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They City Cemetery dates back to 1849 and is the resting place of many remarkable Californians. It’s also the oldest existing cemetery in Sacramento, resembling a Victorian garden with pathways, grand avenues and a park-like setting. Explore history with free guided walking tours, led by Old City Cemetery Committee docents, or take a self-guided tour anytime.

City Cemetery Official Site

Over 170 classic cars are housed at the Towe Auto Museum, located at 2200 Front Street, next to the the Sacramento River and Downtown Sacramento. There are also exhibits displaying the history of the automobile and how our lives have been influenced by it. Types of cars include race cars, muscle cars, hot rods and early models. The museum has a gift shop and a 1950s style ice cream vignette where you can ejoy a soda between taking pictures with your favorite cars.

Towe Auto Museum Official Site

Located in McClellan Park, formerly McClellan Air Force Base, the Aerospace Museum of California saw over 100,000 visitors last year. On display is a unique collection of military and civilian aircraft, engine exhibit and educational programs. Visitors can also learn more about the history of the Air Force Base as well as aerospace companies, flying clubs and commercial aviation in the Sacramento area.

Aerospace Museum Official Site

Oficially named as the state’s official military museum by legislation signed by Gov. Schwarzenegger in 2004, the California State Military Museum is located on Second St. in Old Sacramento. The museum was originally opened in 1991 and, today, houses over 30,000 artifacts. The museum also has a substantial library and archives.

State Military Museum Official Site

Located in Old Sacramento, the California State Railroad Museum is one of North America’s most popular railroad museums. It’s a great place to bring the family and where students can learn more about how trains played a major role in California’s rich history. Visitors can experience, first hand, restored trains, interactive exhibits, and rides on a real steam locomotive on weekends during Summer. The museum is open daily, but closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years day.

Railroad Museum Official Site

Located next to the Sacramento Zoo and Funderland, Fairytale Town covers two acres in Land Park and is a great place to bring the kids! It’s a non-profit family park with many features based on popular fairytales and nursery rhymes. The area is filled with color and play things to spark your child’s imagination.

Fairytale Town Official Site

The Sacramento Zoo is a great place to take the kids and is located next to other family-friendly attractions in Land Park, such as Fairytale Town and Funderland. Visitors are sure to enjoy the 14 acres housing many different types of animals, the Wildlife Stage Shows, Reptile House and more! If you want to avoid the crowds, their web site suggests aiming for non-holiday Mondays, Saturday or Sunday mornings, or most weekdays after 1pm. Other times are prime for school field trips. The zoo also offers self-guided tours via cell phone. There isn’t much of a specified parking lot for the zoo, but parking is free throughout Land Park.

Sacramento Zoo Official Site

Made possible by a donation by Margaret E. Crocker to the City of Sacramento, the Crocker Art Museum was founded in 1885 and is the longest continuously operating art museum in the West. The Crocker Art Museum is located at 216 O Street in Downtown Sacramento and the Victorian mansion and annexes cover an entire city block. The museum attracts 160,000 visitors each year and boasts one of the state’s premier art collections. Exhibits change every year, so be sure to visit and view new displays showcasing various time periods and cultures.

Crocker Art Museum Official Site

Sacramento hasn’t always been the capital of California. The state Capitol has been located in other cities such as Monterey, Vallejo and Benicia. It’s been in its current location since 1854, but even after that became permanent, there were several attempts to relocate it to various parts of the Bay Area. Construction on the actual Capitol building started in 1860 and was completed in 1874.

Tours are available, or you can roam around much of the building by yourself, free to view portraits of past Governors, the outer doors of the current Governor’s office, the upper galleries of the Senate and Assembly, and the preserved historic rooms showing what offices looked like in the 1800s. Under the dome (there are actually two – a dome inside a dome), in the Rotunda, is a statue depicting Columbus’ Last Appeal to Queen Isabella.

Outside, on the Capitol grounds, are various memorials and a beautiful rose garden. The park covers 40 acres and include many native plants, a trout pond, indian grinding rock, and a camilia grove honoring early pioneers. There are memorials recognizing the CA Mexican-American War, Firefighters, Peace Officers, Spanish American War, and Vientam Veterans, among others.

State Capitol Official Site

Originally built in 1877, the Governor’s Mansion State Historic Park was the home to 13 governors for the state of California. The last governor to call the victorian mansion located at 16th and H Streets in Downtown Sacramento home was Ronald Reagan. Tours are given on the hour and visitors can learn more about the Governors and their families while viewing the mansion’s persian carpets, marble fireplaces and chandeliers.

Governor’s Mansion Official Site