The City of Sacramento can trace its beginnings to 1839, when a Swiss emigrant named John Sutter received a land grant from the Mexican government. He settled near the confluence of the American and Sacramento rivers, and began to create an agricultural empire. Sutter was known for his hospitality by providing refuge to weary travelers, and his reputation helped to make Sutter’s Fort the main destination for early immigrants to California.
In 1848, one of Sutter’s employees discovered gold in nearby Coloma, which at the time served as a sawmill for Sutter. News of the discovery spread fast, and gold seekers (known as forty-niners) swarmed to Sacramento and the surrounding foothills to seek their fortunes. This led to the greatest recorded mass movement of people in the Western Hemisphere. The miners extracted over $500 million worth of gold from the 100-mile-long Mother Lode - which would be over $10 billion at today’s rates. As a result of this migration, the city of Sacramento was incorporated in 1849, and in 1850, California became a state – known today as the Golden State, with Sacramento established as the capital in 1854.
The Pony Express figured prominently in Sacramento’s past. It was the first fast overland mail service to the Pacific Coast, and was established in 1860, when the impending Civil War put one of three transcontinental mail routes in danger. Young men rode horses on a challenging route that stretched between St. Joseph, Missouri and Sacramento – 1,966 miles! The westbound trip took about 11 days, which was half the travel time of stagecoaches. The line never proved to be financially successful and lasted only 19 months, when telegraph lines were finally completed. A monument commemorating the terminus of the Pony Express can be found in Old Sacramento.
Today, the Sacramento metropolitan area is one of the fastest growing regions in the United States. It is centrally located between San Francisco and Lake Tahoe, and offers world-class amenities together with small town charm. Approximately 460,000 people live in the City, with a total of 2 million in the surrounding areas. Sacramento enjoys great year-round weather. Winters are mild, and Summers are dry (and sometimes hot!) with little humidity and an abundance of sunshine. Average temperatures in September are 86/53 F (30/12 C). Travelers find it easy to get here, since Interstate 80 and US Highway 50 run right through the heart of Sacramento. And Sacramento International Airport - just 15 minutes from downtown – is served by virtually all major airlines with 150 flights per day, and non-stop service to 52 cities.
Besides a great location, wonderful weather, and interesting history, there is an abundance of things to do here. In a city bound by two rivers and nearby to two lakes, water recreation tops the list for outdoor activities: fishing, boating, rafting, waterskiing and sailing are but a few choices. Golf is also a major attraction, as there are over 20 beautifully landscaped golf courses in the vicinity to choose from, with courses for every level of golfer.
If you like good food (and who doesn’t), Sacramentans pride themselves on being picky eaters – so much so that many major national restaurants test their menus right here. We have world class five star restaurants, cozy curbside bistros, hole-in-the-wall gourmet BBQ, and everything in between. The nightlife is varied and exciting, especially when you venture into Old Sacramento, a restored 28-acre waterfront area that boasts historic buildings, numerous eateries, pubs, stores, museums, and an authentic paddlewheel riverboat, the Delta King!
There are also museums and historic sites galore, like the Capitol, Sutter’s Fort, the Governor’s mansion, the California State Railroad Museum and the Crocker Art Museum. You can shop at one of 9 malls, like Westfield Downtown Plaza, the gateway to Old Sacramento, or Arden Fair – home to 165 specialty shops. There are numerous art galleries, performing arts and movie theaters, like Timothy Busfield’s B Street Theater, or the Esquire IMAX Theatre on the K Street Mall. And if you like professional sports, Sacramento is home to the NBA’s Sacramento Kings, the WNBA’s Sacramento Monarchs, and the Triple-A Sacramento River Cats baseball team.
And if that isn’t enough, you’re within a two hour drive to San Francisco, Lake Tahoe, Reno, and the world famous Napa Wine Country, which in addition to producing some of the finest wines in the country, is one of the most picturesque areas in California.
We sincerely hope you’ll enjoy your stay here in Sacramento. We think you’ll find that one week isn’t enough!
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