The Center for Sacramento History will open its collections storage vault for public tours on Oct. 17 as part of the annual Sacramento Archives Crawl.
The free event runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at four locations, with free bus transportation between sites.
Held during American Archives Month, the crawl offers a chance to explore historic collections, meet archivists and learn how historical records are preserved and made available for research.
“The crawl gives people a chance to ask archivists about the records they preserve and the stories those records tell about our region,” said City Historian Ty Smith. “These photographs, documents and objects offer a closer look at the everyday lives of the people who shaped Sacramento.”
Visitors can explore exhibits and take tours at the following locations:
- Center for Sacramento History (551 Sequoia Pacific Blvd.): Storage vault tours will begin every half hour starting at 10 a.m., with the last tour at 3:30 p.m. The crawl is the only day of the year the vault is open to the public. A new exhibit, “Employees Only: On the Job in Sacramento,” will feature photographs of local workers, including barbers, bartenders, rice farmers and sausage makers. Visitors can also try old typewriters, see other antique office machines and view objects from Tower Records founder Russ Solomon’s office.
- Sacramento Room at the Sacramento Public Library (828 I St.): From 1–2 p.m., Abbygale Principe, a history doctoral candidate at UC Riverside, will discuss the first wave of Filipino immigration to the Central Valley and Sacramento area. A moderated presentation with fellow UC Riverside history doctoral candidate Christella Maldonado will follow.
- California State Library (914 Capitol Mall): Guided, 30-minute “Tiny Tours” will highlight the library’s art and architecture, including murals by Frank Van Sloan and Maynard Dixon. Visitors can also view photographs from Johnny Cash’s San Quentin and Folsom Prison concerts.
- California State Archives (1020 O St.): A new exhibit, “Shaping a Shoreline: Stories from the Waterfront,” will explore the development of San Francisco’s waterfront. Original maps, photographs, correspondence and employee records will be displayed for one day only. Tours will begin hourly from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Crawl attendees can also visit the California Museum for free that day.
Attendees will receive an Archives Crawl passport to collect stamps at all four locations. Along the way, visitors can meet archivists, explore special collections and have a chance to win prizes. Each site will feature different historical materials and activities.
For the full schedule and event information, visit the Sacramento Archives Crawl website.
Beyond the crawl, the Center for Sacramento History is open for in-person research by appointment on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Learn more at centerforsacramentohistory.org.
