USA - California - Old Sacramento

OLD TOWN SACRAMENTO
CALIFORNIA
Old Sacramento attracts over 5 million visitors each year. For locals it is a favorite gateway and has been voted the best place for a first date.

Sent by Eduardo, a WiP partner from USA.

This is from Wikipedia : Old Sacramento State Historic Park is the historic region of Sacramento, California, which has been designated as a state park. It is generally referred to as Old Sacramento, or Old Sac, and since the 1960s has been restored and developed as a significant tourist attraction. All of it is included in the Old Sacramento Historic District, a U.S. National Historic Landmark District.

The city of Sacramento grew up in the mid-nineteenth century as a development from Sutter's Fort. However, the Fort was some way from the Sacramento River, which was the main means of transport to the coast of California, and what was to become the modern city developed along the waterfront.

Before Sacramento's extensive levee system was in place, the area flooded quite regularly. Because of this, the city's streets were raised a level. Most of the sidewalks and storefronts have been filled in, however many tunnels still remain throughout Old Sacramento and the downtown area.

By the 1960's, with the construction of Interstate 5, the area had become cut off from the rest of Sacramento and fell into disrepair. A large effort was made to secure the area's future as an outdoor living history center similar to Colonial Williamsburg in Virginia. Several historically significant buildings were moved or reconstructed. Those that were beyond repair were demolished.

Today, the State Historic Park covers the area between the river frontage and Interstate 5, between I Street and the Capitol Mall. Virtually all the buildings in this area date from the 19th century, the most notable from immediately after the disastrous fire of 1852, and show a reasonable approximation to their original appearance, though they have required varying degrees of reconstruction to restore to them to that state. However, few if any are in their original use, most of them now housing restaurants, gift shops, or other businesses catering to tourists.

Old Sacramento State Historic Park attracts over 5 million visitors annually. Regular events include the Sacramento Jazz Jubilee, Gold Rush Days , New Years Eve events, and Mardi Gras.