California State Capitol Museum Reviews

There was alot of information to review and lots to view. This was very interesting, The plus was it was a free tour. Beautiful building as well. Make sure to swing by the small gift store and support them as well I found a few great tokens.

Great visit on the Veterans Memorial and inside the State Capital Bldg. rose gardens and statues are phenomenal! Must visit the halls of the Capital Bldg to see artifacts, photos and incorporated cities of California and what they're famous for.

Didn’t expect to go there other than to see it from the outside. The grounds and the building are spectacular with a nice rose garden on one end and some very nice memorials to firefighters and soldiers. It’s free to go inside and see some neat displays of different parts of California with cool facts and also to see some old offices from the past with artifacts such as old typewriters and phones. And you get to see large portraits of California governors including Ronald Regan and Arnold Schwarzenegger!! And the Centre of the building has a beautiful decorative ceiling like you would see in Rome!

It was a short 45 minute tour and most was spent discussing laws and bills but the building is gorgeous! The kids enjoyed or at least didn’t complain! The architecture is beautiful and we learned some fun facts about the state seal and some of the changes to the building! Overall it’s worth the time!

This is so awesome that this is open to the public to come in anytime. It is such a beautiful building, inside and out.

What a great way to get a taste of our government.

You can walk in and see the capitol for free. We didn't take the tour - I'm sure it would have been fascinating.

Loved all of the counties of CA represented.

I believe our Capitol is the only that's both a working Capitol and a museum. Beautiful building, lots of history. If you're a Californian, you should visit at least once.

We love visiting state capitals when in any state and we had the opportunity to visit Califórnia’s this past week. There are free tours as well as a museum highlighting all the counties of CA and special periods of the States growth, it is a good historical tour.

The California State Capitol is the far and away BEST attraction in Sacramento. I have toured it many times, and never tire of seeing its many treasures. The Docent/Tour Guides are extremely dedicated to their work and well education in all the facets of this historical jewel. If you come to Sacramento, you MUST come to the Capitol and take the guided tour. You will always remember the experience Trust me, I know!

If you are interested in politics you must go ! It’s a interesting place if you want to know about politics of California . Don’t forget take a picture whit the grizzly bear !

A group of us went to the state capital & gardens after dinner in an evening stroll/visit, and it was absolutely gorgeous. The buildings are majestic, and gardens are lovely, plenty of photo opportunities. One thing I will warn you about --- the gardens/plants/foliage are so diverse, they seem to hold every pollen/outdoor allergen in abundance. Several different members of our group who have allergies (myself one) started to come down with strong, noticeable symptoms. Red itchy eyes, runny nose, continuous sneezing. My daughter & I (and some others) had to leave after about an hour walking around because the symptoms were so bad.

It’s a lovely building and exquisite grounds. There’s tree-gifts from Australia and Japan to some redwoods (don’t naturally grow here), interesting county exhibits and beautiful marble work. Real ought to check it out.

The place is amazing and I learned a lot about California government. They tour the place and tell the history of the rooms and grounds.

We throughly enjoyed our tour. Our guide was funny and knowledgeable. Unfortunately we had to leave early so did not get to see everything. Will be back.

We planned on dropping in for an hour and ended up spending three hours. The guided tour is well worth the time.

i always take out of town visitors to the capitol. The beautiful white marble statue of Columbus in the entry was a gift to the state by the city of Genova, Italy. Make sure to also visit the Senate and Representative rooms, Also make time to visit the gorgeous grounds and the monuments to our nation's fallen soldiers and firefighters.

After driving through the United States and visiting several state capitols...I am proud to say the California State Capitol and Museum is truly beautiful. The docents that were available to provide tours were not only informative but very friendly and welcoming. Explore the grounds and various monuments and gardens representing different parts of California and save time for the beautiful rose garden. The photograph provided may be dated though, they no longer run the water fountain on regular bases due to water shortages.

Almost as great as the state capitol building are the grounds and park surrounding them. Gorgeous and well manicured with amazing fragrances from a variety of rose bushes and orange trees.

I use to work there and I was always in awe of this beautiful building with so much history. I have taken many of the tours and learn so much about this amazing place and it's history. The grounds are also beautiful. Young or old, it is a place you will want to go!

The Capital building was a lot more interesting than I expected. First you walk through security and then you walk down the hall to the museum section of the building. You pass a number of glass cases, one for each county in CA containing items of relevance from that county. The museum section has a large statue in the middle and if you look up you see into the dome. You can go to the third floor to see the assembly room, which is rather impressive. As you walk around, you’ll see portraits of past Governors and you will see a beautiful mosaic floor. Tours are available, but I walked around on my own.

My daughter and I were thinking of something to do on a windy afternoon. Luckily, we decided to tour the Capitol. We wondered through the building and toured the displays/assembly and senate chambers. A chill thing to do, but we both really enjoyed it and it was a special day for us.

We enjoyed walking through and seeing everything. It is really pretty and well maintained, spotless in fact. Its free and took maybe an hour or so. We didn't have time for the tour but that would be a great way to see it I think.

If you have never visited the California State Capitol, you should definitely attend one of the free guided tours.
We spent one hour and a half going through the building, learned a lot about the history of California and the design choices made when the Capitole was build.
Our guide was super nice and we would definitely recommend the visit!

Our state Capitol is beautiful and has a lot of history. Allison out tour guide was fantastic and very knowledgeable! !

I'm from Sacramento, so I've been several times. I've gone by myself, with family and friends. Kids studying history will love it. It was one of my nieces favorite places to go when she was in fourth grade and studying American History. It's very beautiful inside and out.

Our tour guide was a delightful geriatric man who wove a colorful narrative about the history of the Capitol; how it was constructed in stages over many years, and how budget cuts dictated areas that were left unfinished, or when less costly alternative materials were substituted when money ran out.
He also engaged the tourists by making us mock junior senators and taught us about interacting with lobbyists and other roles we might play as politicians. I particularly enjoyed seeing both the Senate and Assembly floors, and the history behind the color schemes and chosen paintings being related to English Parliament and the US government. The tour made me want to return to watch our politicians in action on the floor of the Senate or Assembly. I strongly recommend the tour for anyone who is civic-minded.

Great looking building. Proud to be a Californian. The building has a lot of history including an overblown portrait of the Governator 😁. It's worth a visit. The day I visited, there were some MAGA trolls expressing their 1st amendment rights that can be counted by two hands. Another reason to love CA.

very interesting and informative.. Wear some comfortable shoes and don't carry more than is necessary.spend the time to see everything available it takes 2 plus hours but I feel it is worth it.

Really good time at the stare Capitol. Exhibits are interesting and the guides are super-helpful and kind. Kids were very impressed. Plus it’s air conditioned!

Touring this beautifully restored building is worth the time investment. We were fortunate to have Richard as our tour guide and he provided lots of colorful stories about past elected officials and events in California's history. In addition to the fascinating architecture, many rooms have been restored to how they would have appeared about 100 years ago. There are large portraits of all of the past CA governors that are very intriguing. The large bronze bear outside the present Governor's office provides a great photo op. I'm glad we included this in our visit to Sacramento.

I recommend that you take a public tour that way you get to see off limit place that you wouldn't otherwise get to see (both chambers). In the walkway they have a shadow box for every county in the state. The governor's off has a giant "golden bear" in front of the off to keep press away (only kinda kidding). The hall of governors is pretty neat. Overall. was much smaller than expected, but nice visit.

I'm glad I stopped by the California Capitol while I was in Sacramento for business. I enjoyed walking through it and looking at the exhibits, but everything was pretty average. I've been in quite a few other state capitol buildings and I thought this was one of the least impressive.

We toured the beautiful building while on vacation. It was very beautiful, the tour guide was informative - everything was fascinating.

If you are interesting in history of California and its goverment establishments. This place for you. Nice to see all governors portraits, especially Ronald Reagan and Arnold Schwarzenegger:)

Make sure a visit of this enormous building is at the top of your itinerary, possibly on a day when there is no business going on. We had a guide named Lou who was very knowledgeable and thorough. We were allowed into the Senate and the Assembly halls plus another few rooms. There is a beautiful, albeit controversial statue in the Rotunda on the ground floor, showing Queen Isabella of Castile and C. Columbus, plus Isabella's grandson; it has been made from one piece of marble. There are also 58 panels in the hallways leading to the Rotunda, showing specifics of the 58 counties within CA

I’ve lived in California since I was six years old but don’t believe I’ve ever visited the State Capitol until yesterday. If I did previously, I was a child and didn’t appreciate it. The architecture inside and out is spectacular. I wish I had time for a guided tour but did spend a few minutes enjoying holiday entertainment. I’ll visit again!

The museum is nicely done and quite interesting. We enjoyed wandering around the building. Gorgeous grounds outside.

I'm a local, and worked at the Capitol and just love the beautiful architecture of this building. The wood and marble are truly something to see.

You will all learn a lot and kids these days need a first hand look at how and where our Government operates. You will also see a beautiful building and decor.The Senate and Assemblies chambers and rotunda are must see's.

Unfortunately, we did not have a good tour guide, but we still got to tour the building. It just took a little longer.
The legislative chambers are attractive and the Rotunda is beautiful.
We saw the California bear statue, and the sort of out of place statue of Columbus being sent of on his journeys.
We found the Governor portraits interesting, especially the young Jerry Brown portrait and the one of Arnold. Both have interesting stories.
The Capitol grounds are quite nice. The Christmas tree was up.

My wife and I, touring from New Jersey, took a docent tour of the capitol. First, the grounds are very impressive with palms swaying around the perimeter and the dome very prominent. While we gained some insight from the tour, we were disappointed. Our guide, while knowledgeable, was a fast talker and not albeit clear. It was hard to pick up on his rehearsed delivery: we were led to several rooms no longer used rather than seeing and learning about today's working government. Most disappointing was that we weren't brought into either the Senate or Assembly chambers; a must with our other capitol visits. We did visit the Assembly on our own later, but didn't get into the Senate. It was fun seeing the portraits of Arnold and Ron, but why is Reagans statue in the basement adjacent to the gift shop?

My husband and I went up to visit our son in Sacramento. He has always wanted to visit the state capitol and added it to our visit plans. I was skeptical at first, but the tour turned out to be quite enjoyable. It's not long, the guides are quite knowledgable and share tidbits about both houses of state government. If you are ever in downtown Sacramento, it's worth adding to your "to do lists".

It was our first time to visit the Capitol. We took the free guided tour and the guide was excellent. He was informative and interesting. The tour lasted about an hour and he was willing to stay after and answer questions.

The California state capital building is really stunning and even more so when you see it light up at nighttime. A must see.

To think that they looked at bulldozing this beautiful building once and replacing it with two towers is unthinkable.
Beautiful place to go look around for free. Stand under the dome and admire the craftsmanship then step back in time to see the rooms set up as they once were.
Packed full of history this beautiful building is worth looking around.

I was unlucky enough for their not to be hearings for either the assembly or the senate, so I was not able to view any of those. In other state houses when there aren't any hearings I've been able to walk around the floor of the chambers, which in California State house you are not allowed too. The county displays I thought were the most interesting to learn more about areas of Califonia I've never been. The museum parts of the house were well done, and I think a good way to spend a few hours in Sacramento.

The entire building is a museum. Take the tour instead of doing it on your own. Eric is a great guide.

I have to say I've been here a few times and always enjoy the visit. I love seeing the history and the extravagance of the Capitol. This last visit, a legislative session was in action and my family and I sat in to listen and see the process. It happened to be about healthcare reform in California. What a great experience and a great way to reinforce what my teenager has learned about our government and it's processes.

We had an excellent museum tour. Our tour guide was not only informative but she kept the tour interesting by asking questions, providing humorous facts, and answering all the questions well. She knew her history and appeared to really enjoy her job. We regret that we didn't get her name.There is an exhibit for each county in CA that was very informative and well displayed. A great history of the building and how Sacramento became the capital of CA.

We visited on a weekend and I was amazed at the level of access we got to different levels of the building. We even got to look down on the senate chamber from the balcony. There are lots of interesting exhibits in the lower floors.

Our capitol building is really beautiful and has so much history. It is really a must see when you are in Sacramento.

From the collection of trees on the capitol grounds to the historical rooms and portraits of past governors it is a great tour. Avoid the school children that tour during the weekdays by stopping by on the weekends.

Since retiring from his job my friend Keith Evans, has signed on to give tours of the State Capitol Museum. As a former teacher in Sacramento I didn't feel the need to go because I thought I knew enough about Sacramento! I was so wrong! During a visit from New Jersey I took my granddaughter, a Sacramento native for twenty -three years, and went on the tour. I was impressed with how well the building and everything in it was so well maintained! The meaning of so many items and how significant the building is to California history was astounding! We enjoyed the tour and the tour guides knowledge!

Loved walking the grounds and interior and learning about the counties of California. I used to live here, but moved away a few years ago. It's strange to visit now that I moved away.

We went on a Saturday morning and very little people which made it nice! Walked all over the inside areas. They have tours on the hour. One of the most beautiful capitols I've been in. Be sure to get the history of the marble statute inside the building. I never knew there was a California State library next door! I wished the cafeteria was open on the weekends just to get the full experience.

Worth the time. Especially the grounds. Gorgeous interior. Nice souvenir shop as well. Prettiest Capitol I’ve ever seen.

It' s not really a museum in the conventional sense. The whole building is the museum. Some rooms have been set up as they were in 1906 and you can look through the doorway at them. There is a more museum-like room that emphasizes the history of the state flag. You can wander around the building by yourself, but you'll see more if you take a guided tour. We took a tour led by Logan, a very pleasant and knowledgeable person who filled us in on state history and explained much about the decorations and architectural details. The tours are free, and definitely worth the time.

We were there in mid-May, and there was a lot of construction going on, inside and out, and on the surrounding streets. Parking in the area may be difficult. Note that you will need to pass through a security screening to get in.

#disability #accessibility
The hallways are wide and smooth, very accessible for someone with a walking aid or wheelchair. There are elevators between floors.

When in the Capitol Building recently we checked out the museum. It had nice informative and interesting displays. I would never have thought of going. A worthy stop when in the area.

Great chance to come see the politics process in action. You can even walk right up to the governor's office and into the waiting room.

I took a fun photo of me "banging" on the door of my elected official.

The "angry" masses are swarming the barricades!

Beautifully restored state capital building, great brochure for self-guided tour, safe visit ensured through required scanned entry. Lovely tiled floor, historic paintings, beautiful dome. Go to 3rd floor and work your way down. Go in both galleries, no floor entry.

Visiting family in the Sacramento area. No one had visited the California Capitol. Went on a Saturday to the Capitol. No traffic and few visitors to the Capitol. Able to take a self guided free tour of the Capitol. Beautiful building and great tour. Very enjoyable and great for all ages.

This is an impressive building on the inside matched by an equally interesting interior for lots of photo opportunities. In the large rotunda in the center of the building under the dome is a statuary group titled Columbus' Last Appeal to Queen Isabella. Open to the public is the Assembly Chamber. Not far from it hanging on the wall are the portraits of all the former governors in California. This is probably the only capitol in the United States where the portrait of two former and current movie stars graced the wall. Well worth a visit if you are in Sacramento.

Enjoyed the architecture and historic rooms. There is a good gift shop in the basement for better quality California souvenirs.

Our trip was awesome!! We had a great guide and got to see the legislative floors and where all the bulls are discussed. Such awesome history and beautiful architecture. Great for kids 8 and up.

My mom and I enjoyed the tour of the capital building. The tour went through each the Senate and House floors. Very interesting history and architecture. We both enjoyed the landing with the last 6 governor's portraits. Spend the time before or after the tour to look in the rooms which have been set up as they would've been in the early history of the building. Check out the hallways with displays from each California county.

Our family (4 kids ages 5-14) visited to compare it with our own State's capitol (a smaller state than CA in ever way) and were entirely underwhelmed. We missed the guided tour - they begin on the hour, so if you want to hit it, plan accordingly. Our little people couldn't hang tight for 30 minutes, and by the time we had showed ourselves around, it didn't seem worth spending more time in the building. I was surprised by the smallness of the capitol, and the run-down appearance of the portion I assume was built in the 70's. The map we were given was terribly produced: black and white, poor layout, looked like it was made on an old hand-crank ditto machine and designed in some ancient computer program, and was not helpful. I looked all over for the "museum" and concluded after walking the whole building that the building itself must be the museum. If so, it was a terrible museum in every way. Was quite disappointed that so few of the offices, while one was able to see inside, were not in use of any kind and only re-created to look like what they once did. No info/signage/history posted on those few, re-created rooms. I compare all this to our home state where one can walk in the governors office which IS in use AS the governor's office and beautifully kept in it's historic form. Also, compared to our home state, I was shocked at the lack of art of any kind, including murals and sculptures depicting state history. Not being from CA, the county displays were not of interest but I noted many seemed dated. We saw the Senate chamber, which was lovely and grand, but over-all, I expected more of the building to be like it - lovely, grand, currently used, and it was not. We watched a film in the basement about the preservation. It was quite dated as well - info was good, but pacing and graphics reflected its age. Overall, I was very glad we went for the opportunity to compare and contrast. And even more glad it wasn't my state capitol.

It had been years since I've visited the Capitol, and it was fun doing so with my oldest son (now 25).

I love the ability to just wander throughout without having to take an official tour. For the first time, I went up and down the halls looking at all the county displays.
Makes me want to see if the Arizona Capitol lets us do the same.

The Capitol was being refurbished when we were there, so we didn't get to enjoy the wonderful lighting that usually comes in through the front windows. Wish I'd kept more photos, as there were so many lovely details throughout.

Fabulous way to spend an hour or so on the weekend!! Lots of history and the building and grounds are awesome!!

I only visited the ground floor which was curated to the past, which was okay if you're that interested but I'd prefer more modern exhibits.

A good rainy day activity. The tour provides information about how the state government works. Unfortunately nothing was in sessions on the date of the visit.

Since I work downtown Sacramento I decided to visit the California State museum again. It was as interesting as before and the exhibits were still well maintained. People should know that this is as free museum and it good to see how each California county is represented.

Museums are closed in Sacto on Mondays so we ended up at the Capitol. Don't let the metal detector stop you from a visit. You can cruise through in 5 minutes to see the county displays and rotunda, or spend more time checking out the historic replicas of various offices. We liked the statue of Ronald Reagan in the basement.

As a museum I was not very impressed. They have recreated some old rooms and there is a lot of information about the building and it’s multiple renovations.
The cool part was that you can see where the California senate sits. If they were in session I would consider coming back to see that.
The building is very beautiful so if you want to go for that sake you can do that.
It is free to enter!

We got to see both houses in session on our tour and the tour guide was both funny and informative. It was worth the trip up the hill.

I have visited many state capitals including the nation’s capital in Washington DC. None compare to the beautiful restoration of California’s capital in Sacramento. The woodwork alone is worth the trip. There are offices restored back to the 1800’s, awesome tike work on the floor portraying the great seal of California, amazing ceiling work and much much more. I’ve always made it a point to take visitors there and they love it too. Best part it’s free!

Everyone should take the time to see the Capitol. You can take a tour, or get the map and go on your own. The portraits of the governors are very interesting, esp. Jerry Brown's.

The tour docents were so informative. I am a native Californian and learned so much on this tour! Not difficult to manage and fully accessible for ADA.

We flew into Sacramento and needed a way to kill a few hours. It was nice to wander around the Capitol building, being able to see the House and Senate chambers, as well as most of the other rooms. The entrance to the building was a bit difficult to find (it's not the front door).

Replica of Capitol- Washington DC
Impressive Monumental Mammoth Building
A must visit if you visit that side
Grandeur lobby, stairs, rooms & offices
Houses a museum too
Nice park around
Atlease three hours is needed

i was told by a cop on the grounds to take the free tour on the hour. Do it. You will learn so much. ask for Al as a guide. this guy is a wealth of knowledge and tells great stories. I really felt the passion of the state from an excellent story teller. ask for Al...

I have visited the California State Capitol for decades. Years ago they restored it from institutional green to a beautifully restored historical building. Lots to see, free tours and the surrounding gardens are amazing. Camilas as tall as a house, California native trees (all labeled) and a rose garden. Beautiful and peaceful way to spend some time. You may even see some mounted CHP officers who are the guards of the area.

Compared to other statehouses I've visited, the California State Capitol is not the most imposing or exquisite of buildings, but it does have a grand Neoclassical exterior and a beautiful Victorian interior that are worthy of a stop.

Aside from a few rooms that have been restored and an exhibit on historical photography, there's not a whole lot to see inside at your own pace. It's probably best to go on a guided tour to get more out of a visit.

There is major construction happening on the east side of the building, so hopefully once that is completed, more can be put on display to celebrate the Golden State.

Great Place to visit, walk around and enjoy the environs. Save a day if you are visiting Sacramento.

Beautiful displays of California Counties. Each county has a display of the outstanding products, entertainment, and historic for that county. The rotunda is quite spectacular. The acustics are great! In addition, the grounds outside the capitol have an outstanding variety of trees and flora. You can even experience a tour to find out more about the varieties on display and the history of the development of the grounds. There is a monument on the grounds honoring American veterans. Local food is available close by across the street. Very informative and beautiful walk around the grounds as well as inside

California's Capitol is the most similar to DC's Nation Capitol. It's modeled upon DC's, but finished earlier. That's because of CA wealth due to gold rush and mining which mostly started and ended here, in Sacramento. That gave Sac great advantage over SF and LA to become the state capital.
That, and many other interesting stories we learned from our tour guide, whose name I unfortunately don't remember. Tours of CA Capitol run on the hour from 10AM to 4PM. Luckily for us, some people cancelled so we were the only on the 3PM tour.
Throughout 45 min he gave detailed explanations about CA history, took us to the assembly room and by the painted Governors portraits.
The rest of time we could roam freely, seeing the small museum and other interesting things.

I've been taking my high school government students for several years. We enjoy the museum exhibits and videos. Our trips are successful because we always meet with our State legislative representatives. We've been lucky to have our Assemblyman or Senator meet and greet us. The Museum basement turns out to be a perfect place to learn on our own until our elected officials meet us.

The free tours are provided on the hour. We had a little difficulty finding the room to sign up for the tour but a state worker noticed we were lost and guided us. There were a group of high school kids on our tour so some of the commentary seemed aimed at them but it was still enjoyable. After the tour we walked to the Leland Stanford Mansion for the tour there. Excellent combo.

Brought a visiting friend here, because one never visits the places where one lives otherwise, and we had a lovely time. The little historical library was fascinating with it's beautifully displayed vintage volumes and the short film, narrated by Burgess Meredith (the Penguin!) was very informative. The gift shop is small'ish but had a nice variety of items and the cafe was perfectly adequate with the handsome, lifesize bronze statue of Ronald Reagan standing just outside. Would highly recommend! Oh! there is security checkpoint upon entry and I had a bit of trouble getting through with my belt so be advised.

Great to see. And to believe they almost replaced this awesome building in the 60s (it was retained by one vote). The portraits of the governors are terrific (check out Jerry Brown’s) The display for each county is beat and we even saw the governor’s office. Terrific visit

I went on this tour on a Saturday morning and it was one of the most interesting and fun tours I’ve been on. Our tour guide, Cindy ( I think that was her name) was not only very knowledgeable about everything, but she also made the tour a lot more interesting by pointing out random things about the building and engaging with the group. I’m not sure if all the guides do this but they need to. I also really enjoyed hearing about all the facts about the California seal and how the building has changed over the years. Do this tour, you won’t regret it I promise.

Tour guides are retired people who have inside knowledge and ties to the state government (for example newspaper reporters) and tell great stories. A few rooms are set up like they were 100+ years ago, like the old Governor’s and State Treasurer’s office so you can really see the flavor of the place. Cafeterias open to the public and good as well. Beautiful grounds with resident cats (by the trout pond).

A free docent tour of the CA State Capitol building is given every hour starting at 9:00, last tour is at 4 pm. The tour takes you throughout the main floor and into the legislative viewing area. The tour lasts about 45 minutes and is a great educational opportunity for Californians and visitors alike.

The Capitol building in Sacramento is a great place to spend a few hours. Inside, there are tributes to each of the counties, rooms furnished in historically accurate decor, two rooms dedicated to the restoration, a short film viewing area, and the option of an hour tour, given on the hour. The docent for our tour was knowledgeable about California history as well as the Capitol building and changes to it throughout its history. We got to sit in the gallery of both the Senate and Assembly chambers while hearing about the differences in the two branches. Afterwards a stroll through the extensive grounds with numerous memorials, rose and flower beds, and centuries-old trees, each labeled, is well worth the time. Beautiful place.

Sacramento's capitol is reminiscent of Washington's. Its style is unique and its architecture is beautiful. It is possible to visit it.

Our tour guide presented so many interesting facts about California. We enjoyed all aspects of the tour but especially liked the modern art painting of a younger Jerry Brown during his first stint as governor.

Any first time visitor to Sacramento should walk the halls of this beautiful, historic building. The woodwork is outstanding and the architecture is impressive.

Great tour today. Our guide kept things moving, interesting and informative. Tours are every hour on the hour. Lots of history and architecture. Free too

The free tour was very interesting and highlighted many historical items and events. Without the tour it would be just an attractive old building.

Walked around by ourselves and was amazed at the beauty of the building and that we could walk into the Assembly and Senate chambers. Missed the last tour at 4pm so we went back the next morning for the 9AM free tour.

The tour was great - our guide was very interesting and since it was just the two of us, took us to places they don’t normally go when there is a big group.

We also stopped by our representatives offices and got to meet them.

It was a great experience and we got lots of cool photos.

The entire staff at Capital was very friendly and helpful.

We had a nice visit. We went during the holidays and they had a group preforming with bells to Chrismas music under the dome. very nice and the Christmas tree is spectacular

We went to visit the capital duriing Christmas time. Music was beautiful in the halls of this beautiful building. We took a tour and really enjoyed the guides explanation as we walked in and out of different rooms. I would recommend the tour to get the full effect. She was very good at explaining and answering questions, sorry I didn't get her name. Interesting facts about the previous administrations. Lots of history in this building.

We try to include state capitals if we can while vacationing. California State Capital is definitely worth the visit. Museum section featuring historic offices, and displays about the history of the state. The free tour was very interesting, and our guide Megan was a wealth of knowledge and a joy to listen to.

Interesting to see how the state has invested in an effort to remove renovations/changes made in the building over the years, to return the capital to a more historic configuration.

We visited on a week day, so street parking was not to be found, we parked in a garage down the street. You do have to go through security/metal detector, but was very easy. Very friendly, relaxed visit. If you have time take a walk through the park that runs down to 15th street, including a good sized rose garden.

This is a great place to visit with your family if you have an interest in California history, or if you enjoy learning and seeing art, and getting a peek at how local government works.

The capitol is situated in a large park with many beautiful shade trees, lush grass, and many walking areas. The building itself is beautiful and meticulously maintained. There are some art tiles installed outside one of the entrances that shouldn't be missed.

When entering, expect to pass through a metal detector and have your bag(s) searched, as this is a working government office. Once inside, there are a lot of areas to explore. Each of California's counties is represented by a diorama, and they line the hallways for you to check out. There are a few impressive sculptures to admire, and many paintings throughout the building. There are former government offices that have been preserved for viewing (behind a velvet rope), which are really fun to look at.

We took a great tour with a friendly, enthusiastic guide. On the tour, we were able to sit in on actual state government sessions, which was fascinating. There is also a great, small gift shop which features books and the other typical museum stuff, as well as handmade art created by local artisans with disabilities.

Overall, I was very impressed with the beauty and history of the capitol. I would recommend it to anyone in the area!

On a business trip, my colleagues and I went for a walk around Capitol Park. We stumbled upon the entrance into the museum. After a short security check, we went into the capital building and explored all of the rooms. The Capital Museum is free to the general public and is a delight.

Im from Texas, I have seen our Capitol, but nothing compares to SAC! The trees are beautiful! Make sure you visit the rose garden! Super beautiful and Im a guy 😅

Another beautiful capitol building. They are in the middle of a huge renovation, gutting and replacing the back of the capitol. Luckily you can get some great pictures in the front. You will enter the north side of the building through a temporary building. We could only see the museum part of the capitol. We found a parking garage about 2 blocks north of the capitol and walked. Security and the staff were helpful and friendly.

I gave myself a tour of the Capitol and it did not disappoint. I loved the artwork, thoroughly enjoyed finding Arnold Schwarzenegger's portrait, and enjoyed the intricacies of the woodwork.

We go to every State Capitol in every state we visit and this let us down a bit. We were able to go into the Senate Gallery but not the house. The museum is small and not very interesting. Even the grounds are not special for a state as large and well off as California

Visiting on a Sunday is awesome. You can avoid the traffic and take advantage of free street parking. We enjoyed the tour. Our tour guide was so knowledgeable and enjoyable. He made history fun for the children and the kids at heart. Fun.

Street parking are available and no lines at the security checkpoint during our visit. Certainly recommend a visit to the State Capitol.

My mom and I took my 4 kids (8-15 years old) to tour the State Capitol. Even though some portions were boring for the kids it was still incredibly educational and important for the kids. We all learned quite a bit. The Capitol is beautiful and it was great to be able to explore at our own pace.

Here is a Must See Attraction in Sacramento !! It is Cool !! And Inside is just Amazing !! Great for Pictures and Family and Friends !!

This building has so much going on both inside and outside: architecturally stunning, landscape full of trees and monuments, interior immaculately restored with free docent lead tours a must.
There is a cafe in the basement along with a great gift shop. Good for all ages and anyone curious about how our laws are made.

A good way to spend the day here at the capital. Educational and fun at the same time. Great learning resources and full of history.

It is a great place to visit to see American heritage. The park behind the Capitol is a great place to take a walk and view the sites, must see! There are many statues of different things and a beautiful rose garden.

What better way to teach kids (over 10 yrs old I think) to know where the Laws are made and the history of the Capitol. Free entry, beautiful interior of this working Museum. Went on a Sunday so the Senate Chambers were not in session. The Docents are there to give you explanations, so make sure you speak with them on the goings on of each room and the history of the Capitol. Fun Facts: I didn't know there were 5 capitols before they had decided on a permanent site in Sacramento. Expect to be here a good 2-4 hours if you take your time, they also have Tours so you can really be educated on the history and facts. On weekdays, you will be able to listen in while the Senate and Assembly are in full session.

The tour guide, Isabel, helped make this a fine tour. We enjoyed seeing the Assembly and the Senate both in session--as political junkies. Make sure to notice the old liquor bottles in the 1906 Governor's Office!

Anyone visiting Sac needs to stop by and at least wander around the nicely landscaped grounds of the capitol. Huge variety of trees, plants, flowers and it's especially beautiful in the spring.

The capitol itself is an architectural gem and it worth a walk through if you have the time.

First off, I am a sucker for architectural preservation. I like old things. I stumbled upon this museum on a Sunday quite by accident. I was by myself, too, which meant I could meander as I might. (I was meeting someone later in the day.) The Sunday I went there wasn't much happening in the basement. (The gift shop was underwhelming and the cafe seemed closed.) I liked the rooms dedicated to the Governor and the Attorney General on the first floor. As well, while the Assembly Chamber was closed, I enjoyed the Senate chamber (which is still used) a great deal! If I was with young children, I'm not sure they would have had the patience for my dreamy going back in time, but as it was, I felt like I drifted back to the start of the 20th century. Since it can get hot in this capitol town, I am guessing this would be a great hot day activity -- out of the sun!

And the price is right! (It's free.)

After the initial security screening the capitol building is generally accessible for free wheeling around and exploring. I was able to view the House gallery and enjoyed the offices that recreated the look and feel of the "old days." The portraits of all the former governors were amusing in their variety of art styles. There is a statue of Reagan that was very poorly done. Sad.

Historical and very informative. You do need plenty of time to enjoy and learn from the information that is available!

Great place and nice view. I like the area and you get really near to the building. It is a must do place when you live in CA

While visiting downtown Sac we went to the Capital Park to let the kids blow off steam and then decided why not go to the capital building.

It was clean and pretty. The museum parts were nice and had great information. My kids liked being in the cool building but are still a bit young to appreciate a state capital.

I would recommend this place if you’re looking to learn more and find fun facts.

Our large family group visited here and it was a great thing for us to do together. While the tour is a little boring for the young ones to sit through, there is a brochure that helps you do a self guided tour. The guides were friendly. There is a metal detector at the entrance so be prepared to de-metal yourselves. Bathrooms are amply available and very clean and classy. There are neat exhibit windows for each California county in the basement. I think this is a great thing to do when you are in Sacramento--plus it's free!

Construction made it difficult to find an entrance to the capitol and museum contained therein, but once inside, it was very interesting.

Every time we are in Sacramento we head to the museum. It always has wonderful information. Highly recommended - not much else can be said

September 11, 2017 - We have been to a few State Capitols over the last several years but the California State Capitol is one of the most impressive. We entered the side entrance which I think is the same entrance most legislators, lawyers, and other employees enter. Not long after entering, we made our way to the visitors office and found out that a tour was starting soon. Public tours are held daily starting at 9am and concluding at 5pm. You can call: (916) 324-0333. We and others assembled next to Ronald Reagan's statue. This area is surrounded by paintings of various events in the history of California.

We stayed in the Ronald Reagan statue area for about 15 minutes while the tour guide described the significance of each painting. Next, we walked up to the second floor where the doors faced the front of the building. Our tour guide described how the building was constructed and the modifications made over the years. We walked out to the center of the building where we could see a stained glass of the Great Seal of California and our guide explained each part of the Seal.

Then, we walked up to the third floor where we visited the Senate Chamber with a very valuable painting of George Washington. She told us that the Senate desks had been replaced from the original while the Representative's desks had not been replace but refinished. The Senate Chamber is a very impressive room.

Finally, we walked out the the hall area adjacent to steps going down. In this area are hung portraits of several California Governors like Jerry Brown and Arnold Schwarzenegger. Jerry Brown's portrait is quite different from the other portraits because it is a bright painting, not a painting that looks like a photograph.

After the tour, we were able to wonder around on our own. We passed an area where each county has an indented wall area to display what makes that county special. This was very impressive and a lot of imagination and work went into the displays. We found the "golden bear" outside of the Governor's Office where the Governor poses for pictures. We also viewed one of several videos about the building. And, we saw one room (107) that was decorated just like the Governor's Office would have looked in 1907.

Are you impressed yet? This was quite a visit: tour, wondering on our own, video, step back in time to 1907.

You have to visit the California State Capitol and Museum when you are in Sacramento.

.

It can be as quick or as long as you like but make time to see this. The building is beautiful, full of history; we missed the tour, that was disappointing but looked around ourselves.

Been here manytimes years customer services support polite close business merch economally commercially development educationally professionalsim,knowledgeable friends Lu atmosphere manytimes years thank you forthe for the experience

From the brilliant white statue encircled dome to the richly hand-carved wooden bannisters along the stairways to the basement, the California Capitol building is literally a trip through history. The main floor features turn-of-the-20th-century restored offices with docent-led tours. The floors are of thousands of tiny colorful mosaic tiles depicting signs and scenes of California. Both houses of the California Legislature meet in chambers on the first floor with viewing from second floor lofts. And the first floor museum recounts early California history along with details of the 20th century restoration of the entire building. A small viewing window in the basement allows visitors to view the original brick foundations laid in the early history of the Capitol. And the surrounding Capitol Park displays hundreds of mature trees, colorful gardens and monuments honoring veterans and public servants. It's truly and adventure offering both pleasure and education to all who visit.

Eric our guide made us truly appreciate and learn more about the place and understand CA governance system. The tour is offered for free and is scheduled every hour from open till the last tour at 4pm.

It was very interesting but 1 hour is enough for me but you can easily spend 2 hours there. Beautiful building

It's good to visit at least once.
Free admission. Easy street parking.H
istorical building with beautiful structure and decor.

The California State Capitol and its Museum as well as the Capitol Park with its many memorials and monuments are three excellent reasons why you should visit Sacramento. The Capitol is also called the "People's Building" because it is a "live", working capitol building, especially if legislators are in session. The historical section of the museum is a wonderful history lesson every step of the way. Each district/county has its own special exhibit and are also represented by children's art work, paintings of events and its citizens and of every governor of California. California is also called the Farm-To-Fork Capital? Can you guess why? We thoroughly enjoyed this visit.

We had the chance to visit the State Capitol and it was a great family experience. Sacramento is one of the "Greenest" cities in the U.S. and it is noticeable. A lot of green areas refreshed the busy streets of the California's Capitol! Perfect for a stroll and to take some pretty cool pictures. If you visit NorCal don't miss this landmark!

Great museum. Great displays. A must see when touring Sacramento. Pretty much can go anywhere in the building. I did the self guided tour, I wish I took the guided tour. Walked by a tour being given and the guide was quite knowledgable.

We had a little time to kill, and decided to walk around the capital gardens. We spent about an hour walking around the eastern side of the capital. The collection of trees and roses were unbelievable! There was even a small area that commemorated the Civil War, with trees from I think 40 battlefields.

During a recent business trip to Sacramento, I found myself in the Capital Building to see some legislators. During the visit, in between appointments, I found time to visit the vintage Governor's Office display and other locations within the Capitol Building. This all makes up the overall museum quality presentation to show the history of California and it's state government. It’s a real opportunity for young people to understand how government works and to see, physically, how it all lays out in different chambers. It’s a little confusing upstairs with the different representatives offices... but on the ground levels, the things that the show the legacy and history of early California are really special. The gift shop should have more museum quality goods (less ball caps and mugs) and the restaurant is cafeteria style but the building (and grounds) are worth the time.

During our visit we could enter the capitol but the only tours offered was of the grounds. Although originally disappointed Mario gave a great tour of the grounds that offered something for everyone. There is room for littles to roam and opportunity to learn about the city of trees and it’s trees. So much to learn and so many unique trees to learn about. This 90 minute free tour flew buy and was a highlight of our visit to the area.

Took my wife down here because she had never been in the capitol building. It's a beautiful old building that's been restored to its original grandeur. There are galleries to look on both sides of Congress. It cost nothing to go in and enjoy the history of the building. The grounds are beautiful with many monuments and beautiful flowers. It is a lovely place to go on a clear day and just walk around.

Attended a guided tour during a conference and was fantastic to see and hear the history of California's capital city. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable and had been associated with facility for many years which added to his ability to tell interesting stories.

It is a real bonus to be able to access buildings like this, even more so as entrance id free of charge as well as the guided tour.

Walked all around ti building in the beautiful park to the south entrance, simple and effective security screening and then you are allowed to wander around on your own. It is interesting to see some Californian history and where tomorrows history is being made. I joined the free tour with was very informative and relaxed. Really enjoyed seeing the historical rooms that were on display as well as the chambers where laws re debated and enacted.

The portraits of the governors are really worth seeing especially the Jerry Brown portrait that I thought was excellent - It is interesting to see the ego's of Ronnie and Arnie reflected in their portraits

We moved to sacramento 4 years ago and went around town to get to know the area. We did go to the State Capitol building tour and we loved it, it is very well maintained and an awesome way of getting to learn about sacramento & California history. Definitely would recommend for all family's.

We are both CA natives and this was our first trip to the Capitol Building. Take the tour, which is chock full of historical narrative and wander around offices that have been restored as they were complete with furnishings from the 1800'. The Assembly and Senate chambers are beautiful. The garden is also worth a stroll.

If you visit the State Capital, you must take the guided tour to learn about CA history and the legislative process. A bit of walking is involved. There is garage parking nearby, O believe street metered parking is for two hours. Whether you live in CA or visiting I believe you enjoy the tour as well as the surrounding ground around the Capital.

Took the tour and it was well worth it! Enjoyed the mini Civics and History lessons. It’s a beautiful building and well worth your time.

Our group was there visiting with legislators and we were able to go on a tour. We got to see the hidden gargoyle in the ceiling on the assembly floor and several other neat things. Call your local member and schedule a tour the next time you are in Sacramento

I am not originally from California. So, I was expecting the great state of California to have an amazing Capital Building... especially compared to my little Midwestern State Capitol. Not the case. I will be avoiding this place in the future.

We went later in the evening but were able to walk inside and view the grounds. The only thing lacking was any info on tours. There was nobody to talk to and we did a lot of wandering to find info. My guess is because we showed up at 4:30 and most everyone had gone home. It is a beautiful site and I could have spent hours there!

Always try to visit state capitals when on vacation and this is one of the best. Sign up for the guided tour and take lots of pictures.
Just think of it: Ronald Regan, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jerry Brown as governors.

We always feel a sense of pride when we visit the Capitol building. The architecture and materials used are from another era and are not to be missed. Don't forget to look down at the marble floors and up at the ornate ceilings.

The State Capitol is a beautiful classical structure with nice aesthetics inside and out. I've always liked the county dioramas in the hallway. The Senate and Assembly chambers are great to visit. This is where the State's business happens, good, bad, or ugly and I find that interesting. The museum includes certain rooms restored to the early 1900s. I enjoyed seeing the history on the hoof. The grounds are beautiful and make a great walkabout in the downtown are.

It was great to be so close to the capital while we stayed in Sacramento because we were short on funds and this gave us something totally free to go and experience while on our stay. The grounds are beautiful and well maintained. It's like an oasis in an otherwise filthy city. The architecture and details that went into the construction of this facility are fantastic. Other than looking and feeling like every other capital building in the entire united states, you get a feeling of nostalgia for our country and a time when craftsmanship and pride in a job well done still existed. The ornate carvings and the exquisite materials along with the basic upkeep of the structure really lend a glimpse of what life was like back when this structure was built. The free museum aspect is really nice and being able to peek into the offices of the past and see the way things looked in a working government building probably a century or more ago was really cool. They have a theater showing films about history and how legislation works.

Overall, we had a very enjoyable time walking the halls and taking in the history. I would recommend that if you have time, make sure to stop by and see the facility. The price is right and it definitely deserves the attention.

Thanks for reading.

We did a self tour and it was not very good. We would recommend waiting to visit until you can get a docent lead tour. The outside and inside of the capitol are under repair and there is not much to see. I hope they really improve the inside exhibits. We have visited 25 state capitols and this is one of the worst so far.

Visiting the California Capitol is more interesting and educational than my expectations. Not only you will see all the historical constructions and craftsmanship, but also learn a lot about California. The guided tour is a must join, otherwise you won’t be able to visit both senate and legislation halls. Visit the tour information and signup for one. They start almost every hour, but expected a lot of school kids for this field trips.

Wife and I took the tour, took about an hour, very cool, got to see both elective bodies voting and actively managing the state, which was pretty cool, lots of historical details and very open to questions, would definitely recommend taking the tour and watching the video after the tour.

As UK residents it is always fascinating to see how politics works in other countries. Have previously toured Capitol in Washington and several other state Capitols but were impressed with this guided tour. There are FREE guided tours on the hour every hour. Megan H our guide added a mischievous sense of humour as well as good factual input. We followed up the one hour guided tour with seeing the rooms exhibiting how things were in the past (1902, 1906 and 1933 - see photos) which are detailed on the self-guided tour leaflet. One interesting point - the door to a balcony was the original entry door but Megan H told us they ran out of money to add the staircase so used downstairs as the main formal entry door instead. We asked if anyone had gone on the balcony to wave to the crowds as Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom does from the balcony of Buckingham Palace - surprisingly only one person has ever done that here - Queen Elizabeth II.

Every traveler to Sacramento must go visit the Capitol Building and its great Museum. There is no charge to go, just be prepared to pass through a security screening and you are on your way. Do it!!

We thoroughly enjoyed our visit to the Capitol, and learnt a lot about California and Sacramento. Worthwhile for both national and international visitors. Worth doing the tour.

Always worth a visit. Beautiful old building. Get a glimpse and grasp of Californian politics. Free entry.

Beautiful building filled with history. You can see some of the offices as they were in 1903 as well as the assembly and senate chambers. The tours are free and offer insight into the past and the growth of the state. Well worth a few hours. The grounds are lovely as well.

Great place with a lot of history. Tour guides are passionate about sharing history about the transatlantic railroad. Kids will be entertained. The tour guides cater stories for the kids and it keeps them engaged. These tours are free once you pay the entrance fees.

We took a memorable tour of our California State Capitol with visiting guests. Our guests were just amazed and happy to see our State Capitol and the immaculate grounds surrounding this magnificent and stately building.

This tour is given free of charge and the tour guides walk you through the Capitol so that you are able to see the senate and assembly chambers. The guides give you the history, stories, and interesting episodes conducted within the building. You can see how magnificently built this Capitol is and gain a historical and contemporary perspective of the workings and transactions that happen within this structure. The guides present well, thoughtful of visitors and have a passion for their work which make the tours interesting, entertaining and memorable.

There is a restaurant and gift store within the Capitol too.

The museum itself is pretty limited, but we found it very interesting! My favorite part was the CHP/CalTrans/DMV exhibit, which offered a lot of interesting California history.

Not sure if it counts as part of the museum, but our favorite part was going upstairs to view the Senate and Assembly rooms, and talking to the docents.

It was free to get in. Since we went on a Saturday, only a side entrance was open. We had to go through a metal detector but it was quick and painless.

Parking can be a problem week days. The Capitol Building is a beautiful structure. There are restaurants and shopping in the immediate vicinity. We went to dog friendly Mexican place three time. Of concern in the entire Sacramento are are the number of homeless persons. Very discouraging. Can't avoid them.

I dragged my family here because I read such great reviews about the free guided tour at the State Capitol. Being Native Californians, I felt we need to do this not only to learn more ourselves but to also give our son a peek into our government that he will be learning about this year in school. Not everybody in our family was completely excited about doing this stop. But I have to say our docent was so informative and made the tour so interesting that by the end of the hour tour we were all excited to be there! I would love to go back and do the guided tour again!

We took the last tour for the day last Friday afternoon. The tour guide was very knowledgeable. After the tour, we were able to walk around on our own, since the grounds were opened until 6. We bumped into Assembly Member, Ken Cooley. He talked to us for a bit and then invited us onto the floor of the Assembly. His staff put our names on the board and we got to take pictures. My kids got to take a picture with him at his spot. Then we chatted a little more back at his office. It was an amazing experience!

The guided tour of the historic State Capitol was brilliant. The tour was 1 hour long and perfect for us. The tour guide was excellent and very knowledgeable.

On our recent visit to Sacramento, we were rather impressed by the California State Capitol building and grounds. We didn't opt for the guided tour; instead we followed the map and guide we got at the information desk. We thoroughly enjoyed peering into the rooms in the "museum" in the basement that re-created the offices circa the 1800s and early 1900s. We were fortunate to be able to catch the transportation-themed temporary exhibit -- though we aren't Californians, we enjoyed tracing the history of the automobile and highways in California. Unfortunately, we visited on a Saturday and the legislature was not in session and not all areas in the building were accessible. Nevertheless, the capitol building is worth the stop. Remember to catch all the portraits of all the governors throughout the building. The state capitol has no admission fee, but be prepared to enter through metal detectors.

My hubby and I visited the California State Capitol Museum last weekend and took the free docent guided tour. It was phenomenal!! Isabelle, our docent, did a great job of leading our group through the Sacramento State Capitol. She was engaging and answered all of our questions throughout the tour.

Only 8 of us were on the tour, which surprised me as I expected a larger group of people due it being the weekend and also because of the popularity of seeing a state capitol building. But alas, I was happy to be on a smaller tour.

Highlights included seeing the rotunda and the Columbus’ Last Appeal to Queen Isabella statue We also saw the Senate and Assembly Chambers and more! This was one of my favorite tourist spots during our trip to Sacramento.

The tour of the Capitol was fantastic. It far exceeded my expectations and was the highlight of our trip. We parked near Old Town and walked to the Capitol. Had a great lunch in the basement, walked to Old Town, climbed on the trains and looked at the shops and Wells Fargo museum then spent the afternoon in the Railroad museum (where we had another great tour.)

The Exterior, Interior and Garden/Park are all significant and attractive. The rose garden and memorials beckon you to stroll through the well maintained grounds. There are trees over 100 years old. The exterior resembles the U. S. capitol building. The interior is welcoming (after passing through security checkpoint). It was quite a relief to step into the lovely air conditioning. There are county displays, bookshop, theater with informational videos, coffee shop, huge murals, life-size or bigger statue of Ronald Reagan, in the lower level. The rotunda is a work of art. There are free guided tours every hour on the hour. Highly recommend a visit.

We knew we had to visit the Capital and we weren't disappointed. It opened for docent tours at 10:00 and we were lucky that the state assemblies were in session that day. We learned some history along the way. The assembly members must show up or they go and bring them in--none of this absenteeism we see in the Federal government! The tour is free and takes about 45-55 minutes. Although they call it a museum, it is a working museum and a full staff of employees are at work there. We enjoyed the hall of past governors and the story behind Arnold Schwarzenegger's picture. Lots of fun for both adults and school age children.

its the center of all things politics in california...you need to know something, this is the place. want to learn california history, come here...

We had just moved to California so we wanted to learn more about our state capitol. It was awe-inspiring to walk the halls of this grand historic building. The museum was very informative and artifacts are well exhibited. Good for all ages.

And it was really good. The tour guide was friendly, at ease, a little humorous and spoke loud enough for the group to hear. She also was knowledgeable as well. It took about an hour and seemed to go by rather quickly. We went upstairs and down stairs as she pointed out points of interest. Really good job! Take the tour--it can be overwhelming on where to go if you have not been, but to go it alone, they do have a self guided tour that can fit your need. Capital was busy with people a-buzz. Check your bags. They go through a scanner. I forgot about a pocket knife I had and some shell casings from a firearm target shoot earlier in the week in another state. They confiscated but returned the items to me up my exit. Finding a Parking spit can be tricky and it is metered. You can stroll through the park. On our visit they had music playing in the park ...but it was hot out!

Cute shops. Interesting information about old Sacramento, especially about raising the whole city one floor to avoid flood damage.

After all the years living in Cali, I finally visited the Capitol.

Took the free one hour guided tour of the building and was glad I did. Learned about the history of the structure, the symbolism embedded in its nooks and crannies; got to visit both chambers.

After the tour you can wonder the halls aimlessly and soak-in its lovely achitecture. Don't forget to meander around the beautiful park outside.

Fully enjoyed my tour of the capital building. It was very beautiful and historic. The building is beautiful inside and outside. Just walked during a few hours from attending business meetings. Very nice. Worth the trip.

We visited the state Capitol as part of a class field trip. The day we went was packed with many other schools but we were able to see a lot of things. Our guide was very informative and explained details of the state seal, the materials used in the building, talked about the restoration. It was a great experience for the students to learn about state history.

I came at the right time as there are people trying to get a certain law pass. So it was quite interesting how a law for the whole state of Cal is being processed.

I learned so much about California. They have rooms preserved in the midst of a bustling capitol building. Great way to spend a hot summer day.

Needed to kill some time before an afternoon performance so toured the capital. Holy cow, what an amazing building and interesting history. Highly recommend if you have a couple of hours.

We went to the State Capitol hoping for have a tour. It seemed very tourist unfriendly. The entrance is in an unmarked modern box on the side of the building. You go through airport type security and then enter a long hall with window box displays of all the counties. There were two unmanned information booths at either end of this hall. There was no signage to tell you where to go for a tour. We ended up at the bottom of the rotunda where a somewhat lost but pleasant employee told us there there was possibly a tour in 30 minutes, but that was iffy. More likely it would be 90 minutes before there would be a tour. He told us we could do a self guiding tour. We took the brochure, but this did not amount to much. Both the Senate and Assembly galleries were closed. We approached the Senate Gallery door as a group was leaving, only to be coldly told that the gallery was closed and that this was a private tour. A few restored offices were interesting, but it was mostly an unfriendly odd experience. We left soon afterward and headed off for lunch

My son just went to William Jessup University to play soccer. Never been there or in Sacramento. Stayed three days and took the state capitol tour. Wow! very nice and my son and I enjoyed it tons. I'll be taking many trips over the next four years to Sacramento to my son play soccer and plan on seeing everything! This tour was GREAT!

The Capitol is a unique place. The interior, especially the old offices, is amazing and the tour guide was good, entertaining, and knowledgeable. The grounds around the Capitol are well kept and very enjoyable to explore. Well worth the time spent to visit. My wife has visited >40 capitols and this is one of her favorites.

The guided tour was very informative . We ended up basically having a private tour. Our guide, Cindy, was very knowledgeable. The inside of the capitol was extraordinary: the architecture was beautiful and unique. There were Great photo opportunities for anyone who likes historic places. The tour was free. You can also walk through the allowed areas for visitors on your own if you just want to wonder at your own pace

Our most recent trip to our Capitol Building was with guests from Texas. As a native Californian it's easy to think back to the 60's & 70's when we still had a pride in our state similar to that found in the Lone Star state. Some of that pride has diminished with over population and over regulation, but then we've become one of the worlds leading economies. Our Capitol does an excellent job of rekindling that much deserved pride with a sense of our history and place in it. Our guests, no matter where in the world they're from, gain so much perspective and regard for this Our California Republic and it's deep roots.

The Capitol building is beautifully constructed and is magnificent to tour. There are movies telling the story of it's construction and history. Walking the halls while current state business is being conducted feels like a privilege!

... where the building itself is the attraction and not the displays which there really aren't that many (except the window displays for the individual counties which seem endless). Looks like they've done a great job on the restoration. Our elected officials get to work in a classically restored place that is beautiful. When I worked for the government, things didn't look this way. I came on a Sunday and there was rockstar parking right on the street right by the entrance way. Don't have to feed the meter on Sunday.

The state capital was deteriorating. The craftsmanship that built 100 yrs ago was failing. Then, for our nations 200th birthday, California stepped up -pain the money, hired the craftsman from around the world to make our building shine like it was first built. If you’re coming to Sacramento take the time for a tour- and see craftsmanship like you haven’t seen in awhile.

I enjoyed my indoors tour of the Capitol. Our guide was well informed and funny, if a bit rote. Be sure to see the portrait gallery of governors, especially Jerry Brown's startling choice. Most of us non-Californians probably don't know the governors of other states, and yet most of us probably know the names of most of California's recent governors (Reagan, Brown, Schwarzenegger, and more). Very interesting to see the different styles of portraiture and how they (at least in recent times) reflect the leaders' personalities. Staff are friendly and helpful, and bathrooms available.

This free guided tour was informative and the building is architecturally interesting. Many stairs but access is available via elevator for those that wish to not climb.

this is a large & beautiful multilevel building that is called a working museum - west side is the museum featuring a long history of the early administrative days in California through to more recent times - the east side is currently the working offices of the Gov't - located on a fabulous parkland with famous redwoods & cedars starring in the landscape - well worth the visit when in Sacramento - probably best time is Sunday when parking is easily found & traffic is at a minimum

Our tour guide was Jolene and she was amazing. We had a large group and her voice projected very well and she answered all questions expertly! The tours leave on the hour every hour. Allow yourself time to get thru security and to the meeting spot in the basement. The guards are very helpful at directing you.

For those visiting, I would recommend parking at the parking garage on 10th & I street. It is $3 per hour, but a much better alternative than trying to find a metered spot. The garage is right across the street from the Capitol.

I highly recommend California families with school age children to visit the Capitol. The interior is beautiful with dark wood and tile work. Governor Brown's picture to say the least is interesting. We wandered where we wanted to go, but there are tours avaiable.

Drove around for almost an hour trying to find the entrance to the museum. Never did. Needs better signage.

Grand building and grounds. Grounds are extensive and include terrific statues and memorials recognising Californian firefighters, Vietnam vets plus many others. Can just wander round inside (after usual security) and admire the architecture, see portraits of the governors (Inc Reagan and Schwarzenegger) look into the restored old offices (loved the Treasurer's office with huge vaults and adding machines on desk). Free tours are available and would be worthwhile. Plan on spending a couple of hours. Plenty to see.

We did the tour, and would highly recommend it. It is free, informative and a great way to learn about the building and California’s past.

We took the guided tour on a Sunday morning and especially liked the visit to the house and senate chambers. A relatively new statue of Ronald Reagan is located under the dome on the lower floor. A large statuary group titled Columbus’ Last Appeal to Queen Isabella has occupied a prominent position at the center of the first floor rotunda since 1883. Very odd. The high point of our visit was the Capitol grounds -- magnificent trees abound.

Interesting, somewhat low-key museum of 'itself' - there are various offices set up as they 'used to be' in the early part of the 20th century, including the old offices of the Governor of California. The building itself has many interesting design elements. You definitely have to take a tour to get the most out of your visit. If sessions (and reparation work) allow, you will visit both the Senate and the Assembly chamber. There are interesting stories to be told of how these were both built and restored that only the guides can adequately relate. There are also the interesting portraits of the many Governors (including Arnold and Jerry Brown-round 1). Arnold Schwarzenegger's bear outside of the current Office of the Governor is worth a look-see all on its own (Arnold owns the statue; he left it there when he left office). It is a beautiful building well worth a visit if you find yourself in Sacramento.

Great learning experience! The State Capitol Museum is an amazing building with lots of interesting history. 10/10!

Really enjoyed touring the capitol building. The security checkpoint was not an issue, quick and painless but thorough and reassuring. We especially liked the art work and the exhibits for each county in the state.

We did take part in one of the free guided tours, and it was, well, a bit odd. The group ranged in age from 7 to 70, so maybe the guide was having a hard time keeping the interest of the young and the not so young, how to make the discussion interest and fun but also full of facts of history. I could related to that challenge, since I work with tourists myself. But I was particularly unhappy with the way he dealt with information for the 2 youngsters, he was very critical of our government and the way it works, he literally made fun of the people who represent the regions of the state and the state itself. As a native Californian, I do NOT recommend the guided tour. Get the self guide brochure, skip the opinionated guides.

Just that plain simple. One of the most beautiful buildings I've seen in the states. Inside and out. The garden behind the capital is also stunning.

A friend visiting from Austria, took a fun selfie at the portrait of former Governor Arnold Schwarzennegar. Bright and beautiful in the summer, Christmas tree in front of the Capitol during the Holidays. Don't forget the adjacent park full of trees donated by other countries.

The State Capitol is beautifully preserved and a must see if you're in Sacramento! It's a historical museum in the middle of current events.

Interesting visit to the capitol building in Sacramento which is well preserved 1869 (then added to) building surrounded by government offices (one of which had to visit).

The 1st floor has offices kept as a museum while 2nd floor is the current senate and representatives assemblies while 3rd floor has visitor galleries and the halls have portraits of governors. There are hourly free tours and brochures that are enough to do it on your own like we did after helpful advice from a volunteer manning the place.

Parked at the Capitol parking lot and ate lunch at bakery below which was decent and seemed popular with locals. There is also a canteen in the basement of the capitol building which was cheap, but nearly empty (maybe gets full when parliament is in session or tour groups visit).

The California Capitol Building has a "Museum" section of rooms that look like they did a century ago, and information about the State (bird, song, animal, etc.). There's a free hour-long tour that takes the group to some of these rooms, to the legislative assembly room, into the rotunda, and examines the interesting portraits of governors, including the very famous ones like Reagan and Schwarzenegger. It's interesting and informative as the guide was very knowledgeable about design elements and trivia about the building and governors that I would not have known but for the tour.

anyone interested in history, architecture or california would enjoy seeing this capitol and taking the tour

I came to work on my laptop, walked from my hotel. Excellent place to sit on a bench and type on my laptop. Beautiful grounds.

The California State Capitol and Museum is a beautiful structure. You can walk around or take an elevator to see various parts of this historic building and learn about it's history. Great for the entire family.

You can do a free tour of the building and it is interesting with the nice building and its architecture and surrounding gardens plus the history of the building. The senate was sitting so we also got to observe the politicians in action as well. Each of the 58 counties has a display which is interesting to look at. The emblem of the state includes the symbol of the bear and you can take a picture of it outside the governors office. We were able to turn up and get on a tour without waiting.

Very nice capital building, even better kept secret is the garden out front, it's very nice and amazingly maintained. While in Sacramento for sure worth the time to explore the building and it's ground to get more info and knowledge about California and it's counties.

The California Capitol building is impressive and rich with history. You can enter through the right side of the building. There is security and metal detectors to enter. There are four floors and a basement to explore. The gift shop is in the basement and there are many rooms on each floor that are staged historically. Staff is on duty to answer questions and provide information, maps etc. There is a cafe on site for refreshments and light food options. Worth a visit.

It was great to be able to walk around the Capitol and see everything. The staff was helpful and the building is beautiful.

This is such a great stop for anyone in Sacramento. You can see government at work if the assembly or senate are in session. In fact, contact your local assembly member and they may be able to give you a specialized tour of the Capitol. Great for photo opts and new a cool if its 100 degrees outside. There's a cute gift shop in the basement The best part is its FREE. Sign up for the free tour. Lasts about 1 hour. Again, you can't go wrong with free and educational. Great for young and old.

The Capitol museum is very interesting, but the building itself is a better attraction. Take the building tour that starts in the basement at the Ronald Reagan statue. The tour guides are very knowledgeable, interesting and explain California history that is no longer taught in school. Helps greatly to understand how California became the Cali of today. Be sure to see the wonderful murals in the Senate Chambers, that is the highlight of the tour! A beautiful and significant building.

Just wanted to visit the capital. I was pleasantly surprised. Loved the architecture and the displays. Very worth the visit.

Most areas of building were closed to visitors due to Covid. Briefly viewed each chamber in session but other interesting rooms had been closed for a while.
Also, entry is difficult to locate. You must walk a distance from the front to access entry.

it's free, what more can you ask.
we will do this every time we are in Sacramento, as each docent gives you a different story.

Over the years we have visited a number of State Capitol Buildings and this one ranks up there with the best.

Obviously well maintained, the exterior was partially covered whilst work was undertaken at the time
of our visit. Inside was pristine with a number of excellent exhibits detailing previous renovations and upgrades. Staff were helpful and very knowledgeable.

Make sure you take the time to visit the moving Fire Service Memorial in the grounds. It is staggering how many brave men and women in the service have sacrificed their lives over the years in trying to help others.

Well worth a visit.

We had a great time over the Easter break visiting the Capitol and getting gown around by a docent named Robin. Couldn’t recommend a tour enough (if they are all as good as Robin.)

Had always envied the 4th graders taking off for Sacramento and had never taken the time to take a tour until yesterday. What an experience!. Joey was our tour guide and he was great! So much history and little known facts about our state capitol. Truly makes democracy come alive and will definitely give a setting for the headlines we read each day.

On a day that was so perfect in every way, the California State Capital Building did not disappoint.
The free guided tour was informative and fun. As an Australian, it was enjoyable to see both the similarities and differences between governments.
The building itself was undergoing a "facelift" .. can I say that in California or is it "cosmetic enhancement"
She is beautiful anyway, but I am sure she'll shine after the shrouds are removed.

Didn’t have time for guided tour but caught a bit of one in visitors gallery in Senate debating chamber

Great building inside super to see the dome.

Make sure you walk all the way around and check out the different tree types.

Can’t help feeling tour guide needed to do more homework on old current democracies!

Well worth a visit. Don’t miss the Ronald Reagan statue.

Great avenues of royal palms.

This is lovely!! What a wonderful historical place to visit. The County displays are really interesting. Spending time here was well worthwhile! The museum areas of the grounds were beautiful. At one point they were going to demolish this place! Can you believe that! So happy it’s still standing. ❤️

Great place to visit. Always take my out of town friends when visiting and always a big hit with everyone.

The grounds of the California State Capitol are absolutely spectacular. Along the many pathways you can learn about the history of California as well as the flowers that were planted. Again, it is a "must see" for anyone.

Our tour guide was amazing! (Unfortunately I failed to get a name to share with you 😧). Maybe because everyone who lives in California is a would be actor, I felt like I was witnessing an Academy Award performance!

Yes, he knew his lines but he was so engaging that you were drawn in and riveted by what he had to say.

The building and it’s history were quite interesting but my favorite part of the tour was the portrait gallery for the past 6 governors: from Reagan to Schwarzenegger. Our guide had a great story to tell about each portrait and each story captured your interest. Most made you laugh, as did many other historical anecdotes he shared.

I highly recommend you spend an hour for a tour if you are in Sacramento. They are offered on the hour from 9-5, seven days a week. We had no problem parking for 2 hours on the street on a Saturday.

We were touring/walking around Sacramento and saw that there was no line to enter the Capitol building, so we went for it. Great surprise that is so beautiful and interesting! We almost never visit public buildings as we usually opt for smaller and more intimate places. This capitol was small and very beautiful inside.
We toured all floors and the Senate chambers. We also talked with a very pleasant and informative docent who pointed out more of the woodwork and historic offices that were very interesting. Very educational and fun and before we knew it, 2 hours had just flown by.
Then we toured all of the grounds and enjoyed the hundreds of beautiful tree species there. What a nice afternoon!

Had excellent experience on tour led by Clement. Explained how capitol came to be in Sacramento. Also how current population density distribution effects leadership in government. Chambers are beautifully decorated. Don't miss grizzly bear statue outside governor's office.

Relatives came from out of town. I took them to Old Sac for the underground tour and then to the Capitol for the tour. Both were a hit.

This was excellent, we saw the museum and did the tour, which was a bit limited due to renovations. Our guide was brilliant, lots of insider titbits, and made the place - which is delightfully grand - come to life. The Governor portrait gallery was fascinating. Highly recommended

California has a beautiful State Capitol building. It is a combination of the old Capitol and an updated building that was joined together and it works. Definitely take a tour and stop by to visit your Assemblyman and Senator. Tours are free.

The walk around the capitol building is nice, but so are the exhibits inside. Architecture is nice as well

I visited on a weekday morning and the fee tour by Richard became a private tour for me only. It's a very informative visit, about the history as well as the integration of people from different background. It was pity that the senate house and some other rooms are under construction. It took me a total of 2.5 hours, including 40-minute guide and 3 intro videos in the theater. Highly recommended.

Okay, so there's some good times when things get done and you can actually watch the California Law makers do it, and then their are times when the place is dark and you can only tour around to look at what things look like. I would suggest that you look at the agenda schedule and see if you can plan your visit for when everyone is back in town and something is going on. A self tour of the Trees and Roses outside the capital grounds is nice for those who have an interest in horticulture. Most if not all of the tress have been marked with a plaque to tell you what type of species they are. Plan to spend at least 1/2 a day there if you've never been before.
The Capital is centered in Down Town and close to many places to eat and stay.

You can take an guided tour or roam alone. The tour gives you more information that you can find on your own. The Capital is steeped with CA history, of course, beautiful architecture and it is one of my favorites. Parking can be difficult on weekdays.

For those of us who have only a weekend to visit Sacramento, it is disappointing that the Capitol and Museum are closed weekends. I think our State could do better. As for the exterior, half of it is covered by scaffolding g for the construction of an annex/extension, and the park is torn up in parts for the construction, with many paths closed.

I worked right across the street and have spent a lot of time in the Capitol bldg. Many rooms are original and decorated like they were in the early 1800s. Take an original gated elevator downstairs to the cafeteria which is all brick. It's a beautiful building.

We really enjoyed the museum and the tour.was really good. It was over an hour tour and very informative and interesting.

Let’s face it if you are visiting Sacramento you have to visit the state Capitol building at least once to put that cherry on top of your experience. You may assume it will be one of those dull civics class excursions you kinda enjoyed as a kid because it got you out of class in the spring? But you may be surprised how much fun it can be seeing both chambers in session and trying to understand how our state democracy works or sometimes does not work. The building itself has presence, gravitas and fun details that will keep you entertained like that one tile out of place out of thousands or why we have Athena on our state seal. If you like plants, the variety on Capitol grounds is overwhelming with camellias taking the center stage when in bloom. Each county is represented on the first floor and don’t miss vet memorial at the northeast corner of the grounds. There are weddings and political protests on the west steps. Maybe you want a picture with a cop mounted on a Belgian draft horse?! Good food and spirits are just around the corner so learn, experience and be of good cheer. It all and more can be had at or around the state Capitol building.

This was a great surprise! The museum and grounds were super clean and well maintained (except for the occasional homeless person outside). The interior of the building was awesome! There was great security to get in and make you feel safe. My family (including a 4 and 8 year old) really enjoyed walked around and looking at the exhibits. We stopped here on a road trip and it was a great place to spend a few hours and stretch our legs. The kids weren't too awed by the governor paintings or the rooms, but mom and dad enjoyed. The kids had fun climbing all the stairs and looking at the rotunda. On weekends parking out front at the meters are free! We got there at 10am on a Sunday and there was plenty of parking and it wasn't too crowded.

I've long believed that Californians are "just different." A guided tour helped me to understand why that's so. Californians do have a different philosophy on life that's a result of their creation and history - think gold rush, immediate statehood, growth, size, climate, term limits, pending propositions, and so on. I learned not only about the building but also important insights into the gestalt.

The Neo-European architecture of the granite building is fashioned after the Washington, DC, capitol. It houses both the sitting state legislature and a state museum. Lots of security here. Nice park on the Capitol grounds.

This building is one of the prettiest in all of California. The marble and stone work is amazing. There is a ton of California historic items there too. Fun visit for the whole family!

It’s a breathtaking experience. What a beautiful and Historical building. Take a tour to see more of the interior and learn more about the Capital.

Sacramento is a great place to live, but not much for visitors. The state Capitol is a gem, though. As in many states, the Capitol ended up in Sacramento after a few other stops. Tours usually tell you that history, and there are quirky details about people, secret tunnels, and interesting architectural features, many of which were uncovered and lovingly duplicated and repaired during a big overhaul in the 80s. In December there is free music during the noon hour every day in the Rotunda.

The orange trees and gardens are stunning, even in December. We arrived early so as to get a good parking spot. We wandered the massive gardens before going through security to visit the State Capitol. We enjoyed the exhibits that described each California county. Inside is a statue of Ronald Reagan, great for getting a selfie.

The visit was great. Our only disappointment was that we couldn't get our Capitol Collections book stamped to show that we had visited. When we asked about the stamp, the staff weren't aware of one. For those with a goal to visit all 50 states, pick up a Capitol Collections book at any state capitol and receive a stamp with the date visited.

Almost always something new and different,exhibits are well thought out and a docent is always close by.they are child friendly and actually encourage questions . Most of the capital is open to the public and all of the original section is beautifully restored so much to see plan at least an hour. we always bring out of town guests and they are always impressed .the spring and early summer are best as the well maintained capital grounds are in full bloom.ad another 90 minutes for touring the grounds .only a short walk from there to old Sacramento.

We were only in Sacramento for a few hours on a long road trip. I had already identified that the Capitol building was closed on a Saturday (some are, some aren’t) so it was not a surprise. It was still good to see the outside and take some photos. It’s a very grand-looking building in a classic style and immediately the surrounding area is similarly grand. It’s very central and within easy walking distance of Old Sacramento (the main tourist destination).

Many rooms still decorated as they were in the early twentieth century, so it feels like stepping back in time.

I enjoyed touring California's State Capitol and Museum. Its a great history lesson. Well worth seeing.

We had a wonderful time on our guided tour of the Capitol. Our guide was not only knowledgeable but thoroughly engaging. We learned about Bacteria Bear and other more notable sculptures throughout the capitol. The displays depicting each city were fun to review (and critique). Our tour included both chambers as well as the "portrait row" where all the governor's official portraits line the walls. Oh, Jerry! You represent California SO well! HIGHLY RECOMMEND!

We were passing time and walking the grounds and went in to see our capital. Was worth the time and interesting too

Paintings of both these larger than life figures on the same wall was worth the visit. Vintage preserved offices and Senate chamber also noteworthy. Hard to find parking though..maybe use a parking app to reserve.

The grounds surrounding the capitol building are well cared for. Entering the building, interior is also maintained well. Plenty to see and our hosts were very well informed. Stunning exhibits and the two main galleries are worth the visit.

This building is rich in history and exquisite architectural detail. Everything from the inlaid tile floors ti the staun-glassed dome is in immaculate condition. I highly recommend visting the California State Capital building.

I liked it, would not have been the same without the tour which is free! Gives you insights you would not have known by just walking the building, architecture, history and a little history from the sunshine state. We walked to the grounds after and visited the rise garden.

Well worth the two hours, plus you can also buy souvenirs and decent food inside.. Seeing the government in action in both houses was not expected.

If you have a few hours .. worth a visit ...

I like history and I like to snoop around old buildings with intricate architecture. I also like learning through the help of a knowledgeable docent. We hit the jackpot! We arrived on the hour and joined a large group of Austrian teens. The staff quickly split us up to run manageable tours. About 25 each. The tour was good. Mostly geared to the level of our foreign travelers. Our docent was 25ish and used a strong and clear voice. This was good because of grandpa’s hearing deficit. Our college age granddaughter can always find fun. After the tour group departed, she cornered the docent to ask a couple of thought provoking questions. As a result, we were treated to an insider’s view of the assembly room. Much more detailed stories with delightful tidbits of the human side of California’s state capitol. I would have preferred to have gone on a tour with a smaller group. We had 7. I think it would have been run more like the treat we were given after the main body departed.

We highly recommend To go to the State Capitol, is a way to learn about CA history and all the legislatives laws . Architecture, the personnel working there all is great.

I actually visited in June 2018, however due to travelling all over the world for the last 18 months, I am just in the process of writing all the reviews. Very interesting visit learning California’s history with a tour with Bonnie. The tour lasted an hour and it was really informative learning about the changes made to the building. Bonnie explained the way California’s government works, took us around some of the important rooms, shared Cali’s history and also pointed out key facts and designs in the building. It was an excellent tour. There’s also small museum exhibits within the capitol but they didn’t appear to have a lot of info on them so I recommend doing the tour instead and it’s completely free!

To me this is our city's pride and joy. A most beautiful building that luckily was saved due to an increase in patriotism during the Bicentennial year. The building was seismic proof so many of it's roof top statues were removed. A display of the seismic proofing can be found in the basement along with a nice gift shop. Free tours are offered and well worth it. Their is a big statue in the rotunda and tours take you inside the assembly and senate chambers with it's Czech lead crystal chandeliers, and walk passed the governor's portraits. There are rooms of historic information, a film to watch and antiqued furnished rooms. Don't miss Arnold Schwarzengger's bronze bear in front of the governor's office and the hallway of county exhibits. Due to security there is only one entrance now. The capitol grounds with it's memorials, camilla garden, peace rose garden tree arboretum, and site of Res. Gerald Ford's almost assassination.

Many exhibits about local and California history. A great place to take the family and guests from out of town.

A nice building, very busy while in session. Some key points of interest. There are a few museums in the building. A great statue of Ronald Reagan, "hidden" in the basement floor. This should be on the main floor. We'll I guess he wanna Democrat, so there you go.
See our YouTube channel Coolest Life.

This building is large & impressive. The governor's office has several interesting historical exhibits. Parking is hard to find. I saw a sign for maybe 3 or 4 places for 1 hour free visitor parking close by but I couldn't figure out what places were free. There is metered parking & parking garages close by. The many 1 way streets close by make it hard to find a place to park for first time visitors.

Located in downtown Sacramento, California’s Capitol already impresses with its proud size – after all, it represents a state of about 40 million people. Architecturally, the building is neoclassical in style and is inspired by models of Roman antiquity, for example by Corinthian columns and depictions of Roman gods such as Minerva in the gable on the west side. The rotunda with its golden dome is also reminiscent of Italian Renaissance buildings.

After a short security check you get inside, which is also worth seeing. It is home to the California State Capitol Museum, which houses the historic offices of political officials. During our visit, an exhibition about historical photography was also shown. Admission is free of charge.

The Capitol is currently being renovated or expanded, which is why there is a large construction site on the Capitol Park side. But we were more shocked by the large number of homeless people in the area. Unfortunately, this sight is emblematic of the misery that is often encountered in the United States, in California, and in Sacramento on every corner.

Pleasantly surprised by our visit. We did the self-guided tour as we were not sure how long our teenage children would want to stay - although there was an option for an hour long guided one.
Saw a session in progress and wandered around the displays for each county.
Learned a lot from our short visit - would definitely recommend this.

Stunningly gorgeous view at night! The building is lit up at night. Walked around inside to read about some history. Definitely neat.

It is hard to evaluate something which you have gone to so many times. But once you are in the building, we realize why we return to see the State’s Capitol building. Whatever your politics are, this is where our laws are made, where our futures are established. From pictures of our past governors to the assembly and senate rooms, there is an aire to the place which demands respect. So for that alone, it is worth going to see.
The Capitol Building was built with the US Capitol in mind. While not a replica, it does retain the sense of awe of the DC building. Inside the building are exhibits from each county. They range from pretty sophisticated to somewhat cheesy. There are free guided tours which you go on. They start in the basement. Very interesting.

Inside the capital are displays for each county in California- I found these really cool and educational. My 6 and 10 year olds found them moderately entertaining. There is a bear statue you can get on for a great picture inside as well. I get a kick walking around the grounds and it is an easy walk to old town and the river walk if you want to make a day of it. There is a place to eat inside, but I would recommend packing a picnic to have on the lawn instead.

This was one of the highlights of our holiday.

Even the security team who scanned our bags etc were welcoming, pleasant and friendly whilst being sufficiently vigilant for us to be confident that security standards are high!

Eric gave us a really great tour - about 30ish minutes and pitched at just the right level of detail. He zoomed in on detail when asked but made sure the little kids were also included. Of course, as Brits, we were fascinated by the unfamiliar political system in the US. But even so, the level of power exercised by the state government is significant and therefore very meaningful. It was great to understand how that works in California.
The history was also interesting and covered the birth of the state as well as the founding of the Capitol building in Sacramento. The imagery of the seal and of the Governors over the years was thought provoking and insightful. The portraits of the Governors of the State over the years were also historical vignettes of their times - especially that of the present Governor who has served one term already whose modern art portrait was innovative and compelling. And a great portrait of Arnie S. too - the epitome of a political film star!

There were also rooms set up as historical mementos of how offices and staterooms would have looked in the 19th Century.
A very forbearing policeman from the Sherriff's office (have I got the right title?) next to the big brass bear outside the Governor's office - let us take his photo with my rather giggly sixteen year old. She was thrilled so thanks for being so obliging!

Not sure if the Governor of the State of California ever reads Trip Advisor but your staff at the Capitol really do you proud - a great representation of the State and a very interesting experience. Civic pride the way it should be!

Beautifully restored interior and exterior, The floor mosaics are unbelievable as is all of the art and historical displays throughout the entire tour.

My husband was a bit reluctant to do this tour, but was glad he did! It was a great view of CA history and government. We had an excellent docent.

Road trip! Today we visited our 45th US state capitol. Beautiful building and our tour guide, Eric did a great job.

We timed our visit just right and joined a free guided tour of the Capitol Building. We saw both Chambers (House & Senate) the Governor's office, the old treasury, etc. Our guide was quite informative. Even without a tour, the building is lovely to visit and there are many photo opportunities. Street parking.

If interested you can join a guided tour, but even just walking around the building, seeing all the historic rooms and furniture is very interesting.

This is a must check out when visiting the area...

If you find parking, it is worthwhile..

The whole area is really big... Plenty of spots for pictures...

They sometimes have political demonstrations here ..

Also, the homeless hang out here but we have never had a problem..

Friendly staff, decent hour long docent tour. We did not see the Assembly and both chambers are viewed from a heavy plexiglass shielded gallery - tribute I guess to some overenthusiastic CA citizen audiences. Several historic rooms downstairs interpret the building as it once was - but in reality it was gutted in order to earthquake proof the place and you are viewing a recreation rather than a restoration. The court was here once too, but you do not see that - nor the (present) governor's offices. It is a pleasant visit and average-good as state Capitols go in terms of being ornate / oohs and aahs. They don't incorporate a little history museum as some Capitols do. Reagan looks a little lonely in his basement rotunda.

Had to kill a bit of time and were given a recommendation to take the tour. Really glad we did. Learned a lot and had fun doing it!

We came here by coincident and was pleasantly surprised how great it was. The building is so rich on history and the wing open to
the public was perfectly renovated to show the history on the institution.
Had had a great afternoon with the kids.

This is a very good muesum to see
It was so nice to see the various pictures that represented each county showing what they were famous for. Also u get to see what the governor's office used to look like. Very nice. Nest of all... it's free. So I would highly suggest that you go see this muesum and take a look at the park around the museum. I even found the redwood tree that went into space when it was a seedling!!! I think it's called the coastal redwood ..Nasa...Apollo 14 1971 Moon Tree. This tree is about 120 feet tall and well worth seeing.

If you love history and want to learn about California check this out. Took the kids and they were amazed we were allowed inside to tour...Free tour! Architecture is beautiful. Lots of cool things to see inside.

Great place for Californians and visitors to see and learn more about our history ! People who worked in the building were very friendly , beginning with the security, state highway trooper, attendants inside . A Must see when in town !

The tour was great, mostly thanks to our great guide who explained everything in an entertaining and gripping way.

What a Beautiful building i see where all Californias money has been spent. Full of tourists. Such beautiful decor.

I first took a tour of California’s state capitol when I was in town for the first time. Being from the East, I wanted to learn more about California and it’s history. Since that first visit two years ago, my family has relocated to California and I have taken the Capitol tour three times. I learn something new every time. The docents are incredibly nice and knowledgeable. They happily answer all questions and are overflowing with knowledge about our state’s capitol and those who work there - both presently and previously.
Be sure to take time to look at the displays from each county in the bottom level. It makes me want to visit all 58 of them! The gardens are also lovely to walk through on a nice day.
This is a fantastic way to spend a couple hours in the capitol city. It’s free and even kids enjoy it!

The museum has certainly increased it security since we lasted visited. It is still wonderful and docents are still very courteous and helpful. Don't forget to go to the basement and then the second floor to view legislature chambers. After viewing the interior of the State Capitol, don't forget to take a walk through the park.

If you walk around by yourself this is a two-star uninspiring 40 minute walk. With a docent leading you around this becomes a fascinating look at California history and the political process. If you try to do a quickie by yourself you willl be disappointed.

We had wonderful weather the day we walked to the capital from our downtown AirBnB. Take time to wander around this beautiful building and don't forget to take the elevator. We loved the displays of offices "from the olden days" that looked like they were from a movie set. During your walk through the park notice that all the trees are labeled and smell all the labeled roses in the rose garden.

Inside and Outside, this capitol is well-maintained. Gorgeous rose garden & grounds.
First thing you see when you enter is the state flag hanging over a Statue of 'Columbus' Last Appeal to Queen Isabella. Down one hallway, each county has a window box, filled with items that most represent that county. When we were there, the Senate Gallery was open, where we observed where bills are discussed and passed. Volunteers on the first floor will gladly give you information about the exhibits (rooms as they were when past governors were in office). My favorite part of our self-guided tour were the portraits on the 3rd floor of some of our governors.

Beautiful building-terrific architecture and nice, if not extensive, artifacts, artwork and displays. As a working building it is also a place where the Californis government can be seen in operation. Grounds are very nice also.

The grounds are nice and there are many activities and events that are held here on the ground and or start or finish here. Take some time to go inside and take a look around and get a history lesson. If you have out of town guests it’s a nice starting place when exploring the downtown area.

There are free walking tours on the hour - meet in the rotunda.

The building is fantastic.

The free tour was really informative and I learnt thinks I wouldn’t have known about.

All of the Californian governors portraits are on the wall - look out for Arnies!

We got to look into the chambers which was cool.

If you are visiting Sacramento be sure to take the free tour of the State Capitol. The guide are very informative, and the rest you will have to discover on your own.

First time visitor. Did self tour of capitol due to time constraints. Appreciated that I could do this on a Federal/State holiday. A very enjoyable experience.

Imposing building. Our tour guide was informative. She told us lots of interesting facts. There are number of historical rooms to view from the door way. You get to sit in the House of Representatives. Shown how the voting system works when the Senators are in attendance. You get to see large portraits of previous Governers, and there is also a full size statue of Ronald Reagan on entry. We saw a huge gold bear that weighs 800 tonnes. It has a an ornate indoor dome. The lights in the dome remain on 24/7. Also has a gift shop. A lift is readily available if unable to take the stairs. Definitely worth a visit. Free entry and free guided tour.

They’ve kept a large proportion of the building as a museum, each room had a tour guide in it to explain what that room would have been used for, how everyone worked in there and what their purpose would be.
Amazed that entry was free and all tour guides seem to genuinely enjoy their jobs.

If you live in California, you should visit your state capitol once, right? Unfortunately I didn't have much time to take the tour etc, so just simpily looked around on my own. Going through the security, just like the ones they have at the airports, can be a hassle, and the gift shop on the basement floor, is not easy to find.
Also, if you are like me and just want to take some pictures and a brief tour on your own, park your car at the nearby roundabout for free. It's on Capitol Mall/Lincoln Highway between 10th and 9th street, where the California State Library- Stanley Mosk Library and the California State Treasures Offices are.

This is a very easy visit that everyone should enjoy.
Great architecture with lots of information about how the government works. Pick the right days to see the legislature in action.
Lots of security but line moves quickly. Head to third floor so you can look down into assembly and senate chambers to see them in action. Walk down stairs so you can view most of the governor portraits. You will see why Governor Brown is outside the box.
Great County exhibits and Rotunda.
Clean restrooms too.