The California State Capitol Museum interprets the history California, the city of Sacramento, and the State Legislature. Housed in the historic Capitol building, the Museum includes two exhibit galleries and restored offices of the Governor, Secretary of State, and Treasurer, along with a tour office that offers guided or self-guided tours, a theater that screens an introductory film, and a gift shop. Visitors can explore museum exhibits along with art, architecture, and legislative proceedings throughout the Capitol building and the memorials and monuments in Capitol Park.
Built from 1886-1889, the ornate Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament was, at the time of its construction, the largest cathedral west of the Mississippi--and though currently dwarfed by Sacramento’s downtown skyscrapers, at a towering 216 feet it was also the tallest structure in the city for a time. The cathedral was the brainchild of Catholic Bishop Patrick Manogue, who had previously mined gold in California’s Sierra Nevada Mountains to pay for his church education. John Mackay, owner of the famed Comstock Lode silver mine in Nevada, was one of the cathedral’s key financiers. Built intentionally near the State Capitol, it has held inaugurations and funerals for mayors and governors through the decades. A recent $34 million restoration has reopened the iconic dome to the public again for the first time since the 1930s.
Frank Ruhstaller was a Swiss immigrant who came to Sacramento as a young man. In 1881, he founded the Ruhstaller Brewery, which became one of the city's leading breweries. The building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Constructed in 1926, this historic railroad depot features a mural that depicts a celebratory scene of the construction of what would become the western terminus of the Transcontinental Railroad. Since 1971, the station has served Amtrak customers and remains one of the busiest American rail depots. The land where the station stands was once home to Chinese immigrants who were forced out of the area in the early 1900s.
A plaque mounted on the corner of the California Fruit Building commemorates the exact location where gunfire broke out between two groups of Sacramento citizens on August 14, 1850. Though the Fruit Building would not be built until 1914, a line of rebellious squatters formed across 4th Street at this intersection and, by most accounts, opened fire upon a similarly armed posse led by Sacramento’s Mayor Hardin Bigelow. Though the squatters were dispersed and many arrested in the following days, the dispute over land rights would have long-standing effects on the development of the city. The 1982 plaque lists those who were killed in the gunfight, in the violence of the following days, or subsequently of their wounds.
The oldest public art museum west of the Mississippi River, the Crocker Art Museum in Sacramento was established in 1885 and is now one of the leading art museums in California. The Crocker boasts noteworthy architecture, works of art by regional artists, pieces by renowned and yet-to-be-discovered artists from around the world, and exhibitions varied mediums including paintings, drawings, metal, ceramics, and photography. The museum consists of two neighboring buildings: the Crocker family mansion, purchased in 1868 and now on the National Register of Historic Places, and the contemporary Teel Family Pavilion opened in 2010.
The ornate Heilbron House was commissioned in 1881 by German immigrant and businessman August Heilbron and designed by Nathaniel Goodell, architect of the nearby California Governor’s Mansion and many other iconic California buildings. The mansion, one of the few grand old homes in downtown Sacramento to have survived demolition through the decades, is an immaculate example of the Italianate Victorian style and a rare glimpse into downtown Sacramento’s historic past. The home is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Leland Stanford Mansion State Historic Park was originally the home of Leland Stanford, who bought the house off of Shelton C. Fogus for $8000. The house was later used as an orphanage, a school for young women, and its current use, a house museum and state historic park.
Opened in 1998, the California Museum preserves, interprets, and engages the public with the history of California. A private non-profit institution in partnership with the State Archives, the California Museum offers a variety of exhibits and educational programs for residents and visitors alike. The Museum emphasizes the state's diverse history and culture. With the support of former First Lady Maria Shriver and Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, the California Museum celebrates individuals who have made notable contributions to the state with the California Hall of Fame located in the museum. Exhibits also introduce visitors to more unknown figures in state history along with cultural movements, technological innovations, civic engagement, and health. Together, these exhibits explore what it means to be Californian.
This Tour is a Walking Tour.
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A short driving tour that takes the early history of Sacramento and California beyond the boundaries of Old Sac State Historic Park. These museums and landmarks tell more of the story of the city's founding figures through art, artifacts, and monuments.
