California State Capitol Museum

The California State Capitol Museum comprises a museum in and grounds around the California State Capitol in Sacramento, California, USA. The building has been the home of the California State Legislature since 1869. The building underwent a major renovation, known as the California State Capitol Restoration, from 1975 until 1982 to restore the Capitol to its former beauty and to retrofit the structure for earthquake safety. Although not generally considered earthquake country, Sacramento was hit by two earthquakes within days of each other in 1892 which damaged the Capitol. The State Capitol Museum has been a property in the California state park system since 1982.Capitol MuseumWhile the entire building may be considered a museum, the heart of the Capitol Museum can be found on the basement and first floor of the original section of the building. In the basement can be found the tour office (B-27), a small theater showing several short films on the history of the Capitol, the gift shop, and the Arthur Mathews mural, the "History of California." On the first floor, visitors can tour the restored historic offices of the Secretary of State, Treasurer, and Governor of California, as well as two rotating exhibit rooms. In the center of the rotunda stands the marble statue, "Columbus' Last Appeal to Queen Isabella," sculpted by Larkin Mead and given to California by banker and philanthropist D.O. Mills in 1883. The museum offers self-guided and guided tours (normally on the hour), and a chance to see the legislature at work when it is in session.