Crocker Art Museum

Find 1,500 drawings by European Masters, a treasure trove of works from Africa and Asia, and one of the finest collections of ceramics at this Sacramento institution.

Approach the Crocker Art Museum today and you might think it’s a recent addition to Sacramento’s list of attractions, with the curving façade giving the building a stylish, modern feel. This is far from the case, however the Crocker is known for being the longest continually running museum in the United States. The old building, an Italian-style mansion that was built in 1868 as a home for Judge Edwin B. Crocker, has been incorporated into the new design. There are many opportunities to sit back and savour the old Victorian interior as you make your way around the 15,000 works of art within the building.

A good first stop is the Californian and American Art collection on the third floor. Here you will find one of the most extensive and important collections of American art in the country, with genres ranging from impressionism to pop art and more traditional works. Find Chinese tomb furnishings and a collection of Indian and Persian miniature paintings on the same floor in the Asian Art collection.

Take the elevator down a level to explore a range of African and Oceanic relics. If you have an interest in pottery then you could spend hours on this floor, studying the comprehensive International Ceramics collection. This section also a features a history of ceramics, with clay pots from the Neolithic period providing a fascinating contrast to the fine porcelain of the early 18th-century Meissen porcelain tableware, and more contemporary experimentations with form and glaze.

Tours taking in the highlights of the museum run every Saturday, and other tours focusing on specific areas, such as the architecture or new additions to the collections, are run at various times throughout the month. Ask at the admissions desk for details.

The Crocker Art Museum is located on the corner of Third and O streets in downtown Sacramento. There is metered parking on the street and also several garages where you can pay to park. Light rail and buses stop nearby. The museum is closed on Mondays and major holidays