California State Indian Museum

Honoring the Indian heritage of California, the California State Indian Museum offers visitors access to exhibits that explore the culture of Native Americans in the state. Indians numbered as many as 500,000 in the state prior to the arrival of Europeans and they were divided into more than 150 tribal groups who spoke 64 different languages. The items in the museum include clothing, basketry, beadwork, and educational information about the traditions of the California Indians, many of which continue today. The museum has collected the items from the descendents of the first residents of the state who have donated photographs and handicrafts. There is a hands-on area of the museum where guests can use tools used by the Indians. The hands-on exhibits include a pump drill, a mortar and pestle, and a soap root brush. The museum store allows people to bring home a piece of the Indian culture and they can shop for gourds, Native American made jewelry, baskets, hand-crafted dolls, and soapstone carvings. The store also features a large collection of books about Indians and the Native American culture. Larger tours of the museum are allowed and there is nearby space for bus parking. Visitors to the museum are encouraged to dress comfortably for their tour.