 1991, is the official military museum and historical
research center of the State of California. This was reinforced
on 11 September 2002 when Governor Gray Davis signed legislation
making the museum a permanent museum under the California State
Military Department and providing permanent funding for the museum.
Finally on 13 July 2004, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed
legislation to amend the Government Code to make the museum the
state's official military museum.
"I am signing AB 1939 which
establishes the California State Military Museum and Resource
Center located in Sacramento, California as the official military
museum because I believe that it is very important to preserve
California’s storied military heritage."
- Governor Arnold
Schwarzenegger in his message to the State Assembly, 13 July
2004
Today the museum houses
over 33,000 artifacts as well a substantial library and archives.
In addition to the main facility in Sacramento, the museum also
has three satellite museums at Camp Roberts in Monterey County, Camp San Luis Obispo in San Luis Obispo County, and the Los Alamitos Joint Forces
Training Base (under
development) in Orange County. We also oversee non-public Regimental
Rooms at the San Diego Armory and other National Guard facilities
across the state.
A Message
from the Museum Director
Thank you for taking
the time to visit our web site. We hope you find it educational
and enlightening. But, no matter how good a web site or virtual
museum it is, it won't replace an actual visit to a museum or
historic site. We hope you take a little more time and come and
visit us.
It should be noted that
our program 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.
Thanks to the support
of the Governor, the State Legislature, and the Adjutant General,
California has one of the most active and innovative programs
in the United States.
Again, thanks for "surfing
in" and we hope you visit us soon.
The California State
Military Museum Foundation (an Internal Revenue Code section
501(c)(3) non-public benefit corporation) is supported by the
California Center for Military History and operates the museum
under the auspices of the Adjutant General, California Military
Department under an operating agreement. The museum is also designated
as a United States Army Museum Activity.
Questions and comments concerning
this site should be directed to the Webmaster
WARNING
This non-classified
computer system is provided as a public service to the California
State Military Museum and the California Center for Military
History, California State Military Department. It is intended
for use by the public for viewing and retrieving information
only. Unauthorized attempts to upload information or change information
on this service are strictly prohibited and may be punishable
under the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act of 1986. Secured operational
or secured personal data may not be uploaded or downloaded via
this server. Unless otherwise indicated, all information on this
system is considered public information and may be distributed
or copied. Please report any breech of security to the listed
web site maintenance officer (webmaster). The opinions expressed
herein are those of the authors and not necessarily those of
the United States Department of Defense, The California State
Military Department or the California State Military Museum Foundation.
California State Military
Department
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