Downtown in Sacramento in Sacramento County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)
Sacramento Memorial Auditorium
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, February 7, 2025
1. Sacramento Memorial Auditorium Marker
This building is dedicated to those who made the supreme sacrifice in the service of the United States
Opened in 1927
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places
March 29, 1978
Rental, Event and Ticket Information★★★★★
www.sacramentomemorialauditorium.com
Schedule an appointment to view the War Memorial Tablets
Monday-Friday 8am-5pm
(916) 808-5291
Topics and series. This memorial is listed in these topic lists: Notable Buildings • War, Spanish-American • War, World I. In addition, it is included in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1927.
Location. 38° 34.717′ N, 121° 29.157′ W. Memorial is in Sacramento, California, in Sacramento County. It is in Downtown. It is on J Street east of 15th Street, on the left when traveling east. The marker is to the left of the columned entrance into the auditorium. Touch for map. Memorial is at or near this postal address: 1515 J Street, Sacramento CA 95814, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this memorial is in Sacramento Valley and specifically in the Central Valley. It is also on the American Pacific Coast. Globally, it is in North America, on the Ring of Fire, in the Pacific Rim, in the Western Hemisphere, in the Western World, and in the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain and also Mexicos Alta California.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Veterans Memorial (a few steps from this marker); a different marker also named Veterans Memorial (within shouting
this page online
More about this memorial. A plaque with identical text (but different coloring) can be found inside the building's foyer, by the doors. In the foyer above the entrance into the auditorium lobby is a list of the three people from Sacramento County who died in the Spanish-American War, and about 150 who died in World War I.
Chiseled on both sides of the entrance into the building are words dedicating this building to Sacramento County residents who died in war.
Above the five doorways are emblems; the middle emblem lists the years 1775-1783; 1812-1814;
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, February 7, 2025
2. Sacramento Memorial Auditorium Marker
Regarding Sacramento Memorial Auditorium. Ground was broken in 1925 on this building, which replaced an 1872 school building that had been erected on land donated to Sacramento by early settler John Sutter. The building's official opening was in February 1927 and over the next 60 years it hosted inaugural balls for California governors, circuses, boxing matches and many notable concerts, including performances by the Rolling Stones, the Beach Boys, the Doors and Fleetwood Mac. According to the building's registration form for the National Register of Historic Places, the building's original doors did not have built-in locks, as it was intended to be a public shrine for the area's dead from the Spanish-American War and World War I. In 1986, the building was closed due to structural concerns in an area of heavy seismic activity; it remained empty until a renovation in 1996.
Also see . . .
1. Historic Structures Report: Sacramento Memorial Auditorium. A 2006 report from the City of Sacramento reviewed the history of the building and its condition at that time, about 10 years after it had re-opened after a renovation.
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, February 7, 2025
3. Sacramento Memorial Auditorium Marker
Both sides of the entrance into the auditorium are etched with a dedication to Sacramento's war dead: "This building is dedicated to those who made the supreme sacrifice in the service of the United States."
2. National Register of Historic Places registration form: Sacramento Memorial Auditorium. The NRHP registration form, submitted in 1977, reviews the history and architecture of the Sacramento Memorial Auditorium. (Submitted on February 11, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)
3. Comstock's magazine: The Back Story: Sacramento Memorial Auditorium.
Excerpt: "While no one can claim that George Washington slept there, we can definitely verify that Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones was nearly electrocuted there. Its been the venue for many rock concerts, weddings, dances and trade shows, the graduation of thousands of high school and law school students, and its share of governmental state-of-whatever addresses."(Submitted on February 11, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, February 7, 2025
4. Sacramento Memorial Auditorium
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, February 7, 2025
5. Sacramento Memorial Auditorium foyer
Inside the auditorium's entryway is a roll of honor with the names of Spanish-American War and World War I dead from Sacramento County.
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, February 7, 2025
6. Emblem above entrance to Sacramento Memorial Auditorium
The middle of five emblems at the entrance to the auditorium lists six sets of years, representing the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, the Mexican War, the Civil War, the Spanish-American War and World War I.
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, February 8, 2025
7. Inside the Sacramento Memorial Auditorium
McCurry Photograph Collection; Courtesy of California State Library, May 17, 1926
8. Memorial Auditorium cornerstone laying
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, February 9, 2025
9. Sacramento Memorial Auditorium
A photograph displayed across the street from the Sacramento Memorial Auditorium on the A&T building shows an early boxing match held in the auditorium.
Credits. This page was last revised on February 11, 2025. It was originally submitted on February 11, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 241 times since then and 41 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9. submitted on February 11, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.
