Today’s post is 1900 words, 37 photos, 1 video, and a 9-minute read. Enjoy!
Hi everyone,
Welcome to the fifth and last post in this series about Sacramento. This week I’ll take you to the California State Capitol and an underground tour of historic Old Sacramento led by a costumed guide.
If you missed the earlier posts in this series, click on these links: Sacramento Surprised Me, Sacramento-From Litter Patrol to Highway Patrol, Sacramento-Where Gold Changed History, and Sacramento-Culture, Cars, and Connections.
Let’s get into it.
California State Capitol
California was admitted into the Union in 1850, two years after gold was discovered at Sutter Mill in Coloma. It’s the largest state by population (over 39 million) and the third-largest in land area. California is also said to have the fourth- or fifth-largest economy in the world, as measured by GDP (Gross Domestic Product). The U.S. as a whole, China, and Germany are larger; Japan’s GDP is close to California’s.
Construction of the California State Capitol began in 1860, was paused during the Civil War, and was completed in 1874. The 210-foot dome was inspired by the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. The Capitol and annex house the offices of the Governor, Lt. Governor, as well as the chambers of the State Senate and Assembly. The offices of the other constitutional officers (Attorney General, Secretary of State, State Controller, State Treasurer, Insurance Commissioner, and Secretary of Public Instruction) are scattered throughout downtown Sacramento. Surrounding the Capitol is the beautifully landscaped Capitol Park that features memorials, monuments, and trees from around the world. It’s a peaceful setting in the heart of Sacramento.
Much of the Capitol is a museum of the state’s political history, with exhibits that trace California’s growth from the Gold Rush era to the present day. One of the first things I noticed upon entering the Capitol after clearing security was a mosaic titled “Eureka.” This is the California state motto, meaning “I have found it,” reflecting both the Gold Rush and California’s admission to the Union. 
The dome of the Capitol is unusual; it’s a double dome. The photo below is of the inner dome. The first photo in this post shows the outer dome. You might ask, why? The inner dome reflects the other architectural elements in the Capitol. The outer dome is weather-proofed and protects the inner from the elements. 
Our guide for the Capitol tour was Cindy York. Our first stop was the Treasurer’s Office, a historic room that reflects the state’s early financial history. Ornately decorated, this office met the many economic changes brought about by the Gold Rush and the accompanying rapid population growth. 
I don’t recall what significance this calendar had on the tour. Earlier that year, on April 18, 1096, the devastating earthquake and resulting fire struck San Francisco. The state was deeply engaged in rebuilding the city.
In a narrow hallway, Cindy pointed out the portraits of the five most recent Governors of California. The one I recognized was “The Terminator” Arnold Schwartzenager, the 38th governor of California. He served from 2003 to 2011 after replacing removed Governor Gray Davis. The former bodybuilder and actor focused on environmental policy, infrastructure, and healthcare. 
The 80 members of the California Assembly meet in this room. They are elected to two-year terms and each represents about a half million people.
The portrait above the Speaker’s desk is of President Abraham Lincoln, painted by California artist William Cogswell. This portrait serves as a symbol of leadership and the nation’s democratic ideals.
Below is a photo of the California State Senate Chambers. There are 40 senators elected to four-year terms. They each represent about one million people. Cindy pointed out that the Senate was scheduled to meet that afternoon. Staff were preparing for chambers.
Above the presiding officer’s desk in the Senate Chamber is a portrait of President George Washington. It’s a copy of the famous portrait painted by Gilbert Stuart. This copy was likely made by Stuart’s daughter, Jane. The Latin inscription below means, “It is the duty of a Senator to guard the liberty of the Commonwealth.” Senators are bound to protect the rights and freedoms of the people they represent.
From the upper floor, we could see the first floor with the checkered design.
Cindy pointed out the mosaic of the California golden poppy, the state’s official flower. Cindy pointed out the mosaic of the California golden poppy, the official state flower.
Back on the first floor, Cindy bid our group farewell. She conducted a great tour and shared a lot of California history with us. Well done!
The Tower Bridge
As we were leaving the Capitol and heading to lunch, I noticed the golden Tower Bridge off in the distance. Ok, I get the gold paint; California is known as the “Golden State,” but it looks kind of gaudy in the daylight. I’m told in the evening it is quite striking, showing off the gold color and Art Deco design. It’s considered one of Sacramento’s most recognizable landmarks.
This bridge spans the Sacramento River and connects Sacramento with West Sacramento. Completed in 1935, the vertical-lift bridge raises to allow river traffic to travel beneath. 
Downtown Sacramento
As we walked to lunch, we passed the Golden 1 Center, the indoor arena where the NBA team the Sacramento Kings play. When I asked about the team, I heard about the struggles of not making the playoffs for many years. They did return to the playoffs in 2023 and had a decent run. This past season, the Kings finished 22-60. Fans still follow them, looking to the next season for better results.
This sculpture is titled “Missing the Mark.” The large hand is holding a dart tail with darts scattered around. 
DOCO stands for Downtown Commons, a large mixed-use entertainment, shopping, dining, and residential district in the heart of downtown Sacramento. 
The California state animal is the grizzly bear and appears on the state flag and state seal. Here is a bronze sculpture of a family of grizzlies. Appropriate since the grizzly bear has been extinct in the state since the 1920s.
Before World War II, Sacramento had a thriving Japantown. In the 1950s, large-scale urban renewal projects transformed the area into shopping, offices, and parking. Today, only a few historic reminders remain. The Reclaim Sacramento Japantown has created a mural (part of which is seen in the photo below) to bring its history and presence back into the public consciousness. 
Old Sacramento
Our destination for the afternoon was Old Sacramento and a tour that left from the Sacramento History Museum.
Our tour was the fascinating “Underground Tour. Led by a docent in character and dressed in a period costume. She played Mary Gregory, an influential businesswoman in early Sacramento. Born in England, Gregory and her husband ran a successful produce and local products business. After her husband passed away, she took over the business and purchased more buildings in what is now Old Sacramento, or Old Sac as it is called by the locals. Today, there is a small park named after her, a reminder of the vital contributions women have made to the city’s history.
Mary led us to a door that opened into the “underground” tour. Once we were underground, no photos or videos were allowed.
Here’s a condensed version of the story Mary told us. One of the worst natural disasters in California history happened in 1861-62. Sacramento was built at the confluence of the Sacramento and American Rivers. That winter, a series of winter storms dumped enormous amounts of rain across California. There was heavy snowfall in the mountains; the wet conditions produced massive runoff.
The levees early residents of Sacramento built along the two rivers were inadequate to hold back the water. The levees failed, flooding Sacramento with 10-20 feet of water. Mary Gregory describes that her family was rescued from the roof of the two-story building that housed their store. The Central Valley of California was turned into a lake nearly 300 miles long, 20-60 miles wide, and several feet deep.
This flood led Sacramento’s leaders to raise the city’s streets and buildings plus undertake major flood control projects. This work lasted for decades. Mary Gregory described the remarkable engineering effort to lift the buildings. Using a series of large jackscrews, buildings were slowly raised. Then workers built new foundations and walls underneath the buildings. In most cases, entire blocks were raised together. The result was a new street level 8-10 feet above the original street. The description and tour were fascinating and showed the ingenuity and persistence to make this major change. If you ever find yourself in Sacramento, this tour is not to be missed. With luck, Mary Gregory will be your guide.
Back at the museum, I had a chance to look around at some of the exhibits. There was an extensive history of the indigenous peoples who lived in the area for tens of thousands of years before explorers and settlers arrived. There was a baseball history in the Sacramento area. As an aside, did you know that the Athletics (formerly of Oakland) are playing their games in Sacramento while their new park is being built in Las Vegas? Now you know. Todd just saw the A’s play a home game against his favorite team, the LA Dodgers.
I enjoyed this exhibit about African-Americans and shovels as a metaphor for their hard unpaid labor.
Later, we walked around Old Sacramento. We admired the Delta King, now a floating hotel, restaurant, and theater. The couple that showed us around had their wedding reception many years ago.
The temperature was quite warm in the afternoon. While we were enjoying cold drinks, we listened to the music and singing of this family group busking for change. The little girl had a great voice and wasn’t afraid to use it.
As we were leaving Old Sacramento, I noticed this monument to the Pony Express. While it only lasted about 18 months, the Pony Express has a strong foothold in the lore of the development of the West. The nearly 2,000-mile trip from St. Joseph, Missouri, to San Francisco took 10 days to complete. Riders changed horses every 10-15 miles while a new rider took the mail pouch every 75-100 miles. The telegraph made this service obsolete.
A Final Farewell
That evening was the farewell dinner at the home of Rick and Elaine Armstrong. About 40 people enjoyed a delicious dinner and pleasant atmosphere on the patio. Rick and Elaine were also the Journey Coordinators for the Sacramento Friendship Force Club. I made new friends and had an enjoyable time.
But the evening wasn’t over. Earlier that day, Todd picked a special bicycle to give one of his students the experience of riding a bike. The student is blind and the electric bike can accommodate two passengers. Todd and I dropped it off at the school and did a test run. Leslie stopped by after her class to join in the fun. Here’s a short video of the bike in action.
The next morning it was time for me to head back to Madison. Todd and Leslie were wonderful hosts; I sincerely hope our paths cross soon. 
This ends the series of stories and photos from Sacramento. Next week, join me for another Friendship Force story, this time with friends visiting us.
But before I go……
THE FIVE SENSES PLUS ONE
Saw – California State Capitol, Senate and Assembly Chambers, rotunda, Old Sac underground, three-wheeled assability bike
Heard – traffic, railroad locomotives, people talking, kids chattering
Touch – door, railings, bricks underground, three wheel bike controls
Smell – musty underground, earthy, food cooking
Taste – soup and sandwich, prime rib, banana and berries for breakfast
Learned – a lot about California and Sacramento, the floods and fires, three-wheel bike, the Rivian
Until next week, happy travels!
Tom
PS: Click here for a link to the post about my book “Farm Boy.” Contact me if you are interested in purchasing a copy. Thanks to all who have plunked down your hard-earned dollars and read the book. TM