Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

The lights are dim, and some of the images require bend-in, squint-close viewing. Magnifying glasses hang on the walls here and there. We’re grateful to find them. It all makes sense when you reflect that we’re looking at fragile drawings on paper from hundreds of years ago. Can chalk and graphite really live this long? […]

To access this post, you must purchase 1 Year Membership **Annual $144**, 1 Year Membership **Annual $300**, 1 Month Membership **Monthly $25** or 1 Month Membership **Monthly $15**.

CalMatters is a Sacramento-based nonpartisan, nonprofit journalism venture committed to explaining how California's state Capitol works and why it matters. It works with more than 130 media partners throughout the state that have long, deep relationships with their local audiences, including Embarcadero Media.