Rancho Cordova city feature
About this landmark
A restored downtown gathering place near the light rail.
The Mills Station Arts & Culture Center, known as the MACC, occupies the historic Mills Station Building at 10191 Mills Station Road, Rancho Cordova. The building was constructed in 1911 by John Studarus Jr. Originally a commercial structure, it housed a tavern and grocery store on the ground floor, with a large ballroom on the second floor. The building also served as the community post office at one point in its history. The facility sits adjacent to the Sacramento Regional Transit "Mather/Mills" light rail station.
Community effort to preserve history.
The MACC is operated in partnership with the Cordova Community Council, a citizen-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1959 that serves as the city's primary community-affairs organization and maintains offices within Rancho Cordova City Hall. For several years, members of the Cordova Community Council worked to raise funds and convince the city government to commit to preserving the historic Mills Station Building rather than allowing it to fall into disrepair or demolition. The National Civic League documents how this same organization helped Rancho Cordova earn the All-America City designation in 2010, a recognition of civic engagement and community leadership.
The first floor was carefully converted into gallery and performance space using Measure H community-enhancement funds combined with direct financial support from Rancho Cordova taxpayers. The Mills Station Arts & Culture Center officially opened in 2018, representing the culmination of years of community advocacy and fundraising that brought together both money raised by local volunteers and institutional city support for the restoration and adaptive reuse of this historic downtown landmark.
Arts and cultural programming today.
The Mills Station Arts & Culture Center offers free art exhibitions, affordable live events and concerts, art classes, theatrical plays, and artist receptions. The space is also available for private event rental. The facility is fully accessible to all visitors and features free on-site parking and modern restrooms. The center operates on a seasonal exhibition schedule, closing each August for comprehensive exhibit maintenance and setup, then reopening in mid-September with fresh programming.
Programming and activities reflect the Cordova Community Council's founding commitment to affordable, accessible, and community-centered cultural engagement. The venue's current offerings balance rotating exhibitions, live performances, hands-on learning opportunities, and educational community gatherings in this restored historic downtown landmark. The restoration of Mills Station as a cultural hub demonstrates how older buildings can serve new community purposes while honoring their architectural heritage.
Insurance connection: earthquake coverage
Historic wooden buildings like the Mills Station structure face potential earthquake risk. California insurers must offer earthquake insurance with homeowners policies, sold separately and not included in standard coverage. The California Earthquake Authority (CEA) offers deductibles of 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, or 25%; homes over $1 million or older homes require a minimum 15% deductible. A basic CEA policy includes dwelling coverage matching your homeowners limit, personal-property coverage from $5,000 to $25,000, and additional living-expense coverage from $1,500 to $100,000 with no deductible. Coverage eligibility and limits depend on your individual policy. The issued policy controls.
Primary sources: MACC official website, Visit Rancho Cordova directory listing, National Civic League case study, and Wikipedia encyclopedia entry.
Insurance context is general information only. The issued policy and its endorsements settle coverage.