Old Sacramento Tour: A Guide to its Historic District and Waterfront

Step back in time to the 1850s and 60s when natural disasters, a banking crisis and a cholera outbreak made life in the new city of Sacramento very challenging. On this leisurely walking tour through Old Sacramento’s Historic District and Waterfront, I’ll paint a picture of what it was like for those early pioneers who were drawn to the city during the Gold Rush era. Named a California Historical Landmark in 1965, the suburb features over 50 restored historical buildings dating to the second half of the 1850s. Our tour starts at Tower Bridge. As you stroll along the cobblestone streets and wooden boardwalks, I’ll share stories about the buildings you pass, including the Firehouse Restaurant, Orleans Hotel, and What Cheer House, a former hotel and historical landmark. You’ll also hear about California’s early history, and how it took 25 days via steamboat to get mail from the East Coast to California on the West Coast before the Pony Express was established in 1860. On this tour, you’ll have the opportunity to: • Stroll down Front Street and sample the menu at any one of the charming bars or restaurants along the Old Sacramento Waterfront • Learn how Sacramento was finally saved from yearly floods by raising the town 22 feet in the 1860s • Visit the California State Railroad Museum and Sacramento History Museum • Hear about Chinese migrants’ courage during the building of the Central Pacific Railroad • Stop by the Delta King paddlewheeler and learn its fascinating history • Learn how Old Town Sacramento went from rundown rows of flophouses in the 1960s to a fully restored State Park • Take in Pioneer Square, the Pony Express Statue and the monument to Theodore Judah, the Central Pacific Railroad’s first Chief Engineer If you don’t stop to eat, do any shopping, or visit a museum, this walking tour will take approximately 90 minutes to complete. However, if time is not an issue, feel free to stop along the way. The museums charge admission, which is not included in the price of this tour. Voice acting credit: Voices of Dr. John Morse, anonymous newspaper letter writer, Concord stage runner, Sam Brannan, and Pony Express advertisement by Brandon Baumann

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