Sacramento: Discovered and Named
In 1808, Spanish explorer Gabriel Moraga found the Maidu Indians living peacefully in the Northern California valley formed by the majestic Sierra Nevada Mountains to the east and the Pacific Coast Mountains to the west. Warm summers, mild winters, a dependable yearly rainy season and water from the confluence of two great rivers resulted in a landscape so verdant and abundant that Gabriel Moraga named the valley after the Holy Sacrament— Sacramento.

Before The Gold Rush
Word of Moraga’s lush western valley spread slowly. By the 1830s and 1840s, only a handful of Anglo-American settlers were living in coexistence with the native Maidu and other Native American tribes. While their numbers were few, these first settlers had learned the secret of the Sacramento Valley: if you plant it, it will grow. Sacramento has continued to flourish since then, both agriculturally and economically.

Mr. Sutter Comes to California
In 1834, Johann Augustus Sutter, a 19-year-old clock merchant’s clerk, sailed from Switzerland, hoping to find success in America. Sutter’s dream of founding a great new city for his fellow European immigrants led him to California. Sutter was sent by the Governor of Mexico to California to establish an outpost on any 26-square mile area he chose. Sutter and his party established Sutter’s Fort on August 12, 1839, near the American and Sacramento Rivers. Sutter then made a decision that would forever change the history of California and the westward expansion of America.

Realizing that more large trees would be needed to build homes for future settlers, Sutter wandered about 40 miles up the American River east of Sacramento and into the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Here, he found plenty of tall evergreen trees and fast flowing water. It was a perfect spot for a sawmill, which, when completed in 1847, became Sutter’s Mill.

Gold
On January 24, 1848, James Marshall was conducting a routine inspection of the millrace from Sutter’s sawmill when a glitter caught his eye. This time, all that glittered was gold. By May of 1848, the news of gold in Northern California had reached San Francisco and by early 1849, the whole nation had gold fever. The 49ers were coming. People wanting to find gold arrived in San Francisco and made their way to the gold fields by way of Sacramento. The history of the Gold Rush is preserved today not only in Sacramento, but also at the nearby Marshall Gold Discovery Park in Coloma where it all started.

Sacramento Becomes a City
Shortly after gold was found, Sacramento became a city. The presence of gold and thousands of gold miners also brought the railroad to Sacramento. The railroad not only transported people, it also moved the gold ore from the mountain mines to bays and ports on the Pacific coast. The railroad and its historical contribution is commemorated today at the California State Railroad Museum, one of the most popular attractions in Old Sacramento.

In its early years, Sacramento benefited from its role in transportation. It was chosen as the western terminus for both the Pony Express and Wells Fargo, and as the headquarters of the transcontinental railroad. As late as the 1930s, riverboats like the Delta King glided along the Sacramento River carrying passengers along the only water pathway to San Francisco. Today, the beautifully restored Delta King, anchored in Old Sacramento, serves as a floating luxury hotel and restaurant.

Sacramento Rises Above the Flood
In spite of being almost completely wiped out by devastating floods in 1850 and 1852, Sacramento was selected as the location for the capitol of California in 1854. Today, visitors can learn more about the state’s history at the California State Capitol Museum.

After yet another massive flood in 1862, an ambitious project to actually raise the city above flood level was undertaken. Evidence of the tens of thousands of cubic yards of earth and miles of masonry work used to raise the streets can still be seen today in Old Sacramento.

Old Sacramento Goes from Slum to Jewel
Through the ensuing years, the Sacramento Valley flourished both agriculturally and economically. A gradual shift of commercial and residential growth to the east left Old Sacramento a virtual slum. Recognizing the area’s historical importance and related potential as a tourist attraction, a plan to re-develop Old Sacramento started in the mid-1960s. Today, its 53 historic buildings are designated as both National Landmarks and as a State Historic Park. Its shops, fine restaurants, historic landmarks and museums attract more than five million people a year. In addition, the cobblestone streets and boardwalks of Old Sacramento host a variety of events, including the largest jazz festival on the West Coast.

The Modern Sacramento
The “new” Sacramento Valley, while maintaining its ties to the Gold Rush, also serves as the political hub of the world’s eighth largest economy and as home to the second generation of “Silicon Valley” and its related high-tech industrial growth. From quaint shops on downtown arterials, to upscale shopping malls and renowned cultural attractions like the Crocker Art Museum, Sacramento has all the elements of a diverse and vibrant urban environment. Sacramento is also the home of the successful NBA Kings, WNBA Monarchs and River Cats a AAA Baseball team. Want to talk about location? Lake Tahoe, Reno, the wine country of the Napa Valley, San Francisco and the Pacific Coast are all within a two-hour drive of Sacramento. Great location along with a respect for history and a handle on the future makes Sacramento a highly desired location for spending a day, or a lifetime.

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