Day 9, September 18 - Old Sacramento

An extremely full day with many exciting adventures began as we carpooled to downtown Sacramento, the capital city of California. Old Sacramento (see www.oldsacramento.com/history) is a four block, 28 acre section along the Sacramento River. As the city moved east, this area was the worst skid row west of Chicago. In the 1960's it was redeveloped with wooden sidewalks, cobblestone streets, museums, restaurants and shops that preserve its historical character and it became the first historical district in the West.

Old Living History Program tour guide, "John F. Morse, MD, physician and surgeon of 1850", greeted us upon our arrival and proceeded to give us a most informative and enlightening history tour of his town. The group hung on every word as he dramatically told his story.

In 1839 John Sutter established Sutter's Fort at the confluence of the American and Sacramento Rivers. It grew and became a permanent settlement; but it wasn't until James Marshall discovered gold in 1848 and thousands came to seek their fortunes that Sacramento became a commercial and trading center. Many waterfront establishments were built and the City of Sacramento was born.

Throughout the early years flooding and fires destroyed the hastily built town. Eventually the buildings were rebuilt in brick and stone. In 1853 a gigantic project to raise the city was proposed but it wasn't until another devastating flood in 1862 that it was accepted. Within a few years thousands of cubic yards of earth were brought in on wagons and every building was raised an entire story. The original street level can be seen below the boardwalk sidewalks and what are now basements.

Dr. Morse explained how he had, as did many others, traveled from New York via ship to Panama where he rode a mule from east to west. He then boarded another ship which brought him to San Francisco and continued on land and water to Sacramento. The early days of panning for gold were very hard and not too profitable for him. Since he had a profession he opened his office and provided medical care for the growing population. He regaled us with stories about those first years, the hotels, the bath houses, the saloons (first one established when the first person stepped off the first ship), the bordellos, the theaters and the corrupt acts of the merchants and land barons. We visited stables and the Fire House which were still the original buildings. He told us about early millionaires who made their fortunes from either gold and or merchandising and the prominent Californians that had their start here. The California Steam Navigation Company was established to bring what was needed up the river from San Francisco. Old Sacramento was the terminus for the Pony Express from St. Joseph, MO. In 1869 the transcontinental railroad was completed and agriculture in the rich Sacramento valley became prominent. As we walked the streets of Old Sacramento we could see through his eyes and his stories what the people were like and how they lived their lives.

There are 27 museums and historic parks in the area including the California State Railroad Museum and the Wells Fargo History Museum. (See http://www.discovergold.com/) Today Sacramento is an important highway, rail and river hub and the marketing center for the rich agricultural region of the Sacramento Valley.

Following the tour of Old Sacramento, our private trolley transported us from the old days to the new days as we rolled across town to the State Capitol Building.

to be continued.................