In Sacramento, stories of railroads and pioneer days meet museums, riverbanks and protected natural areas. Old Sacramento State Historic Park includes more than 50 historic buildings. They reflect Sacramento’s importance as the western terminus of the Pony Express, the first transcontinental railroad and the transcontinental telegraph. Visitors who want to discover California’s history through specific places and collections will find a wide-ranging starting point here.
Railroads and California History
The California State Railroad Museum shifts the focus from historic buildings to the vehicles themselves: the museum complex has more than 225,000 square feet of exhibition space featuring restored railroad cars and locomotives. The locomotive collection includes 19 steam locomotives dating from 1862 to 1944. These figures provide a concrete time frame for railroad history and give a sense of the collection’s scale.
The Crocker Art Museum offers another way to experience art. Its three floors contain 15 unique gallery spaces; the collection includes more than 25,000 objects in a wide variety of artistic media and styles. It also reflects the diverse history and population of the region. The California Museum focuses on California’s history, art and culture, with particular attention to diversity and rarely told stories. Recurring short-term exhibitions complement the program. The museum also houses the California Hall of Fame and interactive experiences about the state’s history and culture.
The State Indian Museum presents the lives of California’s Indigenous peoples through the themes of nature, spirit and family. The collection includes traditional baskets, a redwood canoe, ceremonial clothing and beadwork, as well as acorn-processing tools and hunting and fishing equipment. Some objects are more than 2,400 years old. Self-guided group tours can be reserved online. At Sutter’s Fort State Historic Park, the oldest restored fort in the West, historic rooms and exhibits show early California and the experiences of the many groups of people who shaped the region. The park is open daily for self-guided visits.
Riverbanks, Trails and Protected Habitats
The landscape offers a distinctive experience, too. Sacramento County Regional Parks manages and operates more than 15,000 acres of parks, with open spaces, multi-use trails, river access and picnic areas. The Jedediah Smith Memorial Trail is suitable for hiking, horseback riding, cycling, inline skating, jogging and walking. Discovery Park is at the confluence of the American River and Sacramento River; along the American River’s shore, it has a boat ramp and a place to launch boats from a vehicle’s roof.
At Howe Avenue River Access, clay riverbanks and riverside vegetation create a striking contrast with the road nearby, giving the place a wild feel. A ramp allows small boats and rafts to be launched from a vehicle’s roof into the American River. Farther south, Cosumnes River Preserve encompasses and protects thousands of acres of wetlands and adjacent uplands. More than 250 bird species, 40 fish species and 230 plant species live there. At Stone Lakes National Wildlife Refuge, self-guided trails lead along the Blue Heron Trails; seasonal ranger-led hikes and paddling trips are also available. Check current dates in advance for these seasonal activities.
At Deer Creek Hills Preserve, scheduled hikes, horseback rides, mountain bike rides, educational programs and special community activities are part of its limited public access. Advance registration is usually required. Illa M. Collin Conservation Preserve protects a rare landscape with seasonal pools and habitats for native, rare and endangered plant and animal species; public access is partly restricted.
Effie Yeaw Nature Center is an environmental and cultural education center in the American River Parkway. Its trails are open daily from sunrise to sunset; access hours may change during stormy weather. The nature center building has exhibits, information and live animals. A visit thus combines time on the park trails with insights into nature and culture, though the two need not be the same experience.
Regional Cuisine and Getting Here
The food scene is also part of the region’s character: since 2013, Farm-to-Fork events in the Sacramento region have included food and music festivals as well as culinary experiences. If you begin your trip at Sacramento International Airport, it is part of the Sacramento County airport system and serves as a gateway to California and the world. SacRT Route 142 runs an hourly airport express bus between downtown Sacramento and Terminals A and B. Since schedules may change, check the connection before you travel.
Discover More Destinations
Galt, Sacramento, Elk Grove, Folsom, Fair Oaks, Rancho Cordova, North Highlands, Foothill Farms, Carmichael, Antelope, Elverta, Walnut Grove, Courtland, Orangevale, Citrus Heights
For the regional travel overview: California.
