Gold Rush Stories: Old Sacramento

B.F. Hastings Building

Once home to the California Supreme Court and the western terminus of the Pony Express, the landmark B.F. Hastings Building echoes the urgency of a frontier city on the rise. Its elegant brick façade hides stories of law, mail, and ambition at the edge of the West.

Big Four Building

Step into the headquarters of Stanford, Crocker, Hopkins, and Huntington—the Big Four railroad magnates who launched the Transcontinental Railroad. These preserved structures reveal where California’s future was planned over ledgers and cigars.

California State Railroad Museum

Housing restored locomotives and railcars, this museum celebrates the power and promise of rail travel. It’s one of the most renowned transportation museums in the world, offering a fascinating look at how trains transformed America.

Central Pacific Railroad Freight Depot

This long, weathered structure once buzzed with goods flowing into Gold Rush Sacramento. Standing here, you can almost hear the clatter of wagons and railcars feeding a growing city.

D.O. Mills Bank Building

Sacramento’s first permanent bank reflects the city’s growing prosperity after the Gold Rush. Its sturdy walls once safeguarded the fortunes of miners, merchants, and railroad men.

Delta King Riverboat

This restored 1920s paddlewheel steamer is now a floating hotel and restaurant. Moored on the Sacramento River, it offers a glimpse of the glamorous river travel that once connected inland California to the Bay.

Eagle Theatre

Built in 1849, this modest wooden structure was California’s first permanent theater. Though simple in form, it marks the beginning of the state’s vibrant arts scene.

Lady Adams Building

Originally shipped in pieces from New York around Cape Horn, this brick building has endured floods and fires since 1852. Its survival makes it one of Old Sacramento’s most storied survivors.

Pony Express Statue

This striking monument honors the daring young riders who carried mail across the frontier in just 10 days. It’s a reminder of the grit and speed that defined communication before the telegraph.

Sacramento History Museum

With exhibits on printing, Gold Rush life, and Sacramento’s early days, this museum brings the city’s colorful past into focus. It’s an engaging stop for hands-on history lovers.

What Cheer House

Once a popular hotel for miners and travelers, this stopover offered more than just a bed—it provided news, gossip, and connections. Its name captures the hopeful spirit of the Gold Rush.

Tower Bridge

Sacramento’s gleaming Art Deco lift bridge spans the river with style. Painted gold, it stands as both a functional crossing and a symbol of the city’s resilience.

Theodore Judah Monument

This tribute honors the visionary engineer whose plans made the Transcontinental Railroad possible. His determination forever linked California to the rest of the nation.

Booth Company Building

Once a thriving wholesale grocer, this brick warehouse reflects Sacramento’s rise as a commercial hub. Today, its sturdy construction is a window into the city’s mercantile past.

Transcontinental Railroad Mile Marker 0

Stand at the official starting point of America’s first coast-to-coast railroad. From this very spot, trains began a journey that reshaped the nation.

Central Pacific Railroad Passenger Station

Sacramento’s early travelers departed from this bustling station to destinations near and far. Imagine the excitement of boarding a train that could finally conquer the Sierra Nevada.

Pioneer Square

This plaza commemorates the resilience of Sacramento’s earliest settlers. It’s a gathering space that links past struggles with the city’s enduring community spirit.

Sam Brannan Building

Named for the colorful Gold Rush entrepreneur, this building embodies both ambition and speculation. Its presence is a reminder of how one man helped spark Sacramento’s boom.

Adams and Company Building

Originally home to a major express and banking firm, this site tells of fortunes made and lost. Its history mirrors the volatility of early Sacramento.

Site of Sacramento Union

Here once stood the offices of California’s oldest daily newspaper. The Union chronicled the city’s growth and gave voice to a restless frontier.