The Sacramento History Museum is excited to announce a partnership with community arts group, La Raza Galeria Posada (LRGP) for a special exhibit titled “RCAF in Mictlán: 50th Anniversary of Dia de los Muertos.” The culturally significant exhibition will be on display  through April 5, 2026.

The exhibit will be highlighted by public programs that document and celebrate the 50-year history of the Dia de los Muertos (DDLM) observance in Sacramento. The exhibit will demonstrate why the anniversary is a major milestone in our city’s cultural history, as well an example of the enduring impact of the Royal Chicano Air Force (RCAF), a seminal collective of artists and activists. It will also offer the Museum’s audience an exhibition and related programming that introduces or expands their knowledge of the RCAF’s contributions to Sacramento’s history.

The multimedia project aims to educate the public about the Mesoamerican origins of the DDLM and its transformation in the U.S. into a public observance during the Chicano Movement. The ancient cultural tradition was embraced and revitalized by Chicano/a communities as a means to bring the community together to honor deceased loved ones as well as to maintain its spiritual values. The exhibition also highlights the pivotal role played by Sacramento’s RCAF, whose members initiated the city’s first Día de los Muertos observance in 1975.

“The RCAF in Mictlán exhibition focuses on the early years of the RCAF’s observance and its evolution over five decades. More importantly, it offers viewers an overview of a unique regional observance that continues to maintain its relevance and to inspire future generations,” said Curator Terezita Romo. Romo is an art historian, educator, independent curator and Affiliate Faculty in Chicano Studies at UC Davis. A member of the RCAF, Romo is a co-founder of Sacramento’s DDLM observance. She also co-founded the former RCAF organization La Raza Galeria Posada  (1972-2014) and is spearheading its current revival.

The exhibition includes posters, ephemera, documents, photographs, and videos as well as an ofrenda (traditional altar). Plus, workshops will provide the public the ability to make their own ofrenda and other related traditional components, while speakers will share information about the DDLM’s centuries-old origins and contemporary observances.

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