Tuolumne County Capitol Window in Sacramento Updated!

Anyone who visits California’s State Capitol Building in Sacramento is most likely going to walk through the halls on the first floor that contain the County windows. Each County in California is encouraged to fill the window with a display that best represents their county.

Earlier this year, local 4-H Member, Victoria Smith, approached the Tuolumne County Visitors Bureau about recreating the current Tuolumne County display. She wanted to do this project as a way to earn her 4-H Emerald Star. While the Bureau had not previously facilitated the window display, it was determined that the Bureau could take this on. As it turned out, to the best estimate of Bureau staff, the window had not been updated since the early 1990’s.

Anna Davies, Special Projects Coordinator for the Bureau, worked with Victoria Smith to come up with a theme for the window that could capture the feel of Tuolumne County. Taking into consideration that a huge number of visitors are fourth graders who are there on a California history field trip, it was decided that something that appeals to children and relates to history would be best.

The window features a giant Teddy Bear juggling photos of iconic Tuolumne County including Columbia State Historic Park and Railtown 1897 State Park with the theme, “Where History and Adventure Go Hand in Hand.” Also in the display is a rendering of Column of the Giants and a backdrop of Yosemite National Park. The display highlights local goods and 150 Tuolumne County then and now photos that rotate on a digital screen. Victoria worked with local companies to get display products and also worked with the Tuolumne County Historical Society to obtain historic photos.

Richard Bay of the Richard Bay Puppet Theatre Company in Sacramento brought the ideas together to build the new display. Many may know of Richard from the California State Fair, where he has been the exhibit designer and builder for the Tuolumne County Visitors Bureau for many years.