Sacramento Memorial Auditorium

One of the most recognizable and beloved buildings in the region, the Sacramento Memorial Auditorium is listed on the National Historic Register. The auditorium was constructed in 1926 and opened in February 1927. For over eighty years, with the exception of a ten-year closure from 1986-1996, the Memorial Auditorium has drawn audiences to a variety of events, from Big Bands and violin virtuosos to the Beach Boys and Rolling Stones. Since its reopening in 1996, the auditorium stage has welcomed artists such as Josh Groban, Michael Buble, Melissa Etheridge, comedians George Lopez, Mike Epps and Ron White and bands from The Doobie Brothers, The Moody Blues, and Duran Duran to Death Cab for Cutie and The Killers.  The Memorial Auditorium is a sentimental venue for the many thousands of graduates from regional high schools, colleges and business and professional schools that hold their commencements each May and June in the building. It has lived up to its mission as a multi-purpose venue, as it still serves as the venue of choice for not only entertainment and sporting events but meetings, conferences, banquets, receptions and speaking engagements.  Recently, the lighting design team for the auditorium received the 2008 GE Edison Award for their exterior lighting of the building, as well as a GE Award of Excellence in Environmental Design. In addition, “The National Trust for Historic Preservation” named the Memorial Auditorium as one of five national winners of “Protecting America’s Treasures.”