Sac History Happenings: Sutter's Fort celebrates Christmas the old-fashioned way

Sac History Happenings

News and developments in Sacramento and California history

December 5, 2012

Sutter's Fort celebrates Christmas the old-fashioned way

"Hands on History," Sutter Fort's ongoing series of historical tours, celebrates the season with two programs this Saturday.

"A Simple Emigrant Christmas" features docents in period garb demonstrating various holiday traditions as practiced by California emigrants in the 1840s. Visitors will get to try out activities such as dipping candles, making corn husk dolls and crafting holiday ornaments.

Later as dusk falls, the docents will lead small groups by candlelight through the Fort's rooms where one can overhear pioneer families and tradesmen discussing the challenges of living, working and doing business during Sacramento's early years.

What: Hands on History: A Simple Emigrant Christmas & Candlelight Tours
Where: Sutter's Fort State Historic Park, 2701 L St., Sacramento
When: Dec. 8. A Simple Emigrant Christmas -- 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Candlelight Tours -- 6:30 to 9 p.m.
Cost: A Simple Emigrant Christmas -- $7 per adult, $5 per youth (ages 6-17), free for children 5 years and under. Candlelight Tours -- $17 per person
For more info: 916-445-4422 or website

PHOTO CREDIT: Candlelight Tour. Courtesy Sutter's Fort State Historic Park

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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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