WELCOME TO OLD SACRAMENTO

WELCOME TO MY OLD SACRAMENTO HISTORIC DISTRICT ROAD TRIP !
BY: PABLO ALFARO

Hello Every body. This is my California Road Trip.  The reason why I decided to approach The Old Sacramento Historic District as my road trip was mainly because I have never been there. After hearing about the many attractions I was ashamed on my self for actually never going to Old Sacramento. Besides that, I also chose Old Sacramento  because it includes a lot of relation to our History class. This Old Historic District relates to our class lectures of the Gold Rush, Mining, Early growth of cities, Natural advantages(Rivers), The Pony Express, Native Americans, Famous Sacramento floods, Important Rail Roads, and of course The Big Four.

 

Old Sacramento is located on the west side of the city and it is  known as the Old Sacramento

Historic District. The impressing National

Historic Landmark District and State Historic

Park is about 28 acre's of Old buildings

from the 1900's and some from 1800's. The historical scenery is found along the amazing Sacramento River.

 

 

 

                                                                           ↑

As I walked around the Historic District I noticed that there is NO CEMENT ROADS. By that I mean that the roads are actually DIRT ROADS and STONE ROADS like the old days.  

The area is completely filled with activities. The district is very alive with historical attractions and historical museums like the Pacific Rail Road Museum. I was Impressed because some buildings were actually originly from the time period of the California Gold Rush and the Transcontinental and Southern Pacific Rail road. Besides the historic roads and buildings  there is also great shopping, dining, entertainment, and unique scenery.

 

During 1800's, 1900's and during The Gold Rush Era, Sacramento became a major distribution point, a commercial and agricultural center, and a station for Wagon Trains, Stage Coaches, Riverboats, The Telegraph, The Pony Express, and the Transcontinental and Southern Pacific Railroad's.

 

 

Overall I was really really impressed when I noticed Citizens actually riding in there StageCoach Wagons being pulled by their horses. Beside that I admired how the folks around made the scenery actually feel like it was the 1800's and 1900's, with their Cowboy Hats, Clothing, "Vehicles", Architecture and of course even their "talk" sounded absolutley from a different time era. I felt like I went in a Time Machine went back in time.

 

1800's ~

 

 

 

EARLY GROWTH OF SACRAMENTO CITY

-Gold Rush (Discovery of Gold)

-Natural Advantage of River's

 

Early growing cities like Sacramento grew because of the Discovery of GOLD and because their along important rivers. Establishments appeared, as settlements were placed at the confluence of main rivers in approach for all the natural advantages that the streams offered.

 

 

 JOHN SUTTER was the first to discover Gold in California thanks to his employee James W. Marshal. Marshal found some gold nuggets and immediatly reported it to Mr.Sutter, since the landgrant belonged to Mr.Sutter. Sutter's Fort, Sutter's Mill was established by John Sutter while "Sacramento" was established by his son John Augustus Sutter Jr. Sutter deeded his remaining land to his son to avoid loosing more land by deperate gold demanders. John Augustus Sutter Jr was the founder and planner for the city of Sacramento. He showed more leader ship and of course was more succesful than his father. Sacramento grew quickly thanks to the protection of Sutters Fort.

GOLD RUSH- The Gold Rush brought many newcomers to Sacramento. Sacramento became a central depot, as well as an overpopulated city. Sacramento became a verys fast growing and visited city, About 300,000 immigrants traveled to Sacramento during the Gold Rush, Including all

mixed ethnicities. The California Gold Rush began on January 24, 1848, when gold was discovered by James W. Marshal at Sutter's Mill, in Coloma right next to Sacramento.

The River was a main advantage as well,
besides the advantage of discovering gold. The Sacramento River offered plenty,

 including transportation, supplies,

food and of course profit from all. A person could travel from San Francisco to Sacramento or like Stockton to Sacramento a lot easier. Using the river, also came in handy for shipments of products.

Sacramento City builders attempted

to find the perfect location and competed to create a commercial capital (center) for distribution. By the end of 1850, Sacramento was one of the cities that emerged as the primary depot and centers for Jobs like Mining. The confluence of major rivers was the advantages for Sacramento.  Sacramento had the meeting of the American and Sacramento River. At such locations, investors, merchants and miners disembarked from their water transportation and made their way inland to this "OLD SACRAMENTO". 
 

Enviromental Costs-Remains from gold mining flooded into rivers that spread into Sacramento River, San Francisco bay area and nearby marinas eventually terminating the fish and farmland that was near. Large quantity of mercury that was used for the mining method created toxics that made its way into the riverine environment. 

 

 

SACRAMENTO FLOOD'S

 

After the discovery of Gold, newcomers settled

along the banks of the Sacramento River, a main

 traffic route for supplies, however the new city experienced plenty flooding and fires. In 1850

 Sacramento experienced its first devastating

 flood, and another one in 1852.

 

 

 

 

 

However its location caused the city to flood with river water, a mess was near as riverine flooding came into place due to several combinations including snowmelt, excessive runoffs and levee failure. The loss was a disaster, the simple equation of cities rising from the wilderness was not as imagined it to be, it was a blessing as well as an awful curse. The flood became very intense; lumber,bales, cases of goods, boxes, barrels, tents and small houses were floating in every direction. There was a loss of everything, people died, cattle and crops died, loss of material, food, and homes 

 

 

 

The Delta King Steam Boat was the main scenery I was amazed by upon arriving to the historic area. The Delta King is a 285 foot long paddlewheel steam boat that has been on the Sacramento River since 1927!!, when it was built and functioned. The Delta King and sister Delta Queen were brought by pieces to Stockon and later brought to Sacramento. The Delta King is a historic Attraction because at the time it was a huge advantage by constantly going up and down the surrounding rivers. The Delta King mainly traveled on the Sacramento River and San Joaqin River, shipping products/materials and ofcourse transportation. The Delta King was a big advantage for major early growing cities like San Francisco, Stockton and Sacramento.  It was about a 10 hour trip from  San Francisco to Stockton and to Sacramento. Historically during WORLD WARII they were requisitioned by the U.S NAVY  for duty in the San Fransico as USS Delta King.

 

 

This is me in front of the Delta King. Its beautiful! In the past it was used as transportation, Now it is used a luxury Hotel and Restaurant.

                                                                                    ↓

 

 

 

 

 

                             RAILROADS, RAILROADS, AND RAILROADS..

 

I spent most of my road trip time here at the old Sacramento rail roads. I found them very interesting and fun. The Trains were really impressive!! As I walked down the Rail Roads I began to imagine and Think.. What if.. What if it was 1849 RIGHT NOW.. & What I would be doing..

If you look closely on the picture I took above, You can see where it says "You are standing on the same spot where the first Rail Road began...".  I found that amazing! Ajajaja It's like I felt proud to be on the same exact spot!




The East Coast were in huge need of faster transportation to the West coast. Transportation was highly needed, investors found a way on how to connect coast to coast. The First Transcontinental/Pacific Railroad in the United States was constructed in the 1860s, connecting the well developed Eastern coast with the growing California including Sacramento. The main line was officially completed on May 10, 1869.

 

 

 

Central Pacific RailRoad

 The Central Pacific Railroad was the name of the railroad that was built between California and Utah. It also formed part of the First Transcontinental/Pacific Railroad.

 

 

 

One of the most powerful railroad companies of the 19th century, was the Central Pacific Railroad originated in an ambitious plan conceived in 1870 by the forgotten Theodore Judah and the "Big Four" western investors: Collis P. Huntington, Charles Crocker, Leland Stanford, and Mark Hopkins.                                                                               

The Big Four were men from Sacramento who had a lot of money and desire to gain more money and power. A year earlier, the Big Four's western-based Central Pacific had linked up with the eastern-based Union Pacific in Utah. The Big Four were smart investors that often tricked many. The Big Four would often lie to Federal Government, to increase the money payment of the railroads, as well as tricking the Rail Road Safety Inspector by presenting him to the perfect, best and safest ONLY mile of their track as if their whole Pacific Railroad track was perfect and safe. *The original idea of the Central Pacific Railroad belonged to Engineer Geek Theodore Judah. Theodore was used for his smart idea; he was never giving any credit for his marvelous idea. He was used and forgotten about, after his hunt for financial help from the “Big Four Investors".

                                                                                                                   "The Big Four"

        THEODORE JUDAH                                                      Collis P. Huntington. Charles Crocker.

                                                                                                  Leland Stanford.  Mark Hopkins

 

↓↓The Big Four House (1852–1855) was originally where the big four had their Hardware Store's.   Eventually the establishment was relocated to the Old Sacramento Historic District during the 1960s.

****STILL STANDS!!!! IN THE OLD SACRAMENTO HISTORIC DISTRICT↓↓

 ↓↓

”.

                                        THIS IS ME INFRONT OF THE SAME BUILDING !! IMPRESSING..
                                                                                        ↓

<----DIRT ROADS!!!

 

My INTERVIEW:   Mr. Fred Mari

I decided to do my road trip interview on
this guy because I Saw him working on the
trains, luckly I saw the same guy later on.
He looked to be on his break or something
so I decided to interview him. Mr. Fred begun
 telling me that actually he was born and raised
 in Sacramento. Apparantley this man was 75
 years old which means he has been in the area
 since 1938 !!!!! He went on about buildings that
were still up and in the same spot. He told me that
 he works for the City, maintaining the trains and
 depot. He showed me the actual spots where the
 citizens would get on and off the train, which I 
found really cool. He even showed me the spot
where he broke his arm while working on the historic trains. I don't want to judge but I believe this man was a veteran because he was really crazy. He told me how little they pay him, after all the years he has put into. He went on and on about how his "Father" being real close friends to John Sutter's son.( Which I don't believe due to his weird personality. Before I left Mr. Fred, I asked him if he knew the directions to the City of Coloma, where John Sutter's discovery occurred.

The PONY EXPRESS

 

 

 

This system became very popular in Sacramento. The Pony Express was a letter/mail delivering service for either letters,messages, newspapers, mail, even to some small packages.The Pony Express was the system that involved a men riding on horse distributing mail from Missouri to accross the Great Plains. Even Over the Rocky MOuntains and the Sierra MOuntains. The point of it was to distribute messages from coast to coast through a letter instead of having to travel to the other side. It reduced the arrival time, traveling took about 18 months while a message could be sent and arrive in just 10 days !

 

BUH BYE SACRAMENTO..

 

Overall I had a great time traveling to the Old Sacramento Historic District. I had plenty of fun discovering new monuments and new scenery. I enjoyed climbing the trains as well as having lunch at a table between many amazing features including, The Sacramento River and the Delta King to my right side view and to my left side view was the Central Pacific Rail Road Depot, Trains, and Rail Roads. I have learned a lot and am really glad I chose Old Sacramento. My road trip had a lot that relates to our Class of History Of California. We have discussed and learned about many of the reasons and events that took place in the amazing Historical Sacramento Area. I highly suggest visiting the wise historic scene! You will not regret it, besides it is only about 1 hour away !!!!

I definatley plan on coming back soon, this time I will bring my father.