The first public art museum founded in the Western United States, the Crocker Art Museum is still one of the leading museums in California today. If being the oldest art museum west of the Mississippi sounds like a stodgy claim to fame, forget about it. This is one vibrant, eclectic, fascinating, and altogether of-the-moment museum, with an unparalleled collection of both historic and contemporary art.
Where Is the Crocker Art Museum?
The Crocker Art Museum is located at 216 O Street in downtown Sacramento, right along the Sacramento River in Old Sacramento's orbit, just a few blocks from the California State Capitol. Its riverside setting places it within easy walking distance of Old Sacramento's historic waterfront district, and it's easily reachable via Sacramento's light rail system, making it a convenient stop for anyone exploring the city's downtown core.
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History of the Crocker Art Museum
The original Crocker Museum was a gift to the city from Margaret Crocker, heiress of the fabulously wealthy Crocker railroad fortune. The move gave the people of Sacramento permanent access to her family’s astounding personal galleries, housed in an Italianate mansion a pleasant stroll from the Capitol building.
Margaret and her husband, Judge Edwin B. Crocker, built the collection during a Grand Tour of Europe from 1869 to 1871, funded in part by Edwin's work as legal counsel for the Central Pacific Railroad—the company his brother Charles helped found as part of the famed "Big Four" behind the First Transcontinental Railroad. By the time they returned home, the couple had amassed more than 700 paintings and over 1,300 master drawings; at the time, it was the largest privately held art collection in the country.
Following Edwin's 1875 death, Margaret donated the gallery and its holdings to the city in 1885, establishing what remains the oldest continuously operating public art museum in the western United States.
The elegant building that houses the gallery, as well as the adjacent family home, still showcase that collection, which includes European works as well as the Californian collection, now considered one of the finest of its kind in the United States.
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What are Some of the Highlights in the Crocker Collection?
Over time, the museum’s collection has grown to include an amazing wealth of international ceramics, sculptures, and works by contemporary California artists, many of whom taught at nearby UC Davis. Fast forward to 2010, when a dramatic new gallery space, the ultra-modern Teel Family Pavilion, was added to the 1800s-era Crocker compound, a bold and visually stunning move. These wide open, naturally lit gallery spaces have become the home of the contemporary collection, and they are your chance to see original works by some of the state’s finest artists. Here, experience black-and-white originals by the celebrated photographer Ansel Adams—the difference between seeing his real images of Yosemite’s Half Dome versus a poster replica is breathtaking. Also on display are such modern pieces as Wayne Thiebaud’s whimsical paintings of pie or his well-known Two Seated Figures, or sculptor Roy Arneson’s wacky ceramic head.
Also of note is Thomas Hill’s contemplative oil painting Great Canyon of the Sierra from 1871 and the pastoral A Golden Summer Day Near Oakland from 1873.
Kid-Friendly Events at the Crocker Art Museum
The Crocker caters well to families too: Areas like Tot Land and The Story Trail help kids of all ages engage with the art in fun ways, and standing events like Wee Wednesday and Sunday Playday offer hands-on activities. Check the museum’s online calendar for drop-in events where kids can sketch with guidance from an art teacher, or parents and caregivers can escort tiny ones on the Baby Loves Art gallery walk. Altogether, the Crocker, old and new, creates one of the best cultural experiences in California’s capital city.
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Crocker Art Museum Hours of Operation
The Crocker Art Museum is open Wednesday through Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with extended hours until 9 p.m. on Thursday evenings, making that late-night slot a good option for visitors hoping to avoid weekend crowds. It's closed Mondays and Tuesdays, as well as Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day. Budget-minded visitors should note that the museum offers free admission on the third Sunday of each month, with a "pay what you wish" donation accepted in its place.
