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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

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

Located in Midtown Sacramento at 27th and L Streets, Sutter’s Fort is all that remains of New Helvetia, an early destination for immigrants moving to California in mid 1800s. John Sutter received a land grant from the Mexican government and used it to create the first non-Indian settlement in the Central Valley. Sutter’s Fort has been restored to match a map published in 1847. It’s a popular field trip destination for students and is available for private parties and gatherings.

Sutter’s Fort Official Site

Old Sacramento is a place that every resident and tourist should visit at least once. Families, especially kids, will enjoy the historic western atmosphere with wooden sidewalks, buildings, railroad museum and close proximity to the Sacramento River. Most people will see everything there is to see that first time, but many locals enjoy some of the antique, costume, and novelty shops. There are also several restaurants unique to Old Sac and fun events in June during Gold Rush Days, such as mock gun fights, mining camps, etc. Keep in mind that parking in Old Sac can be a pain, but you can make use of nearby parking garages.

Old Sacramento Official Site