Oldest of all art museums in the Western United States, the Crocker Art Museum stands here in Sacramento. Founded in 1885, this institution holds one of the premier collections of Californian art and is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums. As you listen, imagine the sweep of art inside: American works that span from the Gold Rush to the present, European paintings and master drawings, one of the largest international ceramics collections in the U.S., and meaningful collections of Asian, African, and Oceanic art.
The museum’s story begins with Edwin B. Crocker (1818–1875) and his wife Margaret Crocker (1822–1901), who assembled a significant collection during an extended trip to Europe from 1869 to 1871. Returning to Sacramento, they created an art gallery in part of their grand home at the corner of Third and O streets and opened it to the public, with proceeds funding the Sacramento Library. With 694 paintings, their gallery boasted the largest private collection in the country and even held more paintings than the Metropolitan Museum of Art, becoming a hub of social activity.
Notice the corner of Third and O streets, where that home once opened its gallery to the public.