Six Sacramento area museums are joining the Smithsonian magazine “Museum Day Live!” nationwide effort by offering free admission to advance registrants all day on Saturday, September 23, 2017. The six participating local museums include the following:  Aerospace Museum of California, California Automobile Museum, California Museum, California State Railroad Museum, Maidu Museum & Historic Site and SSVMS Museum of Medical History*.  The mission of the annual effort is to provide an opportunity for consumers throughout the United States to enjoy and share in our dynamic heritage and cultural institutions for free. New this year – and of special interest to educators -- Museum Day Live! will feature special interactive lesson plans created by Smithsonian in partnership with Microsoft using Minecraft: Education Edition.

Saturday, September 16, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. In 1849, gold brought miners to California. When that didn’t pan out, the fertile soil kept the former farmers and ranchers here and created a second “Gold Rush” that still exists today. Come visit the Historic City Cemetery and find out about these individuals that helped California become a powerhouse in providing food to the nation and the world.

The cemetery is located at 1000 Broadway, Sacramento. There is free parking on surrounding streets. Tours are free; however, donations are appreciated and benefit cemetery preservation. For more information, call 916-448-0811.

Continuing a popular series of fun and interactive “Hands on History” activities offered each month, Sutter’s Fort State Historic Park (SHP) and Friends of Sutter’s Fort will present a special “Hands on History: Wagons West” event on Saturday, September 16, 2017 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fort visitors will be delighted to see the recently completed restoration of the historic walls, gates and blacksmith shop – along with new restoration efforts underway – plus have the opportunity to step back in time to when Sutter’s Fort was considered as the ultimate destination for thousands of overland emigrants lured by the idea of inexpensive land, rich soil, beautiful weather and boundless opportunity, followed by tens of thousands of fortune seekers in 1849 and 1850 during the Gold Rush.

Celebrate one last hurrah before summer ends…don’t miss a special Classic Car & Appreciation Weekend happening September 9-10 (from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day) at the California State Automobile Museum.

Everyone is welcome –- and can Pay-What-You-Want all weekend -- plus classic and collector car owners are encouraged to drive their vintage vehicles to the Museum for the event. Hoods will be up on many vintage vehicles inside the Museum so visitors can get a glimpse into what is unique about each engine and automobile. Also, kids will enjoy fun and free Storytime activities at 11 a.m., noon and 1 p.m. each day.

Sponsored by Coker Tire, the Classic Car & Appreciation Weekend is a great way to celebrate the end of summer in style! For more, please call 916-442-6802 or visit www.calautomuseum.org