3d. Event Description
(Requirement: 5+ sentences. What was the event? How did it qualify as a C3 event?)
My dad and I visited the California State Capitol Museum in Sacramento. The museum is located inside the building where our state government works. We spent time exploring three different floors, including the basement, the first-floor museum, and a second-floor “mezzanine” that looks down on the main floor and up at the beautiful rotunda.
We saw a lot of cool things, like historic offices that showed what government workspaces looked like a long time ago. I think this qualifies as a Community, Civic, and Cultural (C3) event because we got to see our state’s civic history, look at cultural art like governor portraits, and even watch a real government meeting happening live on a monitor.
3e. Terms, Phrases, and Concepts Learned
(Requirement: 5+ sentences. 3 terms/phrases/concepts learned.)
During our visit, I learned about three things related to our state’s history and government. I learned about early photography from a big exhibit called “Lasting Impressions,” which explained why there were giant, old-fashioned cameras on display in several rooms. These large cameras were used to take “stereoviews,” which were some of the first 3D pictures used to document California a long time ago. I also learned about the historic Executive Branch by walking past preserved rooms that were set up like the old offices for the Governor, Secretary of State, and Treasurer from over a hundred years ago. I also learned about “civic action” by watching a live legislative meeting on a monitor in the hallway. Even though the doors were closed and it looked a bit boring to watch, it was an example of how our state representatives meet to make real laws.
3f. Relation to SaEJ & Why You Chose This Event
(Requirement: 15+ sentences. Relate to a Social or Environmental Justice issue, explain why chosen, what drew you to it, and any life experiences that sparked interest.)
This event is both Social and Environmental Justice (SaEJ) because the State Capitol is where the laws protecting our rights and our environment are debated and passed. When we watched the closed-door council meeting on the hall monitor, we were seeing the civic process in action. The representatives inside those meeting rooms are the ones making decisions about things like clean water, air quality, and equal rights for everyone in California.
Without the government working in this building, there would be no official way to make rules that protect us from pollution or unfair treatment. I chose this event because I wanted to see where these important decisions happen in real life and I had never been to the Capitol building itself. Living nearby in the Fair Oaks area, I have been in downtown Sacramento many times but never really stopped to understand what goes on inside the Capitol. I was also liked this event because I like history and wanted to see the art, like the painted portraits and there was even a bronze statue of Ronald Reagan.
I was curious to see how the building’s history connects to the modern laws being made today. Seeing the old mock offices from the past made me realize how much our state has changed over time. It was interesting to compare those quiet, historic rooms to the modern, busy meeting taking place down the hall. They also had on display a way to see the real wall that held up the big dome. By the gift shop, there is a way to peek inside the wall to see “The Drum,” which is what they call the round brick 160-foot wall that holds up the dome.
I also didn’t expect to see a huge exhibit on early photography, but it showed me how early Californians documented their lives and the beautiful places here. Looking at the old giant cameras made me think about how technology has changed the way we share information about justice issues today. I think learning about our state’s history is a good step to understanding how to improve our society. Overall, seeing the center of our state’s government made me feel more connected to the laws that affect my everyday life. It was a great way to combine history, culture, and civics all into one trip.
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