Making a Museum Docent

While roaming the rows of classic and rare cars at the California Automobile Museum, you will encounter our friendly volunteers who can answer all your questions about the cars, the culture, and the influence they’ve had on life in California. These are the Docents of the California Auto Museum. You soon realize that Auto Museum docents are among the most knowledgeable volunteers in our city.

If you take some time to sift through our online reviews, you’ll see that a significant portion of them are about our excellent and friendly docents! We are very proud to have this fantastic group of volunteers that lend their time, knowledge and smiles to make this museum such a great place. Have you ever wondered what it takes to become one of these amazing museum docents?

Our docents participate in a 21-week training course that includes more than 60 classes taught by knowledgeable car enthusiasts on a variety of subjects including sessions on the history of the industry; American, European, and Asian car brands; racing and hot rods; and practical floor sessions on “how to be a docent.”

Upon graduation in May, our docents commit to at least six volunteer hours per month, either two three-hour docent shifts, and the opportunity to participate in other volunteer opportunities, such as the Museum’s Road Crew, Pit Crew and Detail Crew.

If this all sounds awesome, you are in luck! We are now accepting applications for the Museum’s next Docent Training program beginning on Wednesday, January 19, 2021, at 6:00pm. No previous car or auto industry knowledge or museum experience is required to start training, just an enthusiasm for automobiles and the ability to share that enthusiasm with others.

A $99 training fee includes course materials, a one-year membership to the museum, one-time admission as a class to the National Auto Museum in Reno and the Blackhawk Auto Museum in Danville—even the opportunity to drive a Model T Ford.

For more information about Docent Training or to request an application, call the Museum at 916-442-6802 (closed Tuesdays), or go on the museum’s website: www.calautomuseum.org/docent-program or hover over the Support tab and then click on Volunteer.