Old Sacramento Surprise
While we were visiting Adam and Joi, we went to Old Sacramento to visit the California State Railroad Museum. We had already been in this area of town when we arrived by train and rented a car and I found it was like any other city... unimpressive, congested, run down, and I already knew about the crime rates for various areas of town. However, when we pulled onto the road where the museum was located, we found an incredible, impressive and historic downtown city area. Actually, it is registered as a National Historic Landmark District. I don't think any of us were expecting to see what we found. This section of the city is preserved in its circa-1850 Gold Rush days!
I believe only one road through this area is still dirt and gravel. Some roads are blacktopped to cut down on dirt and dust in the dry climate. Other roads are cobblestone. The sidewalks aren't actually sidewalks but wood porch type decking, all attached from one building to the next as you would typically see in an old west setting. The architecture has been restored and preserved to the era. There are hitching posts. There are saloons. There are horse-drawn carriages.
As much history as is visible in the architecture, there is almost as much that is not seen at street-level.
Back in 1861, Sacramento was flooded by months of rain. They had so much rain dumped on them that the entire city of Sacramento was underwater. The Sacramento River flooded for hundreds of miles putting the city underwater. This was the second time in recent history for this to happen to this new state capital. Making matters worse, the flooding caused fires to sweep through the city as well.
Because of this cycle of flooding, the decision was made to not only build more robust brick buildings but they also raised the entire city 12-25 feet in elevation. This lower level of the buried city is still obvious in some areas like in the photo below...
While we were here, I was itching to do some bar-hopping. There is countless saloons and pubs throughout this historic section of the city... my mouth was watering...
In my mom's last weeks while succumbing to cancer in the hospital, after the visiting hours ended, my dad would always tell the nurses he was heading to "the office"... my siblings and I knew what he meant by this term because we always accompanied him so this establishment and the name of this establishment caught my eye...
These donuts were so good we visited this place twice while walking around Old Sacramento! My own mindset was on all the saloons and pubs but I have to say that these donuts were very good!
The Pony Express. I plan to write more about the history of the US Postal Service that we saw in almost every city we visited. Here in Old Sacramento, there was a beautiful sculpture of the Pony Express. Until the railroad was completed, this was the primary means of communication with the east and Washington, DC.
I liked this composition below... this is one of the side streets in Old Sacramento... I like the juxtaposition between old and new. The new building is on the other side of the Sacramento River. This stark contrast was eye-catching though....
It was hot for these Vermonters while we walked through Old Sacramento. We constantly stopped for some refreshments, candy and snacks. Here, Will and Sue enjoy fruity frozen drink...
A US Mail mailbox that matches the period architecture...
There is some railroad museum overflow in the train yard outside the museum and alongside the Sacramento river...
This was a great surprise and we could have easily spent two days here. There are all sorts of shops throughout the area as well as saloons, pubs and restaurants. This turned out to be one of the highlights of our entire cross-country trip!
I believe only one road through this area is still dirt and gravel. Some roads are blacktopped to cut down on dirt and dust in the dry climate. Other roads are cobblestone. The sidewalks aren't actually sidewalks but wood porch type decking, all attached from one building to the next as you would typically see in an old west setting. The architecture has been restored and preserved to the era. There are hitching posts. There are saloons. There are horse-drawn carriages.
As much history as is visible in the architecture, there is almost as much that is not seen at street-level.
Back in 1861, Sacramento was flooded by months of rain. They had so much rain dumped on them that the entire city of Sacramento was underwater. The Sacramento River flooded for hundreds of miles putting the city underwater. This was the second time in recent history for this to happen to this new state capital. Making matters worse, the flooding caused fires to sweep through the city as well.
Because of this cycle of flooding, the decision was made to not only build more robust brick buildings but they also raised the entire city 12-25 feet in elevation. This lower level of the buried city is still obvious in some areas like in the photo below...
While we were here, I was itching to do some bar-hopping. There is countless saloons and pubs throughout this historic section of the city... my mouth was watering...
In my mom's last weeks while succumbing to cancer in the hospital, after the visiting hours ended, my dad would always tell the nurses he was heading to "the office"... my siblings and I knew what he meant by this term because we always accompanied him so this establishment and the name of this establishment caught my eye...
These donuts were so good we visited this place twice while walking around Old Sacramento! My own mindset was on all the saloons and pubs but I have to say that these donuts were very good!
The Pony Express. I plan to write more about the history of the US Postal Service that we saw in almost every city we visited. Here in Old Sacramento, there was a beautiful sculpture of the Pony Express. Until the railroad was completed, this was the primary means of communication with the east and Washington, DC.
I liked this composition below... this is one of the side streets in Old Sacramento... I like the juxtaposition between old and new. The new building is on the other side of the Sacramento River. This stark contrast was eye-catching though....
It was hot for these Vermonters while we walked through Old Sacramento. We constantly stopped for some refreshments, candy and snacks. Here, Will and Sue enjoy fruity frozen drink...
A US Mail mailbox that matches the period architecture...
There is some railroad museum overflow in the train yard outside the museum and alongside the Sacramento river...
This was a great surprise and we could have easily spent two days here. There are all sorts of shops throughout the area as well as saloons, pubs and restaurants. This turned out to be one of the highlights of our entire cross-country trip!
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