Fine Arts at CHS represent a rich collection of California subjects in works by both well-known and lesser-known California artists. Artists like Arthur Frank Mathews, Samuel Marsden Brookes, Jules Tavernier, Percy Gray, Virgil Williams and Theodore Wores form the core of a collection spanning the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Fine Arts include:

• Notable California landscapes by important American artists including Albert Bierstadt and Thomas Hill.
• Views of San Francisco, the Gold Rush territory and coastal subjects.
• Works on paper and letter sheets documenting local events, mining lore and methods, and California scenery during the Gold Rush; and documenting the growth of California's cities and agriculture.
• Portraits of significant Californians and depictions of Gold Rush sailing vessels.
• Decorative arts, including silver and furniture,and costumes.