What is the California Hall of Fame?
Conceived by First Lady Maria Shriver, The California Museum’s California Hall of Fame was established in 2006 to honor legendary people who embody California’s innovative spirit and have made their mark on history. The California Hall of Fame is a landmark destination featured in the Museum, which serves to inspire visitors by exhibiting the diverse, creative and extraordinary stories of trailblazers, leaders and legends who have called California home.
The California Hall of Fame celebrates inductees by:
Installing the inductees into the California Hall of Fame institution in a formal state ceremony in Sacramento each year, at which inductees (or their families for the posthumous awards) receive the Spirit of California medal.
Making inductees and their accomplishments part of the permanent record in the California State Archives.
Recording the unique stories and personal achievements of inductees in an exhibit at The California Museum, serving as the visual, encyclopedic record of the California Hall of Fame, to which new inductees are added each year.
Highlighting the inspirational achievements of inductees through a year-round education campaign.
Where is the California Hall of Fame located?
The California Hall of Fame is located at The California Museum, 1020 O Street in Sacramento, one block from the State Capitol.
Who are the inductees and how are they chosen?
The California Hall of Fame inductees come from all walks of life and are people who have made distinguished achievements across many fields, including the arts, education, business and labor, science, sports, philanthropy and public service.
A selection committee comprised of representatives from The California Museum, the California Arts Council, and the Governor’s and First Lady’s Offices work from established selection criteria to identify nominations.
Criteria for selection requires that inductees have transcended the boundaries of their fields to make lasting contributions to the state, nation and world and that their extraordinary vision motivates and inspires people to further their own dreams.
Who are the 2010 inductees?
The 2009 inductees are: Edmund G. "Pat" Brown, James Cameron, John Doerr, A.P. Giannini, Merle Haggard, Anne Lamott, George Shultz, Dr. Kevin Starr, Levi Strauss, Barbra Streisand, Wayne Thiebaud, Betty White, Serena Williams, and Mark Zuckerberg.
Who else has been inducted?
The 2009 inductees are: Carol Burnett, Andy Grove, Hiram Johnson, Rafer Johnson, Henry J. Kaiser, Joan Kroc, George Lucas, John Madden, Harvey Milk, Fritz Scholder, Danielle Steel, Joe Weider and General Chuck Yeager.
The 2008 inductees were: Dave Brubeck, Jane Fonda, Robert Graham, Quincy Jones, Jack Lalanne, Dorothea Lange, Julia Morgan, Jack Nicholson, Linus Pauling, Theodor “Dr. Seuss” Geisel, Leland Stanford, and Alice Waters.
The 2007 inductees were: Ansel Adams, Milton Berle, Steve Jobs, Willie Mays, Robert Mondavi, Rita Moreno, Jackie Robinson, Jonas Salk, John Steinbeck, Elizabeth Taylor, Earl Warren, John Wayne and Tiger Woods.
The 2006 inductees were: César Chávez, Walt Disney, Amelia Earhart, Clint Eastwood, Frank Gehry, David Ho, M.D., Billie Jean King, John Muir, Ronald Reagan, Sally Ride, Alice Walker and the Hearst and Packard Families.
How does the California Hall of Fame fit into the educational mission of The California Museum?
The California Hall of Fame advances the Museum’s mission to engage, enlighten and educate. The California Museum brings critical learning opportunities in art, culture and history to California youth, serving over 50,000 students annually. The California Hall of Fame educational activities, wrapped into the current educational programming, include special activity sheets for educators teaching California history. The Museum also hosts Family Fun Days inspired by the inductees.
What is the award given to the inductees?
The California Museum’s California Hall of Fame medal, the Spirit of California, was designed by Los Angeles artist, and '08 inductee, the late Robert Graham. This beautifully sculpted medal is presented to each inductee at the induction ceremony.
California IQ
California grows more of this crop than any other state
