Rw's Random Life

Capitol City By The American Riverside

Sacramento the capital city by the Californian american riverside. Considered to be the 6th largest major city of over 500,000 people. Let's all go way back 2 when Nisenan Modoc, and Plains Miwok The original Native Americans y'all had settled the area for millenia. Unlike the settlers who would eventually make Sacramento their home, these Native Americans left little evidence of their existence. Traditionally, their diet was dominated by acorns taken from the plentiful oak trees in the region, and by fruits, bulbs, seeds, and roots gathered throughout the year.

The year was 1848, gold was discovered by no other than Mr James W. Marshall in Coloma, a large number of gold-seekers came to the area, increasing the population. In August 1848, Sutter Sr.'s son, John Sutter Jr., arrived in the area to assist his father in relieving his indebtedness. Compounding the issues of his father's indebtedness, the additional strain placed on the Sutters by the ongoing arrival of thousands of new gold miners and prospectors in the area, many quite content to squat on unwatched portions of the vast Sutter lands, or to abscond with various unattended Sutter properties or belongings if they could. In Sutter's case, rather than being a 'boon' for Sutter, his employee's discovery of gold in the area turned out to be more of a personal 'bane' for him.

It was December 1848 folks, John Sutter Jr., in association with Sam B, began laying out the City of Sacramento, 2 miles south of his father's settlement of New Helvetia. This venture was undertaken against the wishes of Sutter Sr., but the father, being deeply in debt, was in no position to stop the venture. For commercial reasons, the new city was named "Sacramento City" after the Sacramento River. Sutter Jr. and Brannon hired topographical engineer William H. Warner drafted the official layout of the city, which included 26 lettered and 31 numbered streets (today's grid from C St. to Broadway and from Front St. to Alhambra Blvd). Unfortunately, a certain bitterness grew between the elder Sutter and his son as Sacramento became an overnight commercial success (Sutter's Fort, Mill, and the town of Sutterville, all founded by John Sutter Sr., would eventually fail).

The citizens of Sacramento adopted a city charter in 1849, which was recognized by the state legislature in 1850. Sacramento is the oldest incorporated city in California, incorporated on February 27, 1850. During the early 1850s, the Sacramento valley was devastated by floods, fires and cholera epidemics. Despite this, because of its position just downstream from the Mother Lode in the Sierra Nv, the new city grew, reaching a population of 10,000.

In Modern Time Folks

October 9th, 2020 Today seemed odd at least to me time was kind of slipping away. To some people a few days had gone by however they still thought it was Wednesday, strange times we are in folks.

As I explored old town Sacramento it was like going backwards in time. The historical buildings around me are frozen timeless if you will, old train locomotives like the sante fe standing still on ole beat up railway tracks.

Old Sacramento: 7 Places to Explore in the Historic Area by California Through My Lens

In the far distance of one capital mall lies the city’s grand California State Capitol Museum. In the early 1920s, California’s State Capitol was nearly out of room and expansion was desperately needed. In response, an impressive structure was designed and built so the California State Library and Courts could be moved off-site. The exquisite building was completed and occupied in 1928 and part of the Capitol Extension Group located adjacent to the Capitol. This group also includes the architecturally similar State Office Building No. 1 and the fountain that sits between the two buildings.

The building’s pediment and Neo-classical design complimented the Classical Revival style of the Capitol. The Library and Courts’ new home was designed by the San Francisco architectural firm of Weeks & Day. At the time of construction, the building was widely regarded as the most beautiful in state government. Even today, the grandeur of the entrance lobby, its majestic murals, and a variety of attractive decorative features make this building exceptional.

The Great Pit of One Capitol Mall

I stumble upon this gated vacant lot considered an embarrassment to the city. Long ago there was a proposal to build a twin 54 story development on the site. Unfortunately as construction was commencing the developer came into some financial issues. As a result Calpers stopped the project in its tracks leaving an abandoned construction site for a decade. September 19th, 2020 a new proposal for a 33 story building on the site. Calpers is currently planning the development to be completed by 2022. Will this come to fruition is a major uncertainty to me, and the city of Sacramento.

Sacramento Valley Station is the main train hub for the city. I produced some interior footage before heading to the light rail station on the semi deserted property. My destination was the historical downtown district of Folsom CA.

The City Of Folsom Like You Have Never Seen!

by Nichols Realty

Stepping off the empty train the small town of Folsom lies before me.

Folsom is connected with the history of California's railways.

Famous across the country due to a country song about a prison produced by singer Johnny Cash in 1956. The town's rich history actually started out more than a hundred years earlier with California's great Gold Rush and with the arrival of the railroad. Gold was first discovered along the south bank of the American River in the area known as Negro Bar. The discovery led to massive gold mining operations, as well as a need for rail service.

The year was 1847 folks, Mr William Leidesdorff, a successful trader who owned a prosperous shipping business, traveled to Sacramento by steamboat to see the 35,000 acres he had purchased years earlier. His land holdings extended from today’s Bradshaw Road along the south side of the American River to the present town of Folsom. That same year, U.S. Army Captain Joseph Folsom’s regiment arrived in California. At the conclusion of the Mexican-American War, Folsom remained in the state and became interested in purchasing the land that Leidesdorff had left to his heirs following his death in 1848.

After buying some spiritual items from Planet Earth Rising Crystal shop I ate my lunch near Folsom’s historic district ice rink and park.

After a long fight to aquire the land, The city authority hired railroad pioneer Theodore Judah to help establish a town site near the Negro Bar mining spot on the American River. Their early plans included shops along Sutter Street and a railroad depot. Folsom named the new town “Granite City.” and Folsom planned the town as a railroad terminus before there were railroads in California. Though Folsom didn’t live to see it, his dream came true on Feb. 22, 1856 when the first train on the first railroad in the West arrived in Folsom from Sacramento CA.

Following Folsom’s death at the age of 38, his successors renamed the town in his memory. By January 1856, every lot had been sold, and three new hotels were open in the town known as Folsom. Several decades later, construction began on Folsom Prison. Inmates helped construct the facility, which opened in 1880 when the first prisoners were moved to relieve overcrowding at San Quentin prison. That’s all for now folks until next time.