Sacramento, California - Home to the California State Capitol, Sacramento is a vibrant city with an incredible selection of museums, restaurants, great public transportation, a beautiful riverfront, history galore, entertainment and thousands of trees! Sacramento now outranks Paris, France for the most trees per capita of any major city in the world. In the spring you can see the blossoming camellia trees of brilliant pink, white or red that surround the Capitol building in an amazing display of color.

 

Located 90 miles northeast of San Francisco and 383 miles north of Los Angeles, Sacramento is the home of the State Capitol of California, the largest state in the United States. California's Historic Capitol was designed by architects M.F. Butler and Reuben Clark. Its style is an adaptation of Roman Corinthian architecture. Work began in 1860 and by late 1869 the Capitol was partly occupied. In 1874, construction ended at a cost of $245 million. The west wing which once housed all branches of government is now a legislative facility. Its design and construction are tributes to California's pioneer architects, craftsmen and builders.

 

The building itself is set in the midst of a park at least 4-5 city blocks in extent. The property was owned originally by John Sutter, who deeded it to the city for public parks or plazas. However, there were four previous Capitol buildings in different parts of the state before Sacramento was decided upon. The first of these was in 1849-1851, a mission style two storied building at San Jose, California. Some historians say the state legislators were dissatisfied with the location since the accommodations were poor, and the pueblo seemed too remote.

 

The second Capitol building was planned for Vallejo, but never materialized. Again Vallejo seemed too far removed from the rest of the State, and the accommodations were worse than the Pueblo of San Jose. Disgruntled, the legislators were offered the newly built, two storied courthouse in Sacramento as a site for the Capitol. It was in Sacramento that the 1852 session took place. The legislators arrived by river boat, were warmly greeted. That warmth exists today in the Capitol city.  Take a free tour of the California State Capitol Museum, located at Capitol Building 10th and L Streets 916.324.0333  Open daily except major holidays. 

 

With the wealth of history, there is no shortage of museums to tour and a stroll in Old Sacramento is like walking through history, itself, with the cobble streets, original buildings and horse drawn carriages clip clopping up and down the streets. This historic park includes shops, restaurants, riverboats, antique trains and many things to look at and do.

 

For entertainment, Sacramento is home to one of the largest jazz festivals, held usually in May, miles of bike trails, river ways, golf courses, museums, a beautiful convention center and  mountains and wineries nearby. 

 

Chosen "most romantic place for a first date" by locals, Old Sacramento is a National Registered Landmark  situated along the river in downtown "Sac". You can ride a horse drawn carriage, buy your sweetheart an old fashioned ice cream treat, dine and enjoy hand crafted beers from a micro brewery, shop for souvenirs and feel the gold rush through your veins as you tour the various haunts where miners once ate, drank and slept.

 

Attracting over 5 million visitors annually, old Sacramento provides at least a day's worth of browsing with its mother lode of museums and things to do. Something's always going on in Old Sacramento, which has become a gathering spot for special events such as one of the most popular jazz festivals in the United States, held each year in Old Sacramento. Winters in Sacramento can be cool and summers warm so be prepared with light clothing for those summer days and jackets for the winter months. 

 

If you've come to do business at the State Capitol or are in town for a convention, be sure to allow yourself at least an hour or two to break away and visit Old Sacramento. You'll find the experience enriching and you'll take home more than a souvenir from your Sacramento tour.

 

MUSEUMS

California Military  Museum 1115 Second Street (916) 442-2883  An interpretive museum with  authentic clothing, equipment and stories from our nation's rich military past.

California State Railroad Museum 111 I Street (916) 445-6645   The largest interpretive railroad museum in the nation with exhibits and activities for the whole family. See beautifully restored  locomotives and cars from the 1860s to the 1960s.

 

 Crocker Art Museum  Third and O Street  (916) 264-5423  Featuring Victorian architecture, Early California  painting collections, Old Master drawings and colorful contemporary California art.

Discovery Museum 101 I Street  (916) 264-7057   A public service, educational institution established to foster the wonder and curiosity in us all.  Explore, experience and examine.  Learning has never been more fun.

 

Schoolhouse Museum  Front and L Street  (916) 483-8818  An authentic one-room  schoolhouse.

Spectacular Russian  Dinosaur Exhibition 1126 Second Street 888-264-8763  World's largest, authentic, traveling dinosaur exhibition, including the 20 foot Saurolophus and the 16 foot Tyrannosaurus. Open to the public. Call to schedule groups.

 

 Sutter's Fort  2710 L Street (916) 445-4422  Sacramento's earliest settlement was founded in 1839. Self guided audio tours are available.

Towe Ford Museum  2200 Front Street (916) 442-6802  Featuring exhibits of the American Automobile.

 

Wells Fargo Museum  Corner of Second and J Streets (916) 440-4263   Stagecoaches, gold, mining, business, commerce are all colorfully interpreted for visitors. ATM, W.A.