Sightseeing in Sacramento - what to see. Complete travel guide

The capital of the U.S. state of California, Sacramento is a charming city on the bank of the American River. Every year, thousands of tourists visit this city, and all of them underline a friendly and hospitable atmosphere of Sacramento. This is a cozy city where everyone is welcome regardless of their race. Moreover, Sacramento is interesting to visit for sightseeing purposes. Museums, architectural landmarks, multiple parks, and zoos make this city a very interesting and desired tourist destination. Additionally, the capital of California is a well-developed center of culture where it is possible to attend the theatre, watch ballet performances, or listen to symphonic music during one of the thematic concerts.

Two Native American groups of people – Nisenans and Modoc – were the first settlers on the territory of modern Sacramento. These people were mostly hunting and gathering food to survive. In 1799, the Spanish arrived in this land and started thoroughly exploring the region of modern California’s capital. Gabriel Moraga was the leader of this exploration team. He was amazed by the beauty and generosity of this land. The Mexican government, who the territory belonged to, didn’t develop this region. In 1839, John Sutter, an immigrant from the Swiss city of Liestal, arrived here and founded a small settlement.

He called his new home New Helvetia. When the Gold Rush started in California, many gold miners arrived in the settlement. John Sutter’s son decided to build one more settlement specifically for gold miners close to New Helvetia. He called this settlement Sacramento. The new city was developing rapidly. The 50s of the 19th century brought floods, fires, and a cholera epidemic to the city. However, Sacramento recovered quickly thanks to its strategic location. The town became the capital in 1879. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

The Capitol is one of the most eye-catching administrative buildings in the city. The California State Capitol is home to the government of the American state. The construction of the Capitol started in 1861 and lasted roughly thirteen years. When the building was almost finished, it was added to the registry of historic landmarks. The California State Capitol looks much like the Capitol building in Washington. Two columns support the flat roof of the building. There is a balustrade on top of Capitol. Large arched windows add harmony to the gorgeous building.

The Capitol’s cupola deserves a separate mention. It is placed at a height of sixty-seven meters above the roof of the building. A golden ball-shaped lantern illuminates the cupola every day after sunset. Inside the California State Capitol, there are many service rooms that have become offices of the state’s administration and governor. There is also the Senate Chamber in the building. This hall has enough space for forty members of the government. A red carpet in the Victorian style covers the way to the chamber. A giant crystal chandelier decorates the ceiling of the Senate Chamber.

Do you like cars? There is an interesting thematic museum in Sacramento that is a favorite venue of numerous residents and guests of California. The collection features cars of different brands and tells visitors about the development of transport in the United States. It is very interesting to see how cars were changing over the decades. Moreover, there is a special area featuring cars that guests can buy during their visit to the museum. The collection starts with the first electricity powered car manufactured in 1899.

The museum’s collection is so big that it is impossible to mention all the cars exhibited here. There are interesting and unique cars from every decade. To provide visitors with interesting facts about vehicles, there are screens installed throughout the museum. These screens display old photographs, documentaries, and tell interesting stories. Many of the exhibited cars are more than a century old but they are nevertheless still in a working condition. These retro cars participate in wedding ceremonies, parades, and other celebrations in Sacramento.

The international airport in Sacramento receives many flights from all parts of the world every day. It takes more than twenty hours to fly to this city from Europe. Note that most flights to Sacramento are connecting flights and require a change. Many passengers need to make one change in a large European airport, then fly to a large U.S. city, and make one more change to a domestic flight to Sacramento. Multiple buses and trams are great for getting around in the city. Of course, tourists are always welcome to rent a car at the airport in Sacramento.