News and Information

West Sacramento Historical Society Newsletters

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The First State Registered Historical Landmark Unveiling for the First Pacific Coast Salmon Cannery

On April 1, 2009 (Wednesday), the unveiling ceremony of the FIRST West Sacramento State Registered Historical Landmark for Hapgood, Hume, and Company - the FIRST Pacific Coast Salmon Cannery - will take place from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at River Walk Park in the Broderick district of West Sacramento.

In 1864, Hapgood, Hume, and Company founded California's first salmon cannery in Washington (now West Sacramento) on a barge moored on the banks of the Sacramento River. The small canning operation was the beginning of the salmon canning industry on the West Coast. Salmon caught in the Sacramento River were canned by the cooker-boiler method, rather than the salt preservation method commonly used at that time. The new process allowed for wider markets and lower prices. read more...

Invitation to Classroom Teachers

The West Sacramento Historical Society invites you to bring your class for a free docent led tour of this interesting museum of local history. Your class will learn what makes West Sacramento unique, using the museum exhibits as teaching aids. Call Jeri Wingfield at 371-7678, or Jim Brewer at 617-2288 to schedule your tour. If transportation costs are a problem, local sponsors plan to make your class’s trip a reality. Please schedule as soon as possible to ensure that your class can be accommodated during this special offer.

Our Journey series

The Latino exhibition, "Our Journey," is the second in a series of future exhibitions at the museum highlighting the various cultures comprising West Sacramento. ?The first such exhibition focused on "The Sikhs of West Sacramento." This new display will?explore and honor the richness of the Latino community in West Sacramento by?identifying Latino families, individuals, social organizations and businesses that help define our community. "Why did Latino's settle in West Sacramento?" "Did they immigrate from Mexico and Central America or did they immigrate from other states during the Dust Bowl and Great Depression periods?" "How many generations of families remain here?" These and other questions will be answered in this exhibition which opens in early May 2008.

WSHS Featured on Television

The West Sacramento Historical Society participated in the first half of "Live Wire" - Sacramento's public access television station- on November 14, 2007 at 4:30 pm. WSHS was invited back to the program to discuss their exhibit "The Sikhs of West Sacramento" on January 16, 2008. See photos of the TV program here

California Museum Month

Earlier this year, the state senate passed a resolution by Senator Alan Lowenthal of Long Beach that declared May 2007 as California Museum Month. The resolution declares that California is home to over 1,300 museums that are located in every county and region throughout the state and that serve over 26 million visitors annually. To read SCR 5 in its entirety, click here.

The California Association of Museums invites all museums, museum service organizations, California residents, and local governments to use this milestone to recognize and celebrate the contributions of California museums as they serve the state.

Opening the Safe

On Tuesday, October 24, 2006 at 11:00 a.m. the West Sacramento Historical Society opened the 1920's-1930's safe to see what's in it. Read about it here and see photos and press coverage here