Crocker Art Museum

Crocker Entrance 10/08, courtesy of William J. Trinkle Crocker Art Museum, July 2007

Location

216 O Street

Hours

Tu-Su, 10am-5pm; Th 10am-9pm

Admission Fees

Adults $6; Seniors (65+) $4; Students w/ID $3; 6 yrs and under free

Phone

(916)264-1179 (M-F 8-5)

(916)264-5423 (24-hr info line)

Website

http://www.crockerartmuseum.org

The Crocker Art Museum was founded in 1885 through a donation by Margaret E. Crocker to the city of Sacramento. The museum is "(t)he longest continuously operating art museum in the West," according to their website. The Crocker is housed in probably the nicest Victorian home in Sacramento, with massive double entry doors, marble floors and a stunning staircase. The main building and annexes cover a city block.

Admission is free on Sundays between 10 am and 1 pm. After visiting the Crocker, you can go across the street to have a picnic lunch in the small adjacent park, or walk just a few blocks to the river and Old Sacramento.

The museum is undergoing an expansion in 2007, so parking can be a little challenging. The street to the west (next to the I-5 onramp) is now inaccessible and O street is sometimes blocked. You can park at meters or in a small parking lot just north of the museum.

The museum has 14,000 works of art, including a large collection of California art and ceramics.

The $85 million Crocker expansion broke ground in July 2007 and is expected to finish in 2010. It will increase the museum's floor space to 170,000 square feet. The project will add a cafe, larger galleries, and a freight elevator. The new design will incorporate the original Victorian architecture, though parts of the original museum will be altered (the Herold Wing will be torn down).

The city, state, and county have pitched $18.5 million for the expansion. The biggest contributor has been the Joyce and Jim Teel Family Foundation — a product of the Raley's grocery fortune — which pledged $13 million.

The architecture firm for the expansion is Gwathmey, Siegel & Associates.

Construction on East wing, July 2007

Comments about the Crocker Art Museum

Note: You must be logged in to add comments

2008-10-28 22:04:26   The Crocker is one of the quiet treasures of Sacramento. Its programs offer much to enjoy. One of the rooms on the 2nd floor is my favorite place in all of Sacramento. I highly recommend a visit when you can. —WILLIAMJTRINKLE

2009-11-08 15:32:16   i love art and its cool —humbert