Mission & History
Our Mission
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.
A bit of history
The Sutter County Museum tells the story of the Yuba-Sutter community, from the Native Americans who lived here pre-contact 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 ethnic communities with sizable populations in Yuba-Sutter.
The Museum was constructed with funds from Howard and Norma Harter, the Sutter County Historical Society, and other private donors. It was presented to the Sutter County Board of Supervisors as a gift to the community in 1975. Since then, it has been expanded multiple times, all through the generosity of private donors.
The Museum is a partnership between Sutter County and the Museum Association, a 501(c)(3) organization.
Land Acknowledgement
The Sutter County Museum acknowledges that we are on the traditional land of the Nisenan people. The Nisenan have been stewards of this land for all of their history and did not leave it willingly. We acknowledge the land theft, enslavement, and genocide that forced them away. We honor and respect the Indigenous people who are still connected to this land. We invite our visitors to consider the legacy of colonialism and to support Indigenous rights and sovereignty.
Contact Info
Phone Number
530.822.7141Location
1333 Butte House Road
Yuba City, CA 95993
Hours
Sunday - Tuesday: Closed
Wednesday - Friday: 9 am till 5 pm
Saturday: 12 pm till 4 pm
Admission is Free
While we will work hard to remain open for every advertised hour, low staffing levels due to Sutter County budget cuts will likely result in occasional unexpected closures. Please feel free to call the Museum at 530.822.7141 on the day of your visit to ensure it is open. Thank you in advance for your understanding.
Holiday and Special Hours
The Sutter County Museum is CLOSED on the following dates:
César Chávez Day
Juneteenth
Fourth of July
Veterans Day
Thanksgiving Day and Native American Heritage Day (the day after Thanksgiving)
December 24, 2025 - January 1, 2026
Ettl Hall & Rose Garden
Ettl Hall
Ettl Hall is a meeting and program space for the Museum. It is also a rental space available to the public. To rent Ettl Hall, please call us at 530.443.3797, or send us an email. Visit the online reservation system for availability calendar, current fees, and details at suttercounty.org.
To view current availability, follow the link above. Click on Facilities Reservation System. Choose Ettl Hall in the drop-down menu next to Facilities. Dates listed on the calendar as Available may be open for rentals. Call 530.443.3797 or send us an email to request a reservation.
Rates, occupancy, usage restrictions, etc. are all available on the website above. Amenities include a full commercial kitchen, a fenced outdoor patio, and tables and chairs.
Ettl Hall was built through the generosity of Meridian native Dorothy Ettl.
The patio adjacent to Ettl Hall was built and landscaped through the generosity of the Schnabel and Dean families.
Rose Garden
The William Conkey Memorial Rose Garden behind the Museum is also available for public use. This optional space can be added to your Ettl Hall rental for a small fee. We request that you do reserve your date to avoid any schedule conflicts. Please contact the Museum to reserve the Rose Garden as a part of your Ettl Hall rental. If there is no reservation booked through Sutter County, non-renters wishing to use the Rose Garden for an event may use it on a first come, first served basis.
The Rose Garden is cared for by the Sutter Buttes Garden Club.
Staff
Molly Bloom Museum Director/Curator
Caty McKinin Assistant Curator
Daisy Beltran Office Assistant
Kelly Gash Museum Aide