Free Museum Day in Sacramento

So maybe there's still no such thing as a free lunch, but on Sat. Feb. 6, 2010, Sacramento area museums will open their doors to the public free of charge. Between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., the Sacramento Association of Museums (SAM) is inviting the public to explore 26 museums ranging from the Crocker Art Museum to the Discovery Museum Science and Space Center to the historic Governor's Mansion (the one Nancy Reagan refused to move into).

Free Shuttle Service on Sacramento Free Museum Day

A free shuttle service will operate between the various museums on Sacramento's Free Museum Day to all museums except the Aerospace Museum or the Discover Museum Science and Space Center. Complete information can be found at SAM's official Free Museum Day website along with itinerary tips, such as where to start the day and which museums are best for children.

Because rain is predicted on Saturday, the Sacramento Zoo and Fairytale Town could be less popular than usual, so families with a good stock of umbrellas who are not averse to getting a little wet could take advantage of the smaller crowds in these outdoor venues. The Sacramento Zoo typically closes only a couple of days for weather concerns, such as on Jan. 20 this year when heavy winds gusting up to 45 miles per hour made the zoo unsafe for visitors.

Create Your Own Sacramento Museum Memories

Now that my children are grown, I don't find myself going to Sacramento's museums quite as much, but I have great memories of spending Mother's Day one year at the Governor's Mansion, wondering what it would have been like to be the first lady of that house. I also look back nostalgically at my now 21-year-old daughter spending the night at Sutter's Fort with her fourth grade class, time traveling back as a 19^th Century settler named Elizabeth Townsend, while one of her classmate's mothers and I helped the children make Jacob's Ladder toys. Nor can I forget the many special times I have visited the Crocker Art Museum, my favorite being when my good friend Claudia Snyder, who was a docent at the time (and knew all the best secrets), gave me and my children a personal tour of that beautiful 19^th Century home-turned-art-museum (I never could figure out why Margaret Crocker looked so grumpy in her portrait living in such a cool house, although I realize it was frowned upon for subjects to smile back then).

Although Free Museum Day in Sacramento could prove to be very crowded, especially since the rain will lure people toward indoor activities, it could be a good chance for non-claustrophobes to sample Sacramento's museums and return later to explore more in depth the museums that seem most appealing.

Now, if only the restaurants in Sacramento would organize a free lunch day!

Complete List of Museums Participating in Sacramento's Free Museum Day

The following Sacramento area museums will open their doors to the public on Saturday, Feb. 6, 2010: Aerospace Museum of California, California Automobile Museum, California Foundry History Museum, California State Military Museum, California State Capitol Museum, The California Museum, California State Indian Museum, California State Railroad Museum, Crocker Art Museum, Discovery Museum Science and Space Center, Explorit Science Center (Davis), Fairytale Town, Folsom History Museum, Governor's Mansion State Historic Park, Heidrick Ag History Center (Woodland), Leland Stanford Mansion State Historic Park, Museum of Medical History, Old Sacramento Schoolhouse Museum, Old Sacramento State Historic Park, Sacramento Zoo, Sacramento Historic City Cemetery, Sacramento History Museum, Sojourner Truth Multicultural Arts Museum, Sutter's Fort State Historic Park, Wells Fargo History Museum (Old Sacramento and Downtown locations).

SAM cautions visitors that because the Crocker Art Museum is still under construction for its expansion project, some of the museum's gallery space is closed and parking could be a challenge.

Sources:
http://www.sacmuseums.org/museumday.html#
http://sacramentozoo.blogspot.com/