Old Sacramento State Historic Park
Encyclopedia
Old Sacramento State Historic Park is the historic region of Sacramento, California
, which has been designated as a state park
. It is generally referred to as Old Sacramento, or Old Sac, and since the 1960s has been restored and developed as a significant tourist attraction. All of it is included in the Old Sacramento Historic District, a U.S. National Historic Landmark District.
. However, the Fort was some way from the Sacramento River
, which was the main means of transport to the coast of California, and what was to become the modern city developed along the waterfront.
Before Sacramento's extensive levee system was in place, the area flooded quite regularly. Because of this, the city's streets were raised a level. Most of the sidewalks and storefronts have been filled in, however many tunnels still remain throughout Old Sacramento and the downtown area.
By the 1960's, with the construction of Interstate 5
, the area had become cut off from the rest of Sacramento and fell into disrepair. A large effort was made to secure the area's future as an outdoor living history center similar to Colonial Williamsburg
in Virginia. Several historically significant buildings were moved or reconstructed. Those that were beyond repair were demolished.
Today, the State Historic Park covers the area between the river frontage and Interstate 5
, between I Street and the Capitol Mall. Virtually all the buildings in this area date from the 19th century, the most notable from immediately after the disastrous fire of 1852, and show a reasonable approximation to their original appearance, though they have required varying degrees of reconstruction to restore to them to that state. However, few if any are in their original use, most of them now housing restaurants, gift shops, or other businesses catering to tourists.
Old Sacramento State Historic Park attracts over 5 million visitors annually. Regular events include the Sacramento Jazz Jubilee
, Gold Rush Days
, New Years Eve events, and Mardi Gras
.
The first two are also individually designated National Historic Landmarks.
The district contains many memorials to the founders of the city and of the California and transcontinental railroad and other transport systems, including the Theodore Judah
monument and the Pony Express
Statue.
, the California State Military Museum
, the Sacramento History Museum, the Wells Fargo History Museum and the Old Sacramento Interpretive Center.
Other attractions available for visitors include rides in horse drawn carriages, historic trains from the former Central Pacific Railroad
passenger station, and cruises on historic riverboat
s. A historic sternwheel riverboat, the Delta King
, is moored in the river and serves as a hotel, restaurant and theater.
The Sacramento Valley Rail Station is just a short walk away.
Every Labor Day weekend, Old Sacramento holds its annual Gold Rush Days. During this time, the paved streets are covered with several tons of dirt and automobile traffic is barred from the area. Old Sac's regular corps of costumed docents is supplemented by extra volunteers and professional reenactors to recreate life in Sacramento as it was in the mid to late 1800's.
Sacramento, California
Sacramento is the capital city of the U.S. state of California and the county seat of Sacramento County. It is located at the confluence of the Sacramento River and the American River in the northern portion of California's expansive Central Valley. With a population of 466,488 at the 2010 census,...
, which has been designated as a state park
State park
State parks are parks or other protected areas managed at the federated state level within those nations which use "state" as a political subdivision. State parks are typically established by a state to preserve a location on account of its natural beauty, historic interest, or recreational...
. It is generally referred to as Old Sacramento, or Old Sac, and since the 1960s has been restored and developed as a significant tourist attraction. All of it is included in the Old Sacramento Historic District, a U.S. National Historic Landmark District.
History
The city of Sacramento grew up in the mid-nineteenth century as a development from Sutter's FortSutter's Fort
Sutter's Fort State Historic Park is a state-protected park in Sacramento, California which includes Sutter's Fort and the California State Indian Museum. Begun in 1839 and originally called "New Helvetia" by its builder, John Sutter, the fort was a 19th century agricultural and trade colony in...
. However, the Fort was some way from the Sacramento River
Sacramento River
The Sacramento River is an important watercourse of Northern and Central California in the United States. The largest river in California, it rises on the eastern slopes of the Klamath Mountains, and after a journey south of over , empties into Suisun Bay, an arm of the San Francisco Bay, and...
, which was the main means of transport to the coast of California, and what was to become the modern city developed along the waterfront.
Before Sacramento's extensive levee system was in place, the area flooded quite regularly. Because of this, the city's streets were raised a level. Most of the sidewalks and storefronts have been filled in, however many tunnels still remain throughout Old Sacramento and the downtown area.
By the 1960's, with the construction of Interstate 5
Interstate 5
Interstate 5 is the main Interstate Highway on the West Coast of the United States, running largely parallel to the Pacific Ocean coastline from Canada to Mexico . It serves some of the largest cities on the U.S...
, the area had become cut off from the rest of Sacramento and fell into disrepair. A large effort was made to secure the area's future as an outdoor living history center similar to Colonial Williamsburg
Colonial Williamsburg
Colonial Williamsburg is the private foundation representing the historic district of the city of Williamsburg, Virginia, USA. The district includes buildings dating from 1699 to 1780 which made colonial Virginia's capital. The capital straddled the boundary of the original shires of Virginia —...
in Virginia. Several historically significant buildings were moved or reconstructed. Those that were beyond repair were demolished.
Today, the State Historic Park covers the area between the river frontage and Interstate 5
Interstate 5
Interstate 5 is the main Interstate Highway on the West Coast of the United States, running largely parallel to the Pacific Ocean coastline from Canada to Mexico . It serves some of the largest cities on the U.S...
, between I Street and the Capitol Mall. Virtually all the buildings in this area date from the 19th century, the most notable from immediately after the disastrous fire of 1852, and show a reasonable approximation to their original appearance, though they have required varying degrees of reconstruction to restore to them to that state. However, few if any are in their original use, most of them now housing restaurants, gift shops, or other businesses catering to tourists.
Old Sacramento State Historic Park attracts over 5 million visitors annually. Regular events include the Sacramento Jazz Jubilee
Sacramento Jazz Jubilee
The Sacramento Jazz Jubilee is held every May during Memorial Day weekend in Sacramento, California, United States. It is organized and put on by the Sacramento Traditional Jazz Society, usually sponsored by Raley's and Bel-Air supermarkets, and features some of the most noted jazz musicians in the...
, Gold Rush Days
, New Years Eve events, and Mardi Gras
Mardi Gras
The terms "Mardi Gras" , "Mardi Gras season", and "Carnival season", in English, refer to events of the Carnival celebrations, beginning on or after Epiphany and culminating on the day before Ash Wednesday...
.
Historic buildings
Notable buildings include:- B. F. Hastings BuildingPony Express TerminalThe Pony Express Terminal, also known as the B. F. Hastings Bank Building, in Sacramento, California, was the western endpoint of the Pony Express. The building was also the first location of the California Supreme Court...
, the National Historic LandmarkNational Historic LandmarkA National Historic Landmark is a building, site, structure, object, or district, that is officially recognized by the United States government for its historical significance...
ed western terminal of the Pony ExpressPony ExpressThe Pony Express was a fast mail service crossing the Great Plains, the Rocky Mountains, and the High Sierra from St. Joseph, Missouri, to Sacramento, California, from April 3, 1860 to October 1861...
and the first location of the California Supreme Court - Big Four HouseBig Four HouseThe Big Four House is a historic building in Sacramento, California, built in 1852. Its name refers to The Big Four, Collis Huntington, Mark Hopkins, Leland Stanford, and Charles Crocker, who organized the Central Pacific railway and founded the Southern Pacific Railroad here.It was declared a...
, a National Historic LandmarkNational Historic LandmarkA National Historic Landmark is a building, site, structure, object, or district, that is officially recognized by the United States government for its historical significance...
ed building constructed through the joint efforts of California's railroad pioneers: Collis Huntington, Mark HopkinsMark HopkinsMark Hopkins was one of four principal investors who formed the Central Pacific Railroad along with Leland Stanford, Charles Crocker, and Collis Huntington in 1861.-Early years:...
, Leland StanfordLeland StanfordAmasa Leland Stanford was an American tycoon, industrialist, robber baron, politician and founder of Stanford University.-Early years:...
and Charles CrockerCharles CrockerCharles Crocker was an American railroad executive.-Early years:Crocker was born in Troy, New York, to a modest family and moved to an Indiana farm at age 14. He soon became independent, working on several farms, a sawmill, and at an iron forge. In 1845 he founded a small, independent iron...
, known as The Big Four. - The Lady Adams Building is the oldest building in Old Sacramento and is California Historical LandmarkCalifornia Historical LandmarkCalifornia Historical Landmarks are buildings, structures, sites, or places in the state of California that have been determined to have statewide historical significance by meeting at least one of the criteria listed below:...
No. 603. - Sacramento Engine Company No. 3, the oldest remaining firehouse in Sacramento
- Old Sacramento Schoolhouse Museum
- The Eagle Theatre, which only survived from 1849 to 1850 but has been reconstructed
The first two are also individually designated National Historic Landmarks.
Memorials
Theodore Judah
Theodore Dehone Judah was an American railroad engineer who dreamed of the first Transcontinental Railroad. He found investors for what became the Central Pacific Railroad...
monument and the Pony Express
Pony Express
The Pony Express was a fast mail service crossing the Great Plains, the Rocky Mountains, and the High Sierra from St. Joseph, Missouri, to Sacramento, California, from April 3, 1860 to October 1861...
Statue.
Current attractions
Old Sacramento is the site of the California State Railroad MuseumCalifornia State Railroad Museum
The California State Railroad Museum is a museum in the state park system of California, USA, interpreting the role of the "iron horse" in connecting California to the rest of the nation. It is located in Old Sacramento at 111 I Street....
, the California State Military Museum
California State Military Museum
The California State Military Museum is the official military museum of the State of California. It is located in the Old Sacramento State Historic Park at 1119 Second Street....
, the Sacramento History Museum, the Wells Fargo History Museum and the Old Sacramento Interpretive Center.
Other attractions available for visitors include rides in horse drawn carriages, historic trains from the former Central Pacific Railroad
Central Pacific Railroad
The Central Pacific Railroad is the former name of the railroad network built between California and Utah, USA that formed part of the "First Transcontinental Railroad" in North America. It is now part of the Union Pacific Railroad. Many 19th century national proposals to build a transcontinental...
passenger station, and cruises on historic riverboat
Riverboat
A riverboat is a ship built boat designed for inland navigation on lakes, rivers, and artificial waterways. They are generally equipped and outfitted as work boats in one of the carrying trades, for freight or people transport, including luxury units constructed for entertainment enterprises, such...
s. A historic sternwheel riverboat, the Delta King
Delta King
The Delta King is a . The Delta King is the sister ship to the Delta Queen, both christened May 20, 1927, traveling between Sacramento, California and San Francisco, California on 10-hour trips.-History:...
, is moored in the river and serves as a hotel, restaurant and theater.
The Sacramento Valley Rail Station is just a short walk away.
Interpretive Programs
The Old Sacramento Historical Foundation manages several programs to highlight the history of the city, including historical reenactments by costumed docents, as well as tours of Old Sacramento's underground level. During October, there is also a special Halloween themed ghost tour.Every Labor Day weekend, Old Sacramento holds its annual Gold Rush Days. During this time, the paved streets are covered with several tons of dirt and automobile traffic is barred from the area. Old Sac's regular corps of costumed docents is supplemented by extra volunteers and professional reenactors to recreate life in Sacramento as it was in the mid to late 1800's.