Old Sacramento State Historic Park

Old Sacramento State Historic Park is a riverfront quarter in Sacramento, California, with mid-19th-century buildings and wooden sidewalks along several streets. The rows of structures are made of brick and timber with balconies, iron railings, and large shop windows that recall a time when merchants sold goods here.

The quarter began in the 1850s as a landing and storage area where steamboats brought supplies for prospectors and settlers. A few decades later, engineers raised the streets to avoid flooding, leaving the old ground floors beneath the new level.

The name of this site recalls the era when this quarter served as the commercial heart of a growing river settlement. Today you see timber storefronts, weathered shop windows, and cobblestone paving that show how trade and craft looked when prospectors walked these lanes.

Visitors can walk through the lanes with raised wooden boardwalks and should wear comfortable shoes for the uneven surfaces. The quarter is busier on weekends, but most shops and museums open on weekdays as well.

Beneath the current sidewalks lie basements and shop spaces from before the street elevation, which you can enter on guided visits. These underground sections preserve doors, windows, and even advertising signs from a bygone era.