View important historical locations including gold rush, delta, canal structures and museums when you visit Sacramento, California.
Sacramento is the capital of California and the city has a rich heritage that can be seen by driving to several locations or in spending a day touring the Old Sacramento and museum area.
Historic Buildings and Sites
Visitors could spend a week and still not see the historic sites in Sacramento. The Governor's Mansion is located on H Street and is registered on both the national and state historic site inventory. The mansion was built in 1877 and is the location for formal state dinners and events.
California governors have refused to occupy the structure since 1967, citing the lack of modern features. Guided tours are available each hour.
Leland Stanford was a railroad mogul and later served as a California Senator and was elected to the governor's's office of the state, the. The Leland Stanford's mansion and park site is located in the state capital and offers public tours. The museum is not open to the public, but the exterior represents the high period of 19th Century architecture. The site will be open for visits after renovations has been completed.
Old Sacramento is a National Historic Park that helps visitors recreate the life in the capital in the mid-1800s. Tour the Eagle Theater built in 1849, the 1853 B.F. Hastings Building which once housed the state's supreme court, and the old Schoolhouse. The Big Four Building, constructed in 1855, was built by the four railroad magnates as their headquarters. The 28 acre Old Sacramento historic site covers the dock and commercial area. Shops, museums, restaurants and hotels today occupy this part of the city, a short walking distance from the river. Stroll along the wooden sidewalks and image who might have been walking to your side at the turn of the century. The State Historic Park is part of the national site that can be toured following a map giving self-guided directions or viewed by horse carriages with guides.
The Delta King paddle boat is docked directly opposite from Old Sacramento, across the cobblestone street. You can dine on the boat, or take small river "taxis" to other restaurants located on the banks of the Sacramento River.
For those who enjoy a cemetery walk, visit the Sacramento Historic City Cemetery where you can view the period headstones of early California pioneers. The cemetery was established in 1849 and has free guided tours twice a month.
Museums
Sutter's Fort State Historic Park is a recreated interactive site and museum that hosts Pioneer Demonstration Days from May through October. During that period, and again during the holidays in December, volunteers dressed in period costumes show how pioneers did everyday tasks during the 1850s.
The California State Indian Museum has the state's largest display of Indian artifacts from all areas of the state. The museum offers special programs throughout the year including Ishi Day, Acorn Day, and the Gathering of Honored Elders at the K Street location.
The Crocker Art Museum is a short hop from Old Sacramento on O Street. The core of the collection comes from the Crocker banking family and features California, Asian and European art. A new wing offers rotating and visiting exhibits. Art covers the periods from the 10th Century until the present day. The original structure was built in 1885 and offers educational and concert programs throughout the year.
The largest train museum in the United States is located in Sacramento. The California State Railroad Museum offers excursion train trips during weekends in April through November, and additional train trips are sometimes scheduled during the summer months. The museum also includes theaters and a recreation Central Pacific Railroad Freight Depot. Volunteers give tours through restored train cars and engines. The dining car exhibit displays dining tables from the golden age of railroading.
The famous Wells Fargo Company operates a museum on the Sacramento Capital Mall. Although the company was purchased by an Eastern banking firm several years ago, the Wells Fargo name remains. Displays include vintage banking items and interactive exhibits for adults and children. The featured historical display is the Concord stagecoach. A second Wells Fargo Museum is located on Second Street in Old Sacramento. The building features the interior of a bank, with artifacts that were used during the Gold Rush days. The role of the Pony Express is an important theme in both museums.
The smaller museums may have less square footage, but they are no less impressive in historical importance or the kinds of artifacts they display. The California Military Museum is located on Second Street in Old Sacramento. Guided tours show military uniforms and memorabilia from early California history through present times. The Donald F. Salvatori California Pharmacy Museums offer self-guided tours of displays depicting the pharmacy occupation and trade from the 1840s through the 1940s. 100 years of pharmacopeia is on display through artifacts, photographs and documents. The museum is located on Leannane Drive. The Museum of Medical History is located on Elvas Avenue and is maintained by the Sierra Sacramento Valley Medical Society. The museum is open weekdays and has displays featuring nursing, local medical history and artifacts showing medicines and treatment. The Towe Automobile Museum features over 250 vehicles and is open free to the public every day of the week.
