Sacramento: the gold rush of California's capital

California's capital born from the nineteenth-century gold rush, Sacramento preserves the fort of one of the state's most celebrated pioneers.

The riverside bicycle remains a pleasant way to explore the center.

Sutter's Fort, a reconstructed outpost of Swiss pioneer John Sutter, marks the place where gold was discovered that triggered the California Gold Rush of 1848.

Just minutes away, Old Sacramento, a historic neighborhood with nineteenth-century wooden buildings, recreates the atmosphere of the city during the gold rush era.

Continuing on, one visits the California State Capitol, seat of state government with its golden dome visible from much of the city.

As evening falls, the Sacramento River waterfront brings to life restaurants and establishments with views of the river that gave its name to the city.

The discovery of gold at John Sutter's mill in 1848 triggered the California Gold Rush, which brought hundreds of thousands of prospectors from around the world to Sacramento and the Sierra Nevada, fundamentally transforming California.

Sacramento remains connected to the historic transcontinental railroad, whose western terminus was precisely in this city, a role that solidified its economic importance in the nineteenth century and accelerated its demographic growth.