Ruhstaller Building

The Ruhstaller Building is a four-story structure in downtown Sacramento that blends Queen Anne and Romanesque Revival architectural styles. The design reflects how the building served as a combined headquarters for two brewing operations, with careful attention to both appearance and function.

Frank Ruhstaller built this structure in 1898 to house his brewing business and the Buffalo Brewery operation. The building came about during a period when Sacramento was growing as an economic center with breweries playing a significant role in that development.

The building reflects how breweries shaped Sacramento's growth in the late 1800s and what those operations meant to the city. You can see this legacy in the way the spaces are arranged and how the structure was designed to support industrial work.

The structure is easy to reach on foot in downtown Sacramento alongside other historic buildings in the area. Visitors should know that access to certain spaces may change depending on current uses or events taking place inside.

The building featured an early cooling system that drew water from the Sacramento River to control indoor temperatures. This approach was practical for the era and shows how breweries relied on natural resources and clever engineering to operate.