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.
SACRAMENTO 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.
California Auto 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.
