California’s Remarkable Women in Spotlight At State History Museum
The achievements of nearly 200 of California’s remarkable women will come to life for visitors to the California State History Museum in a major exhibit sponsored by First Lady Maria Shriver and presented by California State Parks.
SACRAMENTO – They are business and community leaders, artists, inventors,
scientists, entertainers and sports figures known the world over. They are teachers, activists, poets and public servants. They are mothers, sisters, daughters. They are California’s Remarkable Women.
The achievements of nearly 200 of California’s remarkable women will come to life for visitors to the California State History Museum in a major exhibit sponsored by First Lady Maria Shriver and presented by California State Parks. The new exhibit opened to the public Thursday, May 13, 2004.
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| Hearst Castle loaned two Julia Morgan drawing reproductions, some original Julia Morgan tiles and an alabaster shade for California's Remarkable Women Exhibit. |
“This exhibit is designed to inspire generations to come,” said Maria Shriver.
The exhibit, which fills the museum’s second floor, features Academy Awards and
dresses worn by actresses Elizabeth Taylor, Jodie Foster and Julia Roberts; a flight suit worn by astronaut Sally Ride; ice skater Peggy Fleming’s Olympic gold medal, and hundreds of other objects pertaining to California women who have forever left their mark on history, not only here but also around the globe. “This is the best example of state agencies working together to accomplish this truly fine
public tribute to the role and contributions that have been made by women in California,” said California State Park Director Ruth Coleman. “This is only a modest cross-section of the contributions that women have made to California’s greatness. We should all be very proud.”
Walter Gray, State Parks Chief of Cultural Resources, said, “This is an opportunity for State Parks as the state’s heritage agency to work with the governor’s office, the First Lady, the Office of the Secretary of State and the California State History Museum to plan and develop this outstanding exhibit.” According to Gray, the exhibit occupies nearly 3,000-square feet of the museum. About 60 State Park staff members were involved in various aspects of the huge undertaking that took about five months to complete.
From the world of sports, visitors will see professional boxer Laila Ali, surfer Holly Beck, basketball star and breast cancer survivor Edna Campbell, Olympic gymnast Amy Chow, swimmer Natalie Coughlin, gymnast Jamie Dantzscher, ice skaters and Olympians Peggy Fleming and Kristi Yamaguchi, Olympic track stars Florence Griffith Joyner, Marion Jones and Jackie Joyner-Kersee, basketball star and sports reporter Cheryl Miller, tennis stars Venus and Serena Williams, Olympic soccer champion Brandi Chastain, and snowboarder Tara Dakides.
The exhibit honors women for their public service, women like: State Supreme Court Chief Justice Rose Bird, Ambassador Shirley T. Black, State Treasurer Kathleen Brown, U.S. Senators Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein, Rep. Nancy Pelosi and many others. In service to science and society, the exhibit notes the contributions of many women, including: brain researcher Dr. Marian Diamond, botanist Alice Eastwood, breast cancer researcher Dr. Susan Love and the first Latina astronaut, Dr. Ellen Ochoa.
California’s Remarkable Women Exhibit celebrates the diverse accomplishments of some of California’s women. It is the first step toward a long-term goal to invigorate the California State History Museum and to create a first-class destination point for residents and tourists who travel to Sacramento. The exhibit is the largest installation in the history of the museum and it will be on display in Sacramento for at least one year.
The California State History Museum was known as the Golden State Museum when it opened in June 1998 as a unique public/private partnership. The museum was developed by the Office of the Secretary of State and the California State Archives. The Museum's day-to-day operation and financial support are the responsibility of the nonprofit Golden State Museum Public Benefit Corporation. Private contributions, augmented by proceeds from admissions and the Museum Store, fund the Museum's programs and operations.
For More Information about the California State History Museum visit their website at http://www.capitolmuseum.ca.gov/
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