Old Sacramento

Explore Sacramento, the city of golden history! Sacramento's founder John Sutter, arrived on the shores of the American river, on August 13 1839.He chose this site to build his fort when he arrived in 1839. He also agreed to protect 50,000 surrounding acres, granted to him by the Mexican government. As the settlement grew stronger,the fort became a place for great opportunities.

Sam Brannan established a store near the Sacramento River.When gold was discovered nearby in Coloma by James Marshall, Sacramento's stores flourished. In the earliest days of the rush, claims of as much as $300 to $400 in a day were not uncommon. In 1849 about $10 million worth of gold was mined. As competition increased, fewer and fewer claims were to yield such profits,the people who found practically nothing far outnumbered those who struck it rich.

But the new city experienced floods and fires. In 1850 the city experienced its first devastating flood. And again in 1852 the city was wiped out with high water.It was apparent that drastic measures had to take place. In 1853, a mammoth project took place to raise the city high above the flood.