Sutter's Fort Museum, Sacramento, CA

Sacramento, Sutter's Fort - Sacramento, California Gold Countr
2710 L Street, Sacramento, California (916) 445-4422
State Historic Park Sutter's Fort SHP is open daily. It is closed

Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years Day. Sutter's Fort is in the heart of the City of Sacramento. While many tourists don't even know it exists, its worth a visit. The gift store has a fantastic selection of books and CDs that you'll enjoy. History re-enactments occur regularly (mostly on weekends) and provide learning opportunities through. This Sacramento gem is surrounded by the huge cement buildings that inhabit the city, but you can close your eyes and almost imagine the time in which this fort set on a hill was constructed.

About Sutter's Fort: In 1839 a Swiss immigrant named John Sutter received a 48,000-acre land grant in the Sacramento Valley from the Mexican government. He used the land to create a flourishing agricultural empire and named it New Helvetia (New Switzerland.) This empire established Sacramento's earliest settlement and the first non-Indian settlement in California's Central Valley.

In 1847 Sutter sent aid to the Donner Party, a group of immigrants trapped in a winter storm in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Word spread and Sutter became known for his hospitality and for providing temporary refuge to travelers. This reputation made New Helvetia the destination for early immigrants to California.

Less than a decade after they were established, Sutter's properties were overrun by gold seekers and the fort is all that remains of New Helvetia. It has been restored to its former state based on an 1847 map published in Darmstadt, Germany and is open daily for tours.

Location-Directions
The park is in midtown Sacramento between K and L Streets and 26th and 28th Streets.

Traveling on I-80, from San Francisco, take Business 80/Hwy 50 east. Take the Business 80 exit (north towards Reno) to the N Street turn off. Travel straight on 30th Street then turn left under the freeway at L Street to the Fort which will be located on your right.

Monday - Saturday, bring quarters for the parking meters. Parking is free on Sundays.

Facilities - Opportunities
The Fort is available for private parties and gatherings for a fee.
Call for availability and information: 916-324-7405.

A self-guided audio tour is available.

Special events are scheduled throughout the year.

Sutter's Fort Trade Store provides a large variety of authentic gifts and publications relating to California history including the Overland Trail and Gold Rush. The store is non-profit and operated by the Sacramento Historic Sites Association in cooperation with the California State Parks.

Summer and spring are warm; fall and winter can be cool. Layered clothing is advised. Activities include exhibits and programs, guided tours, facilities, restrooms and a visitors center. (Information supplied by California State Parks) MUSEUMSCalifornia Military Museum 1115 Second Street (916) 442-2883 An interpretive museum with authentic clothing, equipment and stories from our nation's rich military past. California State Railroad Museum 111 I Street (916) 445-6645 The largest interpretive railroad museum in the nation with exhibits and activities for the whole family. See beautifully restored locomotives and cars from the 1860s to the 1960s. Crocker Art Museum Third and O Street (916) 264-5423 Featuring Victorian architecture, Early California painting collections, Old Master drawings and colorful contemporary California art. Discovery Museum 101 I Street (916) 264-7057 A public service, educational institution established to foster the wonder and curiosity in us all. Explore, experience and examine. Learning has never been more fun. Schoolhouse Museum Front and L Street (916) 483-8818 An authentic one-room schoolhouse. Spectacular Russian Dinosaur Exhibition 1126 Second Street 888-264-8763 World's largest, authentic, traveling dinosaur exhibition, including the 20 foot Saurolophus and the 16 foot Tyrannosaurus. Open to the public. Call to schedule groups. Sutter's Fort 2710 L Street (916) 445-4422 Sacramento's earliest settlement was founded in 1839. Self guided audio tours are available. California AutomobileMuseum 2200 Front Street (916) 442-6802 Featuring exhibits of the American Automobile. Wells Fargo Museum Corner of Second and J Streets (916) 440-4263 Stagecoaches, gold, mining, business, commerce are all colorfully interpreted for visitors. ATM, W.A.