Sac History Happenings

National History Day is a year-long competition in the area of historical research, writing and analysis (sort of history's equivalent of a science fair for primary and secondary school students around the country). Contestants who qualify at the regional level go on to compete at state gatherings where winners are chosen for the national competition.

Over 300 students participated at the 2013 Sacramento County History Day held at Inderkum High School. See pictures of the competition posted on the SCHD Flickr page and the student video documentaries on YouTube.

This year's NHD theme is Turning Points in History: People, Ideas, Events. Students choose a related issue from local, state, national or world history and present their research in one of six formats: 2-D display, documentary video, exhibit, paper, performance or website.

Judges are needed for the California History Day event which will be held in Sacramento this year. You don't have to be a history expert to judge -- just have an interest in the subject and the willingness to evaluate student entries with positive feedback and constructive criticism. If interested, fill out the online registration form.

What: California History Day
Where: Red Lion Woodlake Hotel, 500 Leisure Lane, Sacramento
When: April 26-28
Cost: free
For more info: contact Sergio Silva at email

Event flyer

PHOTO CREDIT: Judges evaluate a 2-D exhibit at the 2013 Sacramento County History Day. Photograph by Dylan McDonald. Courtesy Center for Sacramento History

The Folsom History Museum and Hangtown Fibers Guild have collaborated on a new exhibit that explores the history of yarn production, weaving, and hand weaving techniques. Visitors will have the opportunity to see ongoing loom demonstrations and contemporary fiber art.

Founded in 1960, the Folsom Historical Society was created to preserve the town's history and to reconstruct the old Wells Fargo & Company assay office for use as the Folsom History Museum.

What: Weaving the Past into the Future
Where: Folsom History Museum, 823 Sutter St., Folsom
When: March 30 thru May 19, Tuesday thru Sunday, 11 to 4 p.m.
Cost: $4 for adults; $2 for youth; children under 12 free.
For more info: 916.985-2707 or FHS newsetter

It's a family affair at the Historic City Cemetery this Saturday at a tour designed just for children (grades fourth and up). Here's a fun opportunity to explore the cemetery's wildlife and to learn about Sacramento history through stories of Sacramento pioneers, trappers, railroad men, society women, heroes and villains told by knowledgeable guides.

What: Children's Tour
Where: Historic City Cemetery, 1000 Broadway, Sacramento
When: March 30, 10 a.m.
Cost: free, but donations appreciated
For more info: 916-264-7839, 916-448-0811 or website

Event flyer
News release

PHOTO CREDIT: Kirt Baker, a third-grader at Crocker Riverside Elementary School, rubs a design from a headstone in the City Cemetery onto a piece of paper. Baker and his classmates were culminating a social studies unit on the history of Sacramento. 1999 Sacramento Bee photograph by Laura Chun

Pranksters and history enthusiasts alike are invited to celebrate April Fools' Day at Central Library by attending "Incredible Occurrences in Sacramento History," an illustrated lecture featuring a series of increasingly hard-to-believe stories about the capital city. Attendees can invite trusting, unwitting friends in the spirit of the holiday. Subjects will include Tomato Time, Nigel and the Swordfish, Jee Mei Si, and Bajo Sacramento, and the lecture will be followed by a true or false trivia round.

"Incredible Occurrences" is presented for the second year by Sacramento Room staff James Scott and Amanda Graham, who will be portraying professorly versions of themselves. As with the previous year, real Sacramento history will pervade the lecture and those in the know will be challenged to separate fact from fiction.

What: April Fools' Sacramento History
Where: Central Library, 828 I Street, Sacramento (I Street entrance)
When: Monday, April 1st, 6:00 p.m. - 7:15 p.m.
Cost: Free
For more info: www.saclibrary.org; (916) 264-2920

For the 18th year history buffs are invited to parade in their best 19th century finery in Old Sacramento this Saturday. Onlookers will likely see women in fanciful dresses, lovely parasols or colorful hats, and men in top hats, frock coats, vests, trousers, walking stick and watch fob.

This "Living History" fashion show will be followed by a Spring Ball featuring period music and dance (ballroom and contra styles). Dance instructors will be on hand to demonstrate the steps.

What: "Living History" Easter Bonnet Promenade & Spring Ball
Where: Old Sacramento
When: March 30. 10:45 a.m.: Easter Bonnet Promenade participants gather in front of the Sacramento History Museum (101 I St.). 11 a.m.: Easter Bonnet Promenade begins. 2 p.m.: Spring Ball begins in Stanford Gallery (111 I St.).
Cost: free
For more info: 916-808-7059 or www.HistoricOldSac.org

PHOTO CREDIT: Courtesy Historic Old Sacramento Foundation

On Dec. 26, 1862, in the aftermath of the war between the Dakota (Eastern Sioux) Indians and the U.S. Army in Minnesota, 38 Dakota warriors were hanged in what is said to be the largest mass execution in U.S. history.

The conflict is recalled in a documentary film that tells the story of Jim Miller, a contemporary Dakota spiritual leader, who in 2009 lead a small group on horseback 330 miles to commemorate the execution that took place in Makato, Minn.

Maidu Museum in Roseville will host a public screening of Dakota 38 this Thursday. The film will be followed by a discussion with Jim Miller and Eric Noyes, Executive Director of American Indian Institute, who will be on hand to answer questions.

Dakota 38 was filmed by Smooth Feather Productions, which has made the full documentary available for free download or streaming on its website.

What: Dakota 38 Screening and Discussion
Where: Maidu Museum & Historic Site, 1970 Johnson Ranch Dr., Roseville
When: March 28, 7 p.m.
Cost: free, but RSVP tickets are required
For more info: (916) 744-5934 or website

Event flyer
News release

I would just like to remind all of our loyal blog readers that the Sacramento Antiquarian Book Fair will be taking place this Saturday, March 23 from 9:45 a.m to 5 p.m. at the Scottish Rite Temple, 6151 H Street in Sacramento. The dealers at this event tend to bring out their best California items, many having to do with Sacramento. If you're interested in other topics you will find much to your liking as well. Admission to this event is $5.00, but free passes are available at numerous Sacramento bookstores and libraries.

For more information contact 916-849-9248, bookbomb@att.net or sacbookfair.com

The origin of Sacramento commercial radio stretches back to February 1922 when the city's first station, KVQ (later KFBK), began broadcasting at 833 kilocycles on the AM band. It would be another 15 years before a second station, KROY, would arrive on the scene. But by 1960 there would be several AM stations with sister operations broadcasting on the new FM band.

The evolution of Sacramento radio was discussed in a recent talk by local radio veteran Alex Cosper at Midtown Village Cafe. Cosper -- who founded the video site SacTV in 2011 -- covered the rise of rock-in-roll, the emergence of Top 40, soul, free-form and alternative formats, plus later domination of AM by national chains. He also touched on his work as Program Director at KWOD in the 1990s.

Cosper's lecture was recorded and is available in a three-part video series on SacTV which also produced other videos on Sacramento media history, including interviews with local broadcasting figures.

PHOTO CREDIT: Undated photograph of the KFBK building in Sacramento.

In the art world a "found object" is something that wasn't intended to be artistic, but can be appreciated as art in the right context. The same is true for artifacts that weren't intended to be historic, but in the passage of time become so.

By coincidence two local collectors with a passion for Sacramento history are independently sharing old snapshots, postcards, advertising and other found ephemera on the social media sites Facebook and Tumblr.

Vintage Sacramento, maintained by graphic designer Will Peterson, "was created so that we can share memories of our city." Most of the items on the site were picked up over the years at "garage sales and flea markets." Peterson says he developed an interest in Mid-century Modern architecture and design from having grown up in an Eichler-style Streng home near American River College. Vintage Sacramento is heavy on photos of the city from the 1960s, 70s and 80s.

Sacramento History is hosted by Anthony Cathey who's "been seriously collecting for about a decade," scouring "online auction sites and area antique stores" for the odd, but interesting item. Cathey generally adds two or three images a week to his Tumblr site which is filled with vintage black-and-white snapshots, colorful postcards and the occasional menu, coin or receipt. This collection tips toward the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Both Cathey and Peterson see the value of displaying their treasures with the public rather than keeping them shut in a box. They encourage their readers to post comments and their own scanned items to the sites.

PHOTO CREDIT: Unidentified woman enjoying downtown Sacramento on July 4, 1918. Photo contributed to The Bee's History User Photos by D. Clegg

Established in 2006, the California Hall of Fame honors "legendary people who embody California's innovative spirit and have made their mark on history." Inductees are chosen from all fields of endeavor, including the arts, business, sports, academia and government.

The California Museum will open its new Hall of Fame Exhibit to the public this Thursday. The displays showcase personal items and ephemera that reflect the achievements and careers of each honoree.

The 7th gala ceremony inducting this year's class will be held Wednesday evening from 7 to 8 p.m. at the California Museum. Public television stations in the state will broadcast the proceedings live. Watch for The Bee's news coverage the next day.

The 2013 Hall of Fame Class

Gregory Bateson, anthropologist and social scientist
Warren Beatty, actor, director and producer
Charles and Ray Eames, groundbreaking designers
Dolores Huerta, farmworker labor organizer
Ishi, celebrated Native American
Joe Montana, football great
Warner Brothers, movie makers

What: 7th Annual California Hall of Fame Exhibit
Where: California Museum of History, 1020 O St., Sacramento
When: opens March 21. Museum hours: Tuesday-Saturday, 10 to 5 p.m.; Sunday, 12 to 5 p.m.; Monday, closed.
Cost: Adults (18+), $8.50; college students & seniors (65+), $7; youth (6-17), $6; children (under 6), free.
For more info: 916-653-7524 or website

PHOTO CREDIT: Former San Francisco 49ers great Joe Montana poses after his enshrinement into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2000. AP Photo/Mark Duncan

For the fourth consecutive year the secrets of subterranean Sacramento will be revealed when the Underground Tours resume this Saturday.

As before, docents in period garb will take visitors to excavated foundations and enclosed pathways and explain the amazing effort that produced California's only successful street-raising project.

Participants should be prepared to walk on uneven surfaces and under low ceilings. These tours are popular, so advanced ticket purchases are recommended.

What: Old Sacramento Underground Tours -- Season 4
Where: Sacramento History Museum, 101 I S. in Old Sacramento
When: March 23 thru Dec. 2013. Tours departing every half hour 10:30 to 3 p.m. weekends thru May. Check website for updated tour times June thru December.     
Cost: $15 for adults; $12 for HOSF members; $10 for children. Buy tickets online.
For more info: 916-808-7059 or website

News release

PHOTO CREDIT: The "Sheriff" shows onlookers one of the subterranean walls during an Underground Sacramento tour. Courtesy Historic Old Sacramento Foundation

What do Rio Vista, Iselton, Ryde, Walnut Grove, Locke, Courtland and Hood have in common? They're some of the northern California places featured in the new illustrated volume, Towns of the Sacramento Delta. Author Phillip Pezzaglia traces the origin and development of these pioneer communities whose histories stretch back to the 19th century when river travel and trade flourished.

Pezzaglia is a regional historian and the curator and a board member of the Rio Vista Museum. He also wrote another volume in the Arcadia Images of America series, Rio Vista.

Towns of the Sacramento Delta (Images of America series)
by Philip Pezzaglia
Arcadia Publishing
128 pages, paperback
$21.99

Arcadia Publishing is known for producing small, richly illustrated books on local and regional history. It typically partners with local historians and organizations in developing its publications, which now number nearly 7,500 titles that celebrate communities all across the country.

National History Day is a year-long competition in the area of historical research, writing and analysis (sort of history's equivalent of a science fair for primary and secondary school students around the country). Contestants who qualify at the regional level go on to compete at state gatherings where winners are chosen for the national competition.

This year's NHD theme is "Turning Points in History: People, Ideas, Events." Students choose a related event from local, state, national or world history and present their research in one of six formats: 2-D display, documentary video, exhibit, paper, performance or website.

The first leg of the 2013 competition, Sacramento County History Day, was completed last Saturday at Inderkum High School. Regional entries ranged from Joan of Arc to Rosie the Riveter, from the Renaissance to Sputnik. Students who qualified at this level earned the opportunity to attend California History Day, scheduled for April 26-28 at Sacramento's Red Lion/Woodlake Hotel.

Congratulations to all the students who participated in Sacramento History Day.

Complete list of the 2013 Sacramento County History Day Qualifiers

PHOTO CREDIT: Forrest Jensen of Toby Johnson Middle School plays President Harry Truman in a skit called "The Tragedy and Triumph of the Atomic Bomb" at the 25th Annual Sacramento County History Day. 2007 Sacramento Bee photograph by Autumn Payne

It being Women's History Month, it's appropriate to remind readers about the California's Remarkable Women exhibit which continues at the California Museum for History, Women and the Arts.

Inspired by former First Lady Maria Shriver, the displays honor the myriad contributions women have made to the state, past and present. Included are profiles of some 200 significant people who excelled in a variety of occupations, including Dolores Huerta, Jane Lathrop Stanford, Elizabeth Taylor, Peggy Fleming, Alice Waters, Meg Whitman and Sally Ride.

The Bee's Anita Creamer profiled California's Remarkable Women when it opened in May 2004. You can read it here.

What: California's Remarkable Women exhibit
Where: California Museum, 1020 O St., Sacramento, CA
When: Ongoing. Tues-Sat 10 to 5 p.m., Sun 12 to 5 p.m.
Cost: general $8.50, students & seniors (65+) $7, youth (6-13) $6, children (5 and under) free.
For more info: (916) 653-7524 and website

PHOTO CREDIT: First Lady Maria Shriver looks over the Remarkable Women exhibit at the California Museum. 2004 Sacramento Bee photograph by John Decker

You don't normally think of railroads in the history of Hawaii, but beginning in the late 1800s up to 1940 narrow-gauge trains were essential for moving sugar cane from plantations to the island mills.

The romance of those steam-powered locomotives is depicted in a collection of colorful paintings now on display at the California State Railroad Museum. Inspired by historic photographs, artist Mike Kotowski painted the series between 1976-1978 for a calendar commemorating the 100th anniversary of the introduction of steam trains for cane transport.

What: Sweet Stop -- Mike Kotowski's Sugar Cane Trains of Hawaii
Where: California State Railroad Museum, Old Sacramento
When: March 12 thru Aug. 25, 10 to 5 p.m.
Cost: Museum admission: $10 adults; $5 youths ages 6-17; free for children 5 and under  
For more info: 916-445-6645 or website

News release

IMAGE CREDIT: Calendar paintings by Michael F. Kotowski. Courtesy California State Railroad Museum

Sacramento's observance of Women's History Month continues at Sutter's Fort with a special "Hands on History" program dedicated to California's pioneer women. Visitors this Saturday will hear tales of the hardships and challenges these emigrants faced in the early days of the state. They also see demonstrations and hands on experience with dutch-oven cooking, covered wagon loading, water bucket carrying and rope making. Plus there will be the ever-popular cannon firings and black powder and musket demonstrations.

And special guest Cheryl Stapp will give speak on the important roles frontier women played in the development of California. Stapp is a local writer, historian and author of Disaster & Triumph: Sacramento Women, Gold Rush Through the Civil War and Sacramento Chronicles: A Golden Past. In the former book, she profiles six remarkable, but very different, 19th century women. After her presentations, Stapp will be available to answer questions and sign books.

What: Hands on History: Hard Working Women of the Frontier
Where: Sutter's Fort State Historic Park, 2701 L St., Sacramento
When: March 16, 10 to 5 p.m. Cannon firing demonstrations: 11 a.m., 1 and 3 p.m. Stapp presentations: 11:30 a.m., 1:30 and 3:30 p.m. Musket demonstrations periodically throughout the day.
Cost: $7 adult (18 and older), $5 youth (ages 6-17), free children 5 years and under
For more info: 916-445-4422 or website

News Release

PHOTO CREDIT: Women on the Frontier reenactment. Courtesy Sutter's Fort State Historic Park

In honor of Women's History Month, the California State Library and the California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls have created a colorful online weekly calendar of women from California history who achieved success in science, technology, engineering or math - the STEM fields. These images and biographical materials are drawn from the California History Section's own collection with an emphasis on women in science and math professions, echoing the National Women's History Month effort to commemorate women in STEM professions who strode past barriers in pursuit of their dreams. For the third week in March, the calendar highlights a woman veteran for Women's Military History Week. Maggie Gee was a training pilot in World War II, serving as a Women's Air Force Service Pilot, known as the WASPs. Gee also spent 30 years as a research physicist at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. The online calendar can be viewed at http://www.library.ca.gov/calhist/calendar1.html

Also celebrating Women's History Month is a new exhibit in the State Library's first floor rotunda. "California Women in the War Effort" documents the role of California Women in the military during wartime, and also highlights women's efforts on the home front. Included in this exhibit are fascinating and often visually attractive magazine articles from the library's general collection as well as photographs, letters home, and assorted realia from the California History Section's special collections. Likewise on display are uniforms and posters on loan from the California State Military Museum.

Taking a different tack, the California History Section's featured book display for March is titled "Ferries and Bridges in California," and showcases books on bridges from the mighty steel triumphs crossing the Golden gate and San Francisco to the smaller drawbridges and covered wooden structures prevalent in California's rural areas. But before the construction of bridges, California's residents depended on ferries to cross the state's bodies of water. Larger boats were used on San Francisco Bay and San Diego Bay, but much simpler ferries served the Sacramento and San Joaquin Delta where bridges did not exist. Also on display are books on the river steamers Delta King and Delta Queen, which were technically not ferries but plied the bay and rivers nonetheless.

A new biographical reference book features over 140 illustrated profiles of important California mid-century designers. A Handbook of California Design covers designers, craftspeople and manufacturers who worked in the media of furniture, fashion, textiles, jewelry, ceramics and graphics. Subjects include such notables as Saul Bass and Charles and Ray Eames, as well as lesser-known individuals.

The collection is edited by Bobbye Tigerman, Associate Curator of Decorative Arts and Design at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art

A Handbook of California Design, 1930-1965: Craftspeople, Designers, Manufacturers
Edited by Bobbye Tigerman
MIT Press
Paperback, 320 pages
$34.95

Susan B. Anthony (1820-1906) didn't live long enough to see passage of the constitutional amendment that gave all American women the right to vote. But her decades-long advocacy of female suffrage was critical to its eventual achievement.

Just in time for Women's History Month, Sacramento's B Street Theatre will premiere a new play honoring the life and work of this remarkable abolitionist, civil rights activist and feminist. Finding Our Voice "explores the impassioned crusade for the 19th Amendment from the uniquely poignant perspective of one young woman torn between freedom and family."

The play is the seventh penned by actor-author David Pierini and is the third production in B Street Theatre's 2012-2013 Family Series.

What: Finding Our Voice: Susan B. & the Women's Suffrage Movement by David Pierini
Where: B Street Theatre B3 Stage, 2727 B St., Sacramento
When: March 9 thru April 14, 1 p.m. & 4 p.m. Saturdays & Sundays
Cost: $18 and $12 (recommended for children 8 and older).
For more info: 916-443-5300 or website

Part history, part travelogue and part environmental call to action, The Golden Shore is a multi-faceted paean to California's coastline. This recently released study explores the complex relationship people have with the Pacific Ocean -- beginning with the first native settlements up through the latest marine research. Author David Helvarg considerd the economic, political and cultural forces that have shaped our understanding, use and appreciation of the coast.

Helvarg is founder and Executive Director of the Blue Frontier Campaign, which is dedicated to ocean and coastal conservation. He has produced 40-plus TV documentaries and is also author of Rescue Warriors and Saved by the Sea. Helvarg discussed The Golden Shore in an interview with Imperial Beach Patch.

The Golden Shore: California's Love Affair with the Sea
by David Helvarg
published by Thomas Dunne Books
Hardcover, 353 pages
$27.99

March is Women's History Month and the Old Sacramento Living History Program will celebrate the occasion with historical re-enactments and vignettes performed by volunteers in early California attire. Visitors to Old Sacramento will see passionate debates about women's suffrage or run into ladies strolling the streets advocating for the right to vote.

Women's History Day is sponsored by the Historic Old Sacramento Foundation (HOSF), a nonprofit organization dedicated to educating the public about the history of the city through interpretative programming and other events.

What: Living History: Women's History Day
Where: Sacramento History Museum and Old Sacramento State Historic Park  
When: March 9, 12 to 3 p.m.
Cost: free
For more info: 916-808-7059 or website

News release

PHOTO CREDIT: Courtesy Historic Old Sacramento Foundation

A pivotal year in U.S. history is the subject of a three-dimensional, multimedia art exhibit now showing at the Crocker Art Museum. 1963 by San Francisco artist Thomas Somerville, evokes the politics, activism and culture of the 60s through sculpture, video, painting and collage. The large, room-like piece is meant to be viewed from the inside and outside.

Accompanying this exhibition is an evening of readings scheduled for April 25 at the Crocker. The first in the TrueStory narrative series, Remembering 1963 & Civil Rights will bring writers and poets together to share their experiences and perspectives about this important time. TrueStory is hosted by Elaine Gale, CSUS Associate Professor of Communication Studies and Journalism, and Janna Marlie Maron, editor-publisher of Under the Gum Tree magazine. 

Maron and Gale are currently seeking submissions for the April 25 event. Even if you don't have first-hand experience of this important year in civil right history, perhaps you've heard stories from older relatives, or you grew up in a town where demonstrations occurred. If so, you're encouraged to write up and share your story. If interested, email Janna Maron at jms@jannamarlies.com.

What: Rebirth of a Nation: Thomas Somerville's 1963
Where: Crocker Art Museum, 216 O St., Sacramento
When: March 3 to May 5, Tues-Sun 10 to 5 p.m., Thurs 10 to 9 p.m.
Cost: Adults $10, seniors (65 and older) $8, college students $8, youth (7-17) $5, children (6 and under) free
For more info: 916-808-7000 or website

PHOTO CREDIT: 1963 by Thomas Somerville. Courtesy Crocker Art Museum

When Harvey Milk was elected to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in 1977, he became one of the first openly gay public officials in the country. Milk would go on to champion the rights of homosexuals in several high-profile campaigns, including defeat of Proposition 6 (the Briggs Initiative) which would have banned gays and lesbians from working in California public schools. In 1978 Milk and Mayor George Moscone were assassinated by former City Supervisor Dan White.

UC Press has recently released a new Harvey Milk collection, consisting of "his speeches, columns, editorials, political campaign materials, open letters, and press releases, culled from public archives, newspapers, and personal collections."

The volume was edited by Jason Edward Black, Associate Professor of Communication Studies at The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, and Charles E. Morris III is Professor of Communication and Rhetorical Studies at Syracuse University.

An Archive of Hope: Harvey Milk's Speeches and Writings
by Harvey Milk, edited by Jason Edward Black and Charles E. Morris III
University of California Press
paperback, 280 pages, $34.95
hardcover, 280 pages, $70.00