The California Museum - History

History

Originally called the Golden State Museum, The California Museum opened in June 1998 as a unique public/private partnership. It was developed under the Secretary of State’s office with ste bond funding for the facility and the opening exhibits. However, the Museum’s long-term management and financial support are the responsibility of a nonprofit Public Benefit Corporation, no direct funding from the state supports the Museum. Private contributions, augmented by proceeds from admissions and the Museum Store, fund the Museum’s programs and operations.

In May 2004, former First Lady Maria Shriver, working with the Secretary of State and California State Parks, presented an exhibit titled “California’s Remarkable Women.” This trailblazing exhibit honors the legacy and celebrates the accomplishments of California’s remarkable women of yesterday and today. The exhibit’s success set in motion the idea for The California Museum for History, Women and the Arts—a Museum that tells the story of California and for the first time the stories of California’s women.

Shriver led a bipartisan effort to create this revitalized museum which operates as a nonprofit, non-partisan historical and cultural institution dedicated to telling the complete history of California, including the stories of California’s women and under-represented groups in history. A revitalized Board of Trustees oversees the operations and has launched a multi-million dollar capital campaign to design and develop the new Museum.

As of March 2011, Governor Jerry Brown and First Lady Anne Gust Brown are Honorary Chairs of both the Museum and the California Hall of Fame, along with an Honorary Board including former Governors George Deukmejian, Gray Davis and Arnold Schwarzenegger and former First Ladies Nancy Reagan, Gloria Deukmejian, Gayle Wilson, Sharon Davis and Maria Shriver.