California State Parks is the steward of historical collections that have been developed over the past 130 years. The Statewide Museum Collections Center (SMCC) serves as the repository for over 1 million historic objects and artifacts from parks throughout the state. At SMCC, State Park Curators, Archivists, and Collections Managers care for and manage California’s largest collection of artifacts, archival documents, and photographs.

They carefully assess, research, document, and preserve the irreplaceable items that reflect and illustrate the story of California’s rich heritage. They provide stewardship, exhibition, education, and public outreach programs to benefit the needs and interests of all Californians, in more than 120 parks and museums statewide.