iconic architecture – Exploring Sacramento

One of the Sacramento area’s most iconic buildings is the Ziggurat, a pyramid-like structure in West Sacramento. You can find it at 707 3rd Street.

lossy-page1-640px-thumbnail.tif — Photo by Carol M. Highsmith – Library of Congress Catalog, Public Domain.

Although it is currently home to the rather dull California Department of General Services, legend has it that this Mesopotamian-inspired building was created by The Money Store way back in the ancient year of 1997.

The Ziggurat is 11 stories tall, with a total height of 156 feet.

Fun facts:

The exterior of the building is Minnesota limestone and glass that has been given a special coating to match the color of the stone. So, yes, it does have windows; you just can’t see them from a distance.
The building was designed in accordance with traditional Feng Shui rules. I’m not sure what to make of the fact that a Mesopotamian inspired building is using Chinese design rules, but I guess that’s just the mishmash we call modernism in America.
The Ziggurat is actually the second-tallest building in West Sacramento. The tallest building is currently the CalSTRS Building at 300 feet tall. (Click here to see a great aerial view of both the Ziggurat and the CalSTRS Building.)
Lots of YouTubers seem to think the Ziggurat is actually an Illuminati temple, masquerading as a bunch of government offices. Which it’s not. (Or is it?!) I mean, it was built by The Money Store, so I guess you could go off on some wild tangents based on that + the fact that American currency features a pyramid with an all-seeing eye on top. There’s no all-seeing eye atop the Ziggurat, though. To my knowledge. But maybe I’m just a brainwashed fool – YOU DECIDE!

And with that, my tour of Sacramento from A to Z comes to a close. I hope you’ve enjoyed the ride, learned something new about the capital of California, and maybe even consider visiting someday.

Check back weekly for more Exploring Sacramento content, and thanks for joining me on this alphabetical journey!

Whether you’re in search of history lessons, Sacramento’s “origin story,” some current-day nostalgia, old-fashioned cosplay, or just a few good souvenirs, Old Sacramento is one of the city’s must-see tourist destinations.

640px-Old_Sacramento — Photo by Morn at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0

As per the neighborhood’s Google description:

“Old Sacramento is the riverfront historic district, with Gold Rush-era buildings, cobblestone streets, and horse-drawn carriages. It’s home to numerous museums, including the Sacramento History Museum and the state Railroad Museum, which offers excursion train rides. Souvenir shops sell T-shirts, movie memorabilia, and antiques, and there are several upscale restaurants and a few bars popular with the college crowd.”

Exploring Sacramento has already covered a few of the shops located in Old Sacramento, including Evangeline’s Costume Mansion and the Underground Tasting Room, as well as tours by the Sacramento History Museum, but here’s a full list of all the sights you can see in this part of town:

Not to mention all of the dining and shopping options!

During the summer months you may see docents dressed in period costumes, leading tours and offering information about Sacramento’s history. And, of course, this is an area that likes to host public events, so you may find yourself in the midst of a Latin dance night, some waterfront yoga, or eager to enjoy some chocolate tastings during Chocolate Week (May 13-19, 2019).

Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg has also recently announced plans to improve the Waterfront area using hotel tax fund money, so potential additions to the area could include a “freight depot, history museum event deck, water feature, floating terrace, festival space and more,” according to local news source KCRA. Check back in a few years to see how far that $45 million renovation plan goes!