What is the California Hall of Fame?

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 each year, at which inductees (or their families, if a posthumous award) 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 program designed to inspire visitors to make their own mark on history.

When is the 7th Annual California Hall of Fame?

The 7th Annual California Hall of Fame induction ceremony will take place on March 20, 2013, at The California Museum, located at 1020 O Street in Sacramento. The 7th Annual California Hall of Fame exhibition will open on March 21, 2013 at The California Museum, located at 1020 O Street in Sacramento.

Who are the 7th class of inductees?

The 7th class of inductees are: Gregory Bateson, Warren Beatty, Charles and Ray Eames, Dolores Huerta, Ishi, Joe Montana and Warner Brothers.

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.

What are the criteria for induction?

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.

The criteria for selection to the California Hall of Fame requires that inductees have transcended the boundaries of their field 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 has been inducted?

The 6th class of inductees are: Buzz Aldrin, The Beach Boys, Elizabeth Blackburn, Gregory Boyle, Doris and Donald Fisher, Magic Johnson, Ed Roberts, Carlos Santana, Amy Tan, and Roger Traynor.

The 5th class of inductees are: Edmund G. “Pat” Brown, James Cameron, John Doerr, A. P. Giannini, Merle Haggard, Anne Lamott, George Shultz, Kevin Starr, Levi Strauss, Barbra Streisand, Wayne Thiebaud, Betty White, Serena Williams and Mark Zuckerberg.

The 4th inductees were: Carol Burnett, Andrew Grove, Hiram Johnson, Rafer Johnson, Henry J. Kaiser, Joan Kroc, George Lucas, John Madden, Harvey Milk, Fritz Scholder, Danielle Steel, Joe Weider and Chuck Yeager.

The 3rd class of inductees are: Dave Brubeck, Jane Fonda, Theodor “Dr. Seuss” Geisel, Robert Graham, Quincy Jones, Jack LaLanne, Dorothea Lange, Julia Morgan, Jack Nicholson,  Linus Pauling, Leland Stanford and Alice Waters.

The 2nd class of inductees are: 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 1st class of inductees are: César Chávez, Walt Disney, Amelia Earhart, Clint Eastwood, Frank Gehry, David Ho, Billie Jean King, John Muir, Ronald Reagan, Sally Ride, Alice Walker and the Hearst and Packard Families.

When will the induction take place?

The California Museum’s 7th Annual California Hall of Fame induction ceremony will be held at The California Museum on March 20, 2013, and will include a formal state induction ceremony, the presentation of medals by the Governor and First Lady. All living inductees attend and members of the surviving family accept posthumous awards.

How can I watch the California Hall of Fame?

A one-hour broadcast of the red carpet and induction ceremony will air on PBS stations across California later this year, on a date to be determined. In addition, the show will also be available to view online at http://www.CaliforniaMuseum.org

When does the 7th annual exhibit open?

The 7th Annual California Hall of Fame exhibit will open on March 21, 2013 at The California Museum and will feature artifacts on loan from the new class of inductees.

How does the California Hall of Fame fit into the 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 award is given to the inductees?

Inductees receive the Spirit of California medal designed by Los Angeles artist and 2808 inductee Robert Graham.

What is the California Hall of Fame medal?

The late Los Angeles artist and 2008 inductee Robert Graham designed the California Hall of Fame medal, named Spirit of California. This beautifully sculpted medal is presented to each inductee at the induction ceremony as a symbol of their installation into the California Hall of Fame.