MEDIA ADVISORY

Rare Public Display of 1849 California Constitution

Secretary of State Alex Padilla and California Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye to host public reception in honor of California statehood

California Secretary of State Alex Padilla and the California State Archives, in partnership with the California Museum and the Foundation for Democracy and Justice, will be hosting a rare public display of the original 1849 state Constitution on September 9 to celebrate 165 years of California statehood.  

The public is invited to attend any of the day’s events, all at the Secretary of State building at 1500 11^th Street, including: 

Program celebrating 165 years of California statehood 

WHO:

Secretary of State Alex Padilla

California Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye

Sheldon High School Choir

WHEN:

4:15 p.m. Remarks from the Secretary of State and Chief Justice

3:30 – 5:30 p.m. Public Reception including presentation of California’s birthday cake.

WHERE:

Main Courtyard – Secretary of State Building

This event is presented by the Secretary of State and California State Archives, in partnership with the California Museum and the Foundation for Democracy and Justice, with refreshments provided by California State University, Sacramento’s Center for California Studies and with support from the Sacramento County Office of Education. The Sheldon High School Choir will be singing the State Song. Photographs and materials from the Colton Hall Museum in Monterey, site of the 1849 Constitutional Convention, will also be displayed.

Display of original 1849 California Constitution

WHEN:

10:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.

WHERE:

Main Rotunda – Secretary of State Building

3:30 – 5:30 p.m. Public Reception including presentation of California’s birthday cake.

WHY:

To celebrate 165 years of California statehood, the public is invited to a rare public display of the original 1849 California Constitution—both English and Spanish versions.

*Press interested in filming the original Constitution as it is taken out of a vault in the State Archives on Tuesday September 8 must RSVP to Sam Mahood at sos.press@sos.ca.gov 

Free Exhibit Access on Admission Day

Free access will be provided to the State Archives’ new exhibit about the office of the California Secretary of State from 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and to the California Museum’s exhibit on California statehood from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m.

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