Sutter County Museum

Home
United States
Yuba City, CA
Sutter County Museum

The Sutter County Museum shares local stories to strengthen community bonds and inspire the celebration of our diverse cultural heritage. Admission is FREE!

We are open Wednesdays-Fridays from 9am-5pm and Saturdays from 12-4pm. The Sutter County Museum shares local stories to strengthen community bonds, to inspire celebration of our diverse cultural heritage, and to demonstrate how understanding the past prepares us for the future. The Sutter County Museum tells the story of the Yuba-Sutter community, from the Native Americans who lived here pre-conta

ct to the present. This is done through a combination of exhibits, both permanent and temporary, and public programs. Permanent exhibits include the Nisenan people, John Sutter, the history of agriculture in the area, and our multi-cultural wing, which tells the stories of diverse ethnic communities with sizable populations in Yuba-Sutter. The Museum hosts 5-6 temporary exhibits per year and over 30 free educational public programs annually. The Museum Gift Shop offers a selection of one-of-a-kind gifts and a comprehensive selection of books on local and California history.

05/29/2026

Eric, a member of the Sutter County Museum Association Board, recently explored our temporary exhibit and discovered a special connection in the Katakana Club area. The exhibit showcases Japanese writing and calligraphy, giving kids (and adults!) a chance to practice writing Japanese letters while learning about Japanese stories, sayings, and writing systems.

Eric brought in his copyrighted edition of “The Tale of Genji," a classic work of Japanese literature featured in the exhibit! Considered by some scholars to be the world's first novel, "The Tale of Genji" was written by Murasaki Shikibu using hiragana, a Japanese writing system developed over 1,000 years ago.

Experience the “Hello From Japan!” exhibit at the Sutter County Museum through August 22nd! Come discover fun facts, explore Japanese culture, and learn about Japan’s history!

05/27/2026

You will be glad to know that the Sutter County Museum's Gift Shop is fully stocked with plenty of handmade jewelry designs, shown off here by our volunteer Mellissa! Current jewelry lines include:

• The Didi Jewelry Project, based in California with each piece handcrafted by women in India to support their full-time employment. This very popular line has been carried in our store for about 10 years!

• YoYoDesignz, handcrafted in Yuba City by Mai, featuring her beautiful, unique earrings made out of polymer clay, resin, and pressed flowers! Many of her one-of-a-kind pieces feature Hmong-inspired designs. These earrings have been a bestseller in our Gift Shop for over 4 years!

• No Man's Land, a lovely new line for us! The artist’s handcrafted jewelry features fabulous floral designs created in the Pacific Northwest and inspired by nature.

We hope to have you visit our Gift Shop soon! Our hours are Wednesdays-Fridays from 9am-5pm and Saturdays from 12-4pm.

05/21/2026

💙The Sutter County Museum is pleased to participate again this year in the national Blue Star Museums program!

We join museums across the country in providing FREE admission to currently serving U.S. military personnel and their families. The Blue Star Museums program runs until Labor Day – September 7th, 2026. Learn more and find the list of participating museums at arts.gov/bluestarmuseums.

We offer FREE admission for everyone year-round, but we are glad to bring attention to this meaningful national program! 💙

Blue Star Families National Endowment for the Arts

05/20/2026

Welcome to the Spring 2026 edition of the Sutter County Museum “Bulletin!” This issue includes several great articles about local history and Museum exhibits:

• A Behind-the-Scenes Look at the Black History in Yuba-Sutter Exhibit
• Nicolai Larsen's Legacy at the Sutter County Museum
• The Chocolatier and the Colusa Native
• The Forgotten Soldiers of Camp Far West Cemetery

On the cover is a photo of local artist Louie Lethridge painting display cases for the exhibit "From Barbers' Row to Beale Air Force Base: Black History in Yuba-Sutter.” Notably, he used historic photographs to depict key themes from Yuba-Sutter's Black history in his eight original paintings. Louie utilized both color and black and white images to highlight local history stories and people, adding a unique and beautiful element to this permanent exhibition.

The latest "Bulletin" can be purchased in our Gift Shop for just $5.00! Museum membership also includes a subscription to the “Bulletin.” Visit us for copies and more great information about your community's history. Hours are Wednesdays-Fridays from 9am-5pm and Saturdays from 12-4pm.

05/18/2026

This artifact and exhibit series features Caty, our Assistant Curator! Caty is showcasing two exquisite Japanese dolls, currently on display in our permanent Japanese American exhibit.

🎎 The first doll (to the left on the display in front of Caty) is a ceremonial tea doll from Japan measuring 16-1/2" in height. Her hair is swept into a bun, and she is adorned with delicate eye makeup and orange-red lipstick. She wears a large brown hat with an orange-red interior that coordinates perfectly with the lighter orange/coral shade of ribbon tied around her hair and tucked under her chin. She is wearing a fashionable kimono with an obi (sash) wrapped around her waist and a flower-patterned material tied amongst her kimono. Note the eye-catching pattern of coral/orange and silver boxes. Its exact age is unknown.

🎎 The second Japanese doll (on the right side of the picture with Caty) is about the same size as her friend (excluding the hat). She is dressed in a warm, textured, more casual kimono and featured with a shamisen, a traditional Japanese instrument with three strings. Her brownish-purple kimono is trimmed with a border print. The undergarment is white with silver-colored thread woven into the material. This doll is from c. 1930s.

To view these Japanese dolls for yourself, visit the Sutter County Museum! We are open Wednesdays-Fridays from 9am-5pm and Saturdays from 12-4pm. Admission is free!

05/16/2026

We’re excited to kick off “Hello From Japan” with a fun community day! Join us, Sutter County Children & Families Commission, and Marysville JACL from 10am-12pm today at the Museum for fun crafts, Japanese snacks, and a chance to play and learn in our newest family-friendly temporary exhibit! Come play with us!

05/15/2026

“Hello From Japan!” opens TOMORROW with a FREE Community Kick-Off Celebration!

Join us this Saturday, May 16th from 10am-12pm for a FREE Natsu Matsuri 夏祭 (Summer Festival). There will be tons of fun, including:

🎌Interactive art activities
🍡Japanese snacks (Thank you, Grocery Outlet!)
🎨Hands-on fun
🎉 Community celebration

The exhibit will be on display through August 22nd. The Sutter County Museum is open Wednesdays-Fridays from 9am-5pm and Saturdays from 12-4pm. Admission is FREE!

Our staff had a great time showing off the new temporary exhibit during last night’s adult preview. Thank you to Sutter County Children & Families Commission and the Marysville JACL for partnering with us on the event and to our keynote speaker, the Honorable Judge Fritzgerald Javellana. Special thanks also to Terence and Kevin from the Children's Discovery Museum of San Jose for their amazing work installing the exhibit in our gallery.

Come play with us all summer long in “Hello From Japan!”

05/14/2026

Join us for Otona (Adult) Playground: An Adult Evening! Explore the “Hello From Japan” exhibit at an evening designed especially for adults. Visit us at the Museum from 5-7pm on May 14th (TONIGHT) to enjoy an exclusive preview of our latest temporary, hands-on exhibit!

Enjoy a short speaking presentation featuring Judge Fritzgerald Javellana, light refreshments, adult beverages, and a chance to play and learn about Japanese culture. Visit the exhibit before the kids take over for the summer!

Thank you to Sutter County Children & Families Commission and Marysville JACL for partnering with us on this event. We hope to see you there!

05/13/2026

Something fun is coming to the Museum this summer…

Enjoy a behind-the-scenes look at our next exhibit! We are thrilled to be collaborating again with Sutter County Children & Families Commission and the Children's Discovery Museum of San Jose on another hands-on, family-friendly exhibit for the summer. Visitors to the “Hello From Japan!” exhibit can explore the streets of Tokyo, check out the Harajuku district, visit a peaceful Shinto shrine, and discover kawaii culture. Kids (and adults!) can sing karaoke, “order” bento boxes, and make a wish in a wishing well. Experience the blend of high-tech fun and timeless traditions while making amazing memories with family and friends.

Join us this Saturday, May 16th for a FREE Community Kick-Off from 10am-12pm! Enjoy a Natsu Matsuri 夏祭 (Summer Festival):

🎌 Interactive art activities (Thank you Marysville JACL !)
🍡Japanese snacks (Thank you Grocery Outlet)
🎨 Hands-on fun
🎉 Community celebration

The exhibit will be on display from May 16th – August 22nd. Admission is free! Come play with us this summer!

Address

1333 Butte House Road
Yuba City, CA
95993

Telephone

+15308227141

Website

http://www.suttercountymuseum.org/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Sutter County Museum posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Want your organization to be the top-listed Government Service in Yuba City?