California Military Department
California State Military History and Museums Program
Preserving California's Military Heritage
 
 
"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 Ejercito 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.

If you have any questions, please e-mail history@cmd.ca.gov.
Status of the State Military Museums Program
 
It has been some time since we updated our constituency on the progress of the State Military History and Museums Program over the past few years.

For several years since the old museum in Old Sacramento was closed, we have been taking several steps to reestablish a professional and sustainable statewide program to, as our motto says, collect, protect, and interpret military history as it relates to California and its people.


Some of these steps are:


But the most important development is the re-establishment of a museum in the Sacramento metropolitan area.  The new Joint Forces Headquarters Readiness Center (JFHQ RC) in Rancho Cordova was designed to include a museum component.  The department purchased and installed museum-grade display cases and 600 feet of museum art rail display systems.


In addition to hundreds of artifacts transferred from storage and the old state headquarters, we have installed the following macro-artifacts at the JFHQ RC:

Coming soon:

We are currently open for guided tours by appointment on a limited basis.  For inquire about a tour, please email history@cmd.ca.gov.


Placing a museum activity within an operational headquarters was successfully tested at the 40th Infantry Division Museum in Los Alamitos. That museum is open for guided tours at specific dates and times
 
You can follow the progress of the museum enterprise at the new California State Military Museums Program's Facebook page.
 
 
Monetary Donations
 

While we do receive an appropriation for operations, there are some expenses that we cannot use those funds for. This includes purchasing restoration parts and services that cannot be acquired through state procurement and institutional membership in museum associations, allowing on-site and online training.

Since 1 July 2023, the California Military Department Foundation has served as the manager of monetary donations for the program.

If you would like to support our program, you can send a check to the following:

California Military Department Support Fund
10601 Bear Hollow Drive, Box 42
Rancho Cordova, CA 95670-6530

Make sure you notate "MUSEUM" on the memo line of the check. You can also target your support to a specific program similarly.

Or you can donate online through the California Military Department Foundation's donation portal.  Make sure you notate "MUSEUM" in the optional dedication field.

 
Artifact Donations:
 
Currently we are only accepting artifact donations on an exception basis only. Please email description and photos to history@cmd.ca.gov
 
CALIFORNIA LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES! Please click HERE for information concerning the transfer of weapons and tactical vehicles to the California Military Department State Military Museums Program.
Volunteer Opportunities:
 
As the California State Military History and Museums Program moves forward we will have an increased need for skilled volunteers and docents. We are also looking for individuals, with or without previous military service, to joint the California State Guard's Military Museum Command that supports the program in general and units of the California Army and Air National Guard located throughout the state. Email history@cmd.ca.gov
 
We do have a need for volunteers at the Camp Roberts Historical Museum. Please contact the museum at: remember@camprobertshistoricalmuseum.com
 
Tax Deduction Information

The California Military Department is an agency of the State of California, and charitable contributions to governmental agencies may be tax deductible pursuant to Internal Revenue Code Section 170 (c)(1). The Federal Identification Number is 94-6001336

For California taxes, please see Revenue and Taxation Code Section 17201(a). It calls for state conformity to itemized deductions provided in Part VI of Sub chapter B of Chapter 1 of Subtitle A of the of the Internal Revenue Code, which includes IRS Section 170. This is not intended as tax advice, and please speak with your tax advisor before making any contributions..

Artifacts donated to the California State Military Museums Program become part of the California Military Department Historical Collection and are a tax deductible donation to the State of California.
 
 
Contact Information

For more information on the California State Military Museums Program contact us history@cmd.ca.gov
 
Mailing Address
 
State Military History and Museums Program
10601 Bear Hollow Drive, Box 79
Rancho Cordova, CA 95670-6350

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Updated 16 February 2025