The Sacramento Association of Museums presents a special event supported by Umpqua Bank. It is the 10th Annual Sacramento Museum Day. This day is set apart for everyone who would like to view one or all of the twenty-five museums that will be offering free admittance on Saturday, February 2, 2008. The doors will open at 10:00am and the last entry will be at 4:00pm. All museums will close at 5:00pm.
This event has been a huge success in previous years with over 79,000 guests taking advantage of the free admission in 2007. Since the inception of "free museum day," more than 500,000 individuals have participated.
Before you plan your day, there are a few things to take into consideration. Decide which museums you would like to visit. Narrow it down to two or three so that you’ll have ample time to take in the entire museum without feeling rushed. Some of the museums will have special exhibits in addition to their normal displays. This might be a good time to visit a museum that you’ve never been to before. Do you like art, history, or wildlife? Or maybe science and medicine interest you. Choose the type of museum that best fits the interests of you and your family.
Next, decide what form of transportation you’ll take. If you drive, give yourself enough time to be in traffic and find parking. Be advised that all on-street parking hours and meters will be enforced as normal. Keep in mind that there will be a heavier than normal volume of traffic around the museums on this day.
If driving around Downtown doesn’t appeal to you, then maybe Regional Transit Light Rail is the way to go (regular fares apply). You can take RT to Old Sacramento and transfer to the free shuttle buses with tour guides that leave from one central location. There will be five routes to choose from. Special needs riders will be served by Paratransit. For RT route and schedule information, call 321-BUSS or visit www.sacrt.com.
Finally, prepare ahead of time. Check the weather forecast for rain. Bring along a sack lunch to picnic in the park or cash if you want to eat out. Pick up some maps or brochures in advance to see what is available, and what interests you. And why not bring a camera? This could turn into a great family day with lots of smiles.
For a complete list of museums that are participating in Museum Day, visit www.sacmuseums.org or call (916)808-7777.