museums – Exploring Sacramento

Sightseeing at Sutter’s Fort

April 22, 2019April 21, 2019 Posted in A to Z, Sacramento Sights1 Comment

Open daily from 10 AM to 5 PM, Sutter’s Fort is a piece of Old Sacramento that’s worth a look.

Screen Shot 2019-04-21 at 9.30.03 PM — Sutter’s Fort State Historic Park map via California Department of Parks and Recreation

As per the standard historical line, John Sutter received a land grant from Mexico in 1839 and built an agricultural empire that he named New Helvetia (aka New Switzerland). This was was considered to be the earliest non-native settlement of what would later become Sacramento.

Sutter sent aid to the Donner Party in 1847, which helped cement his reputation as a provider of temporary refuge for travelers in need, which in turn made his settlement an ideal destination for new immigrants to the state of California.

As per the parks department’s brochure about Sutter’s Fort, “He remains a perplexing figure. Sutter was a visionary, swindler, soldier, patriot, debtor, patriarch, victim, friend, yet also enemy, to the California Indians. He died in 1880 in Lititz, Pennsylvania, far from the vibrant community he helped to create.”

Whether you’re a history buff or want to ask the docents some tough questions about this Sutter fellow, a trip to the fort is an inexpensive way to spend the day. Admission is $5 for adults (18+), $3 for youth (ages 6-17) and free for children 5 and under.

Overview of Old Sacramento

April 17, 2019April 28, 2019 Posted in A to Z, local businesses, Sacramento Sights

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!

Lollygagging at the Leland Stanford Mansion

April 13, 2019April 12, 2019 Posted in A to Z, Sacramento Sights

If you’ve got a free afternoon and the skies are cloudy, a tour of the Leland Stanford Mansion is a great way to spend a few hours, exploring the house of one of California’s captains of industry.

stanford_mansion_sacramento_california

The mansion was once home to Leland and Jane Stanford, whom you might recognize as the founders of Stanford University. Leland served as Governor of California from 1862 to 1863, but was also a railroad magnate, which is how he amassed his considerable wealth. He purchased the Mansion from its original owner, Sheldon Fogus, and remodeled it several times to better suit the family’s needs. Outfitted with gas lighting and indoor plumbing, the Mansion boasted cutting edge technology for the 1800s.

The Stanfords’ story, as presented by the docents at the Mansion, is a rather sad one. They were a childless couple for many years, and only had one son, Leland Junior, who died at age 15 (2 months shy of 16) of typhoid. The family had been on a tour of Europe, which was supposed to be a year-long excursion before Leland Junior began university. Instead, he died before he was able to begin his studies, which left both his parents bereft. They ultimately decided to try to turn their personal tragedy into something that could benefit others, and together they created Stanford University as one of the country’s first explicitly coeducational and affordable institutions of higher learning when it opened in 1891.

As for the Mansion, due to its multiple renovations, you can see a variety of architectural styles blended together in the final product. Although it’s classified as a Victorian structure, you can also see Renaissance Revival and French Second Empire influences, as well as the rather Haunted Mansion-esque Mansard roof.

leland_stanford_mansion_ROOF — Some claim the Mansion is actually haunted, but I just find the roof reminiscent of the spooky Disneyland structure.

There is no photography allowed inside the Mansion, so you’ll have to visit to see the luxurious digs for yourself. The visitor’s center offers postcards with images of many of the rooms on display, as well as more information about Stanford’s back story as an entrepreneur through the Gold Rush days and beyond.

I found these two pieces particularly interesting: