The Museum Collection

The Sutter’s Fort Curatorial Department is celebrating International Children’s Book Day by drawing your attention to a decorative handkerchief donated to Sutter’s Fort by Harriet Hoyt in 1932.

In recognition of Women’s History Month and Arts Education Month, we are highlighting the unique artwork of Anna Kloppenburg, a distinguished artist in the Sutter’s Fort Collection.

The eyeglasses within the Sutter’s Fort collection belonged to a diverse range of owners. The original catalogue cards provide some information, but often raise more questions than they answer. All we know about the ox horn spectacles is that they belonged to a “Chinese individual.”

The firemen at Engine Company No. 8 in Sacramento celebrated by decorating a tree in front of their firehouse, setting a scene with Santa Clause and reindeer, and making ornaments.

This harp is an example of a “harp of one order.” According to the original Sutter’s Fort catalogue card, Mexican musicians played this harp in the dance halls in mining towns during the Gold Rush Period. The harp was made in Mexico and brought to San Francisco by an unknown player in 1848. It later fell into the hands of an early Sacramento resident, who donated it to Sutter’s Fort between 1900 and 1930.

This original adobe brick is one of more than 50,000 objects included in the The Sutter’s Fort State Historic Park collection. This collection is one of the largest in the California State Park system.

The saddle form pictured below was owned by Stephen Hite and is in the Sutter’s Fort collection. It remains a mystery despite the research efforts of the State Parks curatorial team!

We are pleased to share that the Sunset Parlor of the Native Sons of the Golden West has made a commitment to help Friends of Sutter’s Fort and California State Parks preserve and protect Dolly for future generations.