Best Sacramento Places To Celebrate Women's History Month 2014
Aerospace Museum of California
3200 Freedom Park Drive
McClellan, CA 95652
(916) 643-3192
www.aerospaceca.org
When the U.S. Air Force Base at McClellan was decommissioned, a part of the old air field was turned into a very spectacular museum. Inside and out, the Aerospace Museum of California is magnificent. Why go here? On the second floor of the Exhibits Hall, you will find a extensive section dedicated to the women who made airplanes their specialty. Women have been piloting planes in the military since WWII. They have also maintained them, built parts for them, and ferried them all over the world. Find out more about women and their extensive history in aviation right here.
California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls
900 N. St., Suite 390
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 651-5405
www.women.ca.gov
The State Library and the California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls should be on the list of places to visit. If you can't make it to the offices, at least tour the website. This commission has a dedicated goal of "...developing recommendations which enable women to make the maximum contribution to society." It is a gold mine of information on what it has taken to get from the dark days of the past to the brighter days ahead.
California Legislative Women's Caucus
California State Capitol
1315 10th St.
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 324-0333
womenscaucus.legislature.ca.gov
While you're downtown during Women's History Month, go to the State Capitol and stop by the Legislative Women's Caucus offices. This in one of the most up-to-date groups of women in state government you'll ever find. There is more history here than you can take in. Throw in what they are currently doing, in many different ways, and you may just come away a bit overwhelmed. There are 31 members of this caucus and they have the historic facts about women in state government. They are also the ones who are leading the charge into the future.Related: Best Ways To Celebrate Women's History Month 2013 In Sacramento
Women's Wisdom Art
7851 35th Ave.
Sacramento, CA 95824
(916) 482-2608
www.womenswisdomart.org
A little history about this group: Its original founding date was in 1991. While that's not ancient, it spans a 23-year run of helping women. In 2012 it became a non-profit and is under the umbrella of the Friends of the Arts Commission. They assist women in learning about themselves through the power of art. Everyone works at her own ability level, with plenty of help. Painting with various media, doll classes, gourds, clay, quilts and more are part of this effort. Visit them and take a good look at the art works. You just may leave with one of them, and your home will be a perfect place for it.
ARTHOUSE
1021 R St.
Sacramento, CA 95811
(916) 412-6948
www.arthouse-sacramento.com
Merle Axelrad maintains a studio at ARTHOUSE. If you want to spend some time viewing some of the most incredible fabric art you've ever laid your eyes on, her studio is where you need to be. Once you are there, what you'll find are numerous women artists working in a very rich variety of media. Way back when, women quite often had to hide their identities in the art world. Wonderfully, that hasn't been the case for quite some time. There are about 11 women creating art works here. There are no fictitious names on the works. This is another place that will bring into focus the gains women have made, and the reason we celebrate March as Women's History Month.
Charles Ferris is a freelance writer who has lived in the Sierra, halfway between Sacramento and Lake Tahoe, for the last 37 years. In 2010 he retired from teaching after 36 years . He and his wife hike, kayak, cross country ski, snow shoe, ride mountain bikes and road bikes, year round. His work can be found at Examiner.com.
