Sacramento: Old Sacramento Underground Walking Tours

 

Old Sacramento Underground Tours (photo: Brandon Darnell)

 

You’ve only scratched the surface if you’ve experienced Sacramento from above ground. If you dig a little deeper, you’ll discover a chunk of Sacramento’s past is buried deep beneath your feet - literally. The Historic Old Sacramento Foundation sheds light on subterranean Old Sacramento with its informative underground walking tours. Expert guides lead you through underground passageways that were once the main roads of old downtown and point out the original storefronts attached to the buildings above.

 

Tour Guide - Old Sacramento Underground Tours

 

Old Sacramento sits at the confluence of two rivers – perhaps logical for commerce, but not as sensible when Mother Nature rains down. More than 150 years ago, Old Sacramento had to raise its streets to protect its buildings from devastating floods, most notably the great deluge of 1861 when it rained non-stop for 45 days. The rivers overflowed and kept this part of the city underwater for three months. The residents decided to take action and came up with a plan to cut the buildings off at the foundation and raise them high above the water level. The task with was accomplished with several years of manual labor and an abundance of determination. The end result is California’s only successful street-raising project.

 

Old Sacramento Underground Tours depart from the Sacramento History Museum and are about an hour in duration. The tours often fill to capacity, so it’s best to reserve early to guarantee a spot. Although children of all ages are welcome, the tour content is best understood by children over the age of six.

 

More Information: Old Sacramento Underground Tours

Sacramento History Museum, 101 I Street, Old Sacramento, CA 95814

Phone: 916-808-7059
Tickets: Adults: $15, Youth (6-17yrs) $10, Children (5yrs and under): free

Tours depart every half hour on Saturday & Sunday from March 23 – May 26, 2013. Beginning June 1, 2013, tours operate daily throughout the summer.