Sac History Happenings: Old Sac Underground Tour tickets now available

Sac History Happenings

News and developments in Sacramento and California history

March 7, 2011

Old Sac Underground Tour tickets now available

Old Sacramento's ever-popular Underground Tours resume April 2 and you can reserve a spot now. Tickets may be purchased online, in-person at the Sacramento History Museum or by telephone, (916) 808-7059. Ticket prices: Adults $15; Youth (6-17) $10; Children (5 & Under) Free; Historic Old Sacramento Foundation members $12.

What do you see on these tours? After a brief introduction to the early years of the city, docents take participants below street level to see "excavated building foundations, exposed brick retaining walls, and Sacramento's famous 'hollow sidewalks.'" Back above ground they point out "interesting architectural and landscape features reflecting the street-raising project and the district's Gold Rush origins." See the Tour FAQ for more information.

Sacramento's "underground" was created in the 1860-70s when city leaders raised the streets 10-12 feet to protect them from recurring floods. Some buildings were elevated with jack screws. Others had their first floors transformed into basements.

Check out KCRA's video report shot in the catacombs, as well as past Bee stories on the tour program.

PHOTO CREDIT: Janessa Gonsalves of the HOSF, left, leads a tour beneath the the B.F. Hastings Building in Old Sacramento in 2006. Sacramento Bee photo by Andy Alfaro.

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California and Sacramento have a long, rich, vibrant history. And our region is blessed with an abundance of historical resources maintained by museums, libraries, archives and societies. This blog aims to alert readers to the latest developments in local/state historical education and research.

Send tips concerning upcoming exhibits, tours, lectures and meetings, as well as new books, magazine articles and online collections to the blog's contributors.

The Contributors:

Michael Dolgushkin

Michael Dolgushkin is Manuscript Librarian at the California State Library History Section. He is co-author of San Francisco's California Street Cable Cars and is a frequent contributor to the California State Library Foundation Bulletin. Contact him at mdolgushkin@library.ca.gov.

Amanda Graham is a Certified Archivist working in the Sacramento Room of the Sacramento Public Library. She earned a BS in History from Southern Oregon University and a MS in Information Studies with an emphasis in archives from The University of Texas at Austin. Contact her at agraham@saclibrary.org.

Pete Basofin is Director of Editorial Research at The Sacramento Bee. He previously worked at The St. Petersburg Times and Columbia (Mo.) Daily Tribune. Contact him at pbasofin@sacbee.com.

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