Fun Facts!
The Show Must Go On!
During the Great Flood of 1850, the Eagle Theatre’s production continued even as water began to rise inside. Miners simply moved to seat backs and had their fun by pushing each other into the water!
The Railroad Comes to Town!
Sacramento was the western terminus of the Transcontinental Railroad. The first tracks were laid here in Old Sacramento.
The Delta King
During WWII, the Delta King – and its sister ship, the Delta Queen – were used for troop transport.
The Delta King Sinks!
The Delta King sank in San Francisco Bay in 1983 and spent 18 months at the bottom of the bay before it was rescued and returned to Sacramento.
A Little Extra Dirt to Scrub With
Public bathhouses were all the rage before indoor plumbing was introduced. It’s said that the water was changed after every 10 bathers. Would you pay extra to be bather #1 or #10?
The Firehouse
The Firehouse in Old Sacramento is the oldest firehouse in the city and was originally serviced by volunteer fire fighters.
Sutter vs. Brannan
When gold was discovered in Coloma, John Sutter wanted to keep it a secret. Unfortunately for him, Sam Brannan found out. The story goes Brannan purchased all the “mining” equipment he could find, then ran up and down the streets of San Francisco shouting at the top of his lungs “Gold! Gold! Gold from the American River!” Brannan’s strategy worked, making himself California’s very first millionaire, while Sutter went broke.
The Lady Adams
The Lady Adams Building in Old Sacramento is the oldest building in the historic district. It managed to survive the Great Fire of 1852, the Great Flood of 1861-62, and countless other disasters that befell the city.
The Pony Express Comes to Town!
The Pony Express Statue in Old Sacramento is one of only nine that follow the original Pony Express Trail. The others reside in Lake Tahoe, NV; Reno, NV; Salt Lake City, UT; Casper, WY; Julesburg, CO; Marysville, KS; North Kansas City, KS; and St. Joseph, MO.
Historic Business Savvy
The platform on the roof of the Booth Building in Old Sacramento allowed a man to signal ships – and purchase all of their cargo! – before they even reached the dock.
