06/15/2026
"Building the Black History Exhibit at the Sutter County Museum was an exciting and enlightening experience not only for me but for our entire community" ~Gwen Ford
Contact:
Jake Abbott
Sutter County Public Information Officer
(530) 329-9013
[email protected]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sutter County Museum Receives National Award for Black History Exhibit
[Sutter County, June 12, 2026] – The Sutter County Museum has been selected for an Award of Excellence from the American Association for State and Local History (AASLH) for its permanent exhibit, From Barbers' Row to Beale Air Force Base: Black History in Yuba-Sutter.
The AASLH Leadership in History Awards are the nation's most prestigious recognition for achievement in the preservation and interpretation of state and local history. The Award of Excellence recognizes the Sutter County Museum's exhibit on a national stage for its outstanding work in preserving, sharing, and celebrating the rich history and contributions of Black residents throughout the Yuba-Sutter region.
“We were thrilled to learn that AASLH is recognizing the Black History in Yuba-Sutter exhibit with a 2026 Award of Excellence, highlighting the Sutter County Museum’s work to share local history on a national scale," said Sutter County Museum Director Molly Bloom. "The exhibit was truly a community effort, and we are very grateful and honored that so many individuals were willing to share their memories, stories, photographs, and objects to create an engaging and educational display. We hope that people will continue to visit our free, permanent exhibit to learn more about these important stories that helped shape the history of Yuba-Sutter.”
Opened in November 2024, From Barbers' Row to Beale Air Force Base: Black History in Yuba-Sutter explores key themes in local Black history, including early pioneers and migration to the area; the Gold Rush and the emergence of the region's early Black community; the establishment of Black churches, local events and businesses; the enduring legacy of Black-owned barbershops; and the military service and aviation history connected to Beale Air Force Base and the Tuskegee Airmen.
The exhibit was the culmination of a two-year concerted effort and approximately 2,000 hours of research led by Museum Director Molly Bloom, project advisor and consultant
Gwen Ford, museum staff, volunteers, researchers, and community members. What began with just 10 identified photographs and no known artifacts grew into a collection at the Museum featuring more than 125 photographs and objects that help tell the story of Black history in Yuba-Sutter.
"Building the Black History Exhibit at the Sutter County Museum was an exciting and enlightening experience not only for me but for our entire community," said project advisor Gwen Ford. "Adding another piece of the Sutter/Yuba County community puzzle has helped our community to grow by gaining knowledge about a portion of our community history that was relatively unknown. The exhibit has been extremely beneficial in helping us all to understand the work of every culture in our community that helped build it to what it has become, a strong, diverse, and forward-thinking group of people who worked diligently through the years to give us a community we can be proud of.
The project was made possible through grant funding from California Humanities, a non-profit partner of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Local artist Louie Lethridge also played an important role in helping bring the exhibit to life through original artwork featured within the gallery.
The award carries special significance for the Museum. Since the opening of the Museum's Multi-Cultural Gallery in 2005, space has been reserved for a permanent exhibit dedicated to local Black history. The completion of From Barbers' Row to Beale Air Force Base fulfilled that long-held vision while creating an enduring resource for future generations.
AASLH will present the Leadership in History Awards during its annual conference in September 2026.
To celebrate both the exhibit and the national recognition, the Sutter County Museum will host a wine and cheese reception on Friday, July 10, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Museum (1333 Butte House Road, Yuba City). Community members are invited to attend and learn more about the exhibit and the stories it preserves. Admission to the event is free.
The exhibit remains on permanent display in the Museum's Multi-Cultural Gallery. The Sutter County Museum, which offers free admission, is open Wednesdays through Fridays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturdays from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.
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