State Indian Museum Guided Tour

*photo from the museum 

This is a one hour guided educational tour for grades K-12

Your tour will show information about the earliest inhabitants and their way of life within the state, the information broken up into elements of Nature, Spirit, and Family. You will get to see all the authentic artifacts during your visit, such as handwoven baskets, canoes, ceremonial necessities, beadwork, and hunting tools, some items dated back as far as 2400 years. You can even utilize different tools such as a drill pump used for bead and tool making. Your educator will help your student better understand the lifestyles and personal histories of a bygone era of indigenous peoples.

The State Indian Museum, opened in 1940, depicts three major themes of California Indian life: Nature, Spirit, and Family. Native peoples lived prosperously for thousands of years in what is now California. All of the exhibits and photographs on display in the museum are presented with respect for those who went before us on this land and continue to live in California communities today.

California Indian cultural items in the museum include traditional baskets, along with some of the smallest in the world, a redwood dugout canoe, ceremonial regalia, beadwork, and hunting & fishing tools-some of which are more than twenty-four hundred years old. There is also an exhibit depicting the life of Ishi, reputedly the last survivor of the Yahi tribe, illustrating how Native culture was powerfully impacted and forever changed when outsiders arrived.

Many Native people have donated photographs of family and friends for viewing in the museum. There is also a wall of photographs devoted to honoring California Elders, and a hands-on area where visitors have the opportunity to utilize Indian tools like the pump drill, used for making holes in shell beads, and the mortar & pestle, used for grinding acorns.

$12 per student

$12 per chaperone

Siblings ages 4 and under are free but must be listed when registering as they will need to be included in the official headcount

Important Info

• AGE/GRADE REQUIREMENTS: K-12
• ALLERGY ALERT: Please let us know right away if your student has a food allergy so we can make any necessary arrangements
• CANCELLATION/REFUND POLICY: Tickets for field trips will remain on sale until sold out or at the cut off date listed on the event, whichever comes first. Changes to your order can be made only while the field trip is open. Once a field trip closes, we are unable to offer refunds. Issues with orders such as insufficient or incomplete funds withdrawal may be subject to cancellation.
• CHAPERONE POLICY FOR TEACHER-LED FIELD TRIPS: Instructional funds may be used to order 1 adult/chaperone ticket per 4 enrolled students and 2 adult/chaperone tickets per 5 or more enrolled students.An adult chaperone is required to accompany student(s) on a field trip regardless of the student(s)' age or grade level(s).
• FOOD/DRINK RESTRICTIONS:No food, gum or drinks are allowed inside the museum. Picnic benches are available outside.
• EDUCATIONAL MATERIAL: Please click this link Guide For Educators
• MEETING INSTRUCTIONS: Please allow yourself enough time to get there and park. We will be meeting out front by the museum entrance. The tour starts promptly at 1pm so please be on time as we will not be able to wait.
• PARKING INSTRUCTIONS: There is metered street parking
• SICK POLICY: To ensure the health and safety of all attendees, please do not attend a field trip if you or your student(s) is ill or showing possible signs of illness.
• RELEASE OF LIABILTY: When registering, make sure to read and understand the Release of Liabiliy Policy before submitting your order

If you are a parent using charter school funds, you will still need to register here for the event in order to hold your spot. Use the coupon code listed below when checking out. You will also need to put in your order with your charter school. They will reach out to us with your request and this will confirm your field trip reservation.

Charter Coupon Code: CHARTER