Museum History

A Brief History About The California Museum for History, Women and the Arts:

The Museum, then known as the Golden State Museum, opened in June 1998 as a unique public/private partnership. It was developed under the Secretary of State’s office with state 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. With financial resources at a minimum during our first years of operation the Museum focused its resources on education. For the past six years, the Museum has seen growth in school group tours while many other museums are experiencing a decline in their educational tours.

The Museum’s programs provide an important resource for California schoolteachers. The Museum has been able to support our increasing demands through budget cuts, however financial troubles soon jeopardized the sustainability of the Museum. Last year the Museum received some much needed help from California’s First Lady Maria Shriver. Recognizing the significance women have had in shaping California, Maria Shriver noticed there was no site, museum or permanent exhibit that commemorates their role in a substantial way.

Struck by this glaring absence, in May of 2004 First Lady Maria Shriver, working with the Secretary of State and California State Parks, presented an exhibit titled “California’s Remarkable Women” at the California State History Museum. This trailblazing exhibit honors the legacy and celebrates the accomplishments of California’s remarkable women of yesterday and today. The exhibit opened to significant popular and critical acclaim, increasing foot traffic and store sales. With the success of the exhibit, the Museum Board turned to the First Lady for help in permanently turning around the ailing Museum.

After considering variations on the theme, the idea for The California Museum for History, Women and the Arts was born—a Museum that will tell the story of California and for the first time the stories of California’s women. The First Lady’s involvement is already beginning to bear fruit.

• The new Museum has gotten a huge vote of confidence from the California Legislature. The Legislature approved by sweeping margins a bill, authored by the bipartisan leaders of both houses, that authorizes the new Museum.
• The Museum’s board is being revitalized.
• This year, before it even launches its fundraising campaign, the Museum has raised almost a million dollars through grants from the Governor and First Lady’s Conference on Women and Families and the California Cultural and Historical Endowment as well as individual donations.
• Exciting new exhibits are being planned in the next few months.

The California Museum for History, Women, and the Arts will launch a multi-million dollar capital campaign to design and develop this world-class Museum. Unlike so many other new institutions, we don’t have to build a building. We can devote all our resources to building and maintaining what’s inside.

Click here for the Museum's Mission.