Sacramento History Museum, Sacramento

The only museum in the area entirely dedicated to Sacramento and the California Gold Rush, the Sacramento History Museum is ideally situated in the middle of the old town. The collection is housed in a replica building built to represent the town's 1854 City Hall and Waterworks building.

The history museum opened in 1985 to house artifacts from the city and the local science center. Exhibits cover the town's earliest years, from 1839 when settler John Sutter arrived. Old Sacramento sprang up fast after gold was discovered nearby in 1849, with hotels, saloons, and shops where would-be miners could outfit themselves for their mission. That part of town has been faithfully restored to appear as it did in the gold rush era, with gas lamplights and cobblestone streets.

Among the museum's most fascinating exhibits is a view of the Old Sacramento Underground. In the 1860s, the entire city was raised to avoid flooding. The exhibit allows visitors to get a glimpse of this incredible undertaking.