Topped by a massive dome, Sacramento's most prominent landmark echoes the Neoclassical style of its federal counterpart in Washington, DC. Begun in 1860, the Capitol underwent many alterations over the years and had become somewhat decrepit by the 19..

This landmark was the castle of John Sutter's domain, a walled compound with a variety of workrooms and living quarters built against the interior of the thick adobe brick wall. In the center of the spacious grounds stands Sutter's administration bui..

Appropriately situated in the city that served as the terminus of the first transcontinental railroad, this distinctive two-story brick museum (1981) celebrates railroading and its decisive role in the development of the West. A passage leading to th..

Formerly the Golden State Museum, the entire museum got a new name and a new high-tech and interactive design in 2006. In addition to displaying selections from the adjoining State Archives along with other history exhibits, it is the first Californi..

This rich collection of dance regalia, baskets, hunting and fishing equipment and other artifacts-including a Yurok boat hewn from a single redwood trunk-accompanied by many photographs, both historical and contemporary, emphasizes the continuity of ..

Housed in a handsome Italianate mansion just south of Old Sacramento, this venerable institution opened its doors in 1872 as the West's first public art museum. The California Gallery (2nd floor) is devoted to 19C California landscape painters. The m..

Housed in a brick replica of the 1854 City Hall and Waterworks building, this museum presents the history of Sacramento and its environs, highlighted by a chronological sequence of items of everyday life from the Native American period to the present..

This vintage vehicle museum salutes America's century-long love affair with the automobile in a series of displays built around the "dream themes" of design, styling and performance. A changing inventory of some 160 vehicles-of at least two..

This landmark Second Empire Italianate pile was built in 1877 for Sacramento hardware tycoon Albert Gallatin and was acquired by the state in 1903 as the official residence for the state's chief executive. It has more than 30 rooms and nine bathrooms..

This Neoclassical granite building, built just west of the Capitol in 1926, boasts interior halls and reading rooms that feature Art Deco motifs and allegorical murals. Serving as a major archive and library of state history, the California Room (lib..

Governor, railroad magnate and Stanford University founder Leland Stanford purchased this elegant Italianate mansion in 1861, and it served as his gubernatorial residence until 1863. Recently treated to a 14-year, $22 million restoration, the 19,000s..

Located within a large recreational park that also features a popular theme playground, this small zoo is home to some 340 specimens including such exotic felines as Siberian tigers, jaguars and margay cats. A six-acre children's theme park, Fairytal..