Downtown Sacramento has a rich and vibrant history that dates back to the 1800s. In its early days, the city was the center of California’s gold rush before becoming a railroad hub, an agricultural community, and now, a multicultural and eclectic metropolis. If you’re considering settling down and are exploring mobile homes for sale in Sacramento, you’ll find yourself in a city steeped in history and culture, with countless museums and historical spots to explore.
Nowadays, the city hosts countless museums and educational spots to exhibit its rich history and culture. For those living in 55+ communities in Sacramento, these cultural landmarks offer endless opportunities to immerse yourself in the past and present of this remarkable city.
The list below shows the top historical hubs and museums in Downtown Sacramento:
The Crocker Art Museum
Being the oldest public art museum in the West, it carries more than 15,000 pieces of art that include permanent collections of artwork from around the globe. The facility also houses thousands of ceramics and Asian and African art.
Aside from housing an expansive library and thousands of paintings and ceramics, the museum also serves as a venue for exhibitions, programs, lectures, concerts, and movie screenings. It also offers painting workshops for children and young adults ($135 for members and $175 for non-members).
The American Alliance of Museums has accredited the Crocker Art Museum as the only museum in the Sacramento area that operates and manages its collections in accordance with professional museum standards.
Schedule: Tuesday to Sunday from 10 am to 5 pm (on Thursday the operating hours are extended till 9 pm)
Location: Near the Sacramento River (just south of the Old Sacramento)
Admission cost:
Adults – $10
Seniors and students – $8
Kids between 7-17 years old – $5
Children six years and younger – free
(Note: The museum has free admission every third Sunday of the month.)
Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament
The cathedral’s construction began in 1887 when Patrick Manogue was appointed as Sacramento’s first bishop. Inspired by his travels in Europe, he secured a property near the State Capitol and ordered the construction of a church modeled after L’Eglise de la Sainte-Trinite in Paris.
Currently, the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament is one of the biggest cathedrals west of the Mississippi River. It has become not just an important religious landmark but also a symbol of the civic movements in the city.
Due to numerous renovations, the cathedral lost its original neo-gothic style. The building’s exterior is modeled after Italian Renaissance architecture, while the interior is Victorian-style.
Between 2003 and 2005, the church underwent extensive remodeling to include a large crucifix, a Eucharistic chapel, and two smaller side chapels. With this recent renovation, the 200-foot-long and 100-foot-wide basilica can now seat 1,400 people.
Location: 1019 11th St. Sacramento, California
Contact #: 916-444-3071 / fax 916-443-2749
Hours: Monday to Friday, between 9 am and 3 pm
Email: vramos@cathedralsacramento.org / cathedralfaithformationsac@gmail.com
California Museum
Being the state history museum, the California Museum is dedicated to the histories of Californians dating back to the Gold Rush. In fact, one of its permanent exhibits shows the life of immigrants and the town’s people in the early days. (Note: While this is a permanent exhibit, the management changes the people and places so the visitors get to hear and see other interesting stories.)
The museum offers interactive experiences and event facilities in addition to housing historic documents in a 20,000-square-foot space.
Onsite tours at California Museum are suspended due to COVID-19. Online tours are available for distance learning.
California State Capitol Museum
Located in Sacramento, the Capitol is the seat of the California government. The Capitol functions as a museum with historic rooms showcasing artwork, artifacts, and antique furniture from the early 20th century.
Capitol and North/South Annex entrances’ sidewalks are wheelchair accessible for visitors. The museum also features assistive listening devices for the deaf and hard of hearing.
Find restaurants, a coffee shop, gift shop, ATMs, vending machines, and a basement theater in the museum.
Note: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the museum is temporarily closed to the public; however, the Capitol Park remains open daily.
The museum is managed and operated by the California Department of Parks and Recreations. If you’re considering relocating and have been looking at mobile homes for sale in Sacramento, CA, you’ll be pleased to know that living near these cultural treasures can make your experience in Sacramento even more enriching.
