California State Military Museum
Encyclopedia
The California State Military Museum is the official military museum of the State of California. It is located in the Old Sacramento State Historic Park
at 1119 Second Street.
The museum was begun 1991 during the administration of California Governor Pete Wilson
. 11 years later Governor Gray Davis
made it a permanent museum under the California State Military Department, providing it permanent funding. On 13 July 2004, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
made it the state's official military museum.
The museum highlights contributions of individuals and units from California in the US military, and its various military operations and wars.
In addition to its main location in Sacramento, the museum has five satellite museums at Camp Roberts
in southern Monterey County, Camp San Luis Obispo
, Fresno Air National Guard Base
, the Los Alamitos Joint Forces Training Base in Orange County and the National Guard Armory in San Diego
.
To honor those Californians who have laid down their lives in the Global War on Terrorism, the California State Military Museum is building a "Global War on Terrorism Wall of Honor". Constructed of black granite, this memorial will be located at the entrance of the museum. The names of service members who died September 11, 2001, in the attack on the Pentagon
, as well as those casualties of the Afghanistan
and Iraq
Campaigns will be listed chronologically. The memorial will include their rank, branch of service, and age.
The Major General Walter P. Story Memorial Library is one of the finest collections of military history writings in the western United States
. With over 10,000 volumes and growing rapidly, the library is one of the state's hidden educational and historical treasures. Topics range from general military history
to very specific and one of a kind documents, such as original unit rosters of early California Militia units.
Old Sacramento State Historic Park
Old Sacramento State Historic Park is the historic region of Sacramento, California, which has been designated as a state park. It is generally referred to as Old Sacramento, or Old Sac, and since the 1960s has been restored and developed as a significant tourist attraction. All of it is...
at 1119 Second Street.
The museum was begun 1991 during the administration of California Governor Pete Wilson
Pete Wilson
Peter Barton "Pete" Wilson is an American politician from California. Wilson, a Republican, served as the 36th Governor of California , the culmination of more than three decades in the public arena that included eight years as a United States Senator , eleven years as Mayor of San Diego and...
. 11 years later Governor Gray Davis
Gray Davis
Joseph Graham "Gray" Davis, Jr. is an American Democratic politician who served as California's 37th Governor from 1999 until being recalled in 2003...
made it a permanent museum under the California State Military Department, providing it permanent funding. On 13 July 2004, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Arnold Alois Schwarzenegger is an Austrian-American former professional bodybuilder, actor, businessman, investor, and politician. Schwarzenegger served as the 38th Governor of California from 2003 until 2011....
made it the state's official military museum.
The museum highlights contributions of individuals and units from California in the US military, and its various military operations and wars.
In addition to its main location in Sacramento, the museum has five satellite museums at Camp Roberts
Camp Roberts, California
Camp Roberts is a California National Guard post in central California, located on both sides of the Salinas River in Monterey and San Luis Obispo counties, now run by the California Army National Guard. It is named after Harold W. Roberts, a World War I Medal of Honor recipient...
in southern Monterey County, Camp San Luis Obispo
Camp San Luis Obispo
Camp San Luis Obispo is the original home of the California Army National Guard. It served as an Infantry Division Camp and Cantonment Area for the United States Army during World War II.-History:...
, Fresno Air National Guard Base
Fresno Yosemite International Airport
Fresno Yosemite International Airport , formerly known as Fresno Air Terminal, is a joint civil-military public airport located in eastern Fresno, in Fresno County, California. The airport is more than south of Yosemite National Park on California State Route 41. The airport covers and has two...
, the Los Alamitos Joint Forces Training Base in Orange County and the National Guard Armory in San Diego
San Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
.
To honor those Californians who have laid down their lives in the Global War on Terrorism, the California State Military Museum is building a "Global War on Terrorism Wall of Honor". Constructed of black granite, this memorial will be located at the entrance of the museum. The names of service members who died September 11, 2001, in the attack on the Pentagon
The Pentagon
The Pentagon is the headquarters of the United States Department of Defense, located in Arlington County, Virginia. As a symbol of the U.S. military, "the Pentagon" is often used metonymically to refer to the Department of Defense rather than the building itself.Designed by the American architect...
, as well as those casualties of the Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
and Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
Campaigns will be listed chronologically. The memorial will include their rank, branch of service, and age.
The Major General Walter P. Story Memorial Library is one of the finest collections of military history writings in the western United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. With over 10,000 volumes and growing rapidly, the library is one of the state's hidden educational and historical treasures. Topics range from general military history
Military history
Military history is a humanities discipline within the scope of general historical recording of armed conflict in the history of humanity, and its impact on the societies, their cultures, economies and changing intra and international relationships....
to very specific and one of a kind documents, such as original unit rosters of early California Militia units.