Downtown

Spend the day Downtown and make memories with your family. Explore Downtown Sacramento's rich history and culture.

Downtown Walking Tours

These unique tours through downtown Sacramento introduce visitors to the people, places and events that shaped California history. From John Sutter to Cesar Chavez, these tours cover more than 150 years of state and local history. Topics range from art and architecture to cultural, religious and urban history. Call 442-8575, email dsp@downtownsac.org to make a reservation, or simply show up at any tour's starting point at the specified time. All tours are guided and last approximately one hour.

Menu of Tours

Kids Meet the City | A tour of California history especially for kids
This tour is specially designed to serve as a fun and interactive way to introduce local history to students of all ages. This unique walk through downtown will explore the Gold Rush, the history and route of the famed Pony Express, John Sutter's place in California history, and the Big Four of the railroad industry as well as offer an introduction to city government with a visit into City Council Chambers.
Make the most out of your tour with DSP's new Kids Meet The City: Activity Book.
Download your free guide here!
Fridays: 10 am
STARTING POINT: Steps of Historic City Hall, 915 'I' Street
COST: $10.00 per adult and one child under 13 years old, $5.00 for each additional child. School groups welcome! Call 442-8575 for group rates.

Tales of the Central City | An overview of early Sacramento history
Walk with us down memory lane on a guided tour of one of the oldest cities in California. Learn how Sacramento wrangled the distinction of California's State Capitol, walk the original route of the famed Pony Express, see the influence of railroad's ‘Big Four' on early urban planning and learn why downtown sidewalks are hollow. Our Gold Rush era specialist, Mike Munson leads this tour.
Sundays: 11 am
Mondays: 10 am
Fridays: 11 am
STARTING POINT: Cesar Chavez Plaza at 9th & J Streets
COST: $10.00 per person

Structural Stories | Local examples of historical architecture styles
Stroll through the ages of architectural history right here in downtown Sacramento. From our Renaissance-style Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament and the graceful Art Deco shapes of Crest Theatre to Chicago style architecture here in California, we will show you local examples of the world's finest styles. Shawn Peter leads this tour.
Tuesdays: 10 am
Wednesdays: 11 am
Thursdays: 3 pm
STARTING POINT: Cesar Chavez Plaza at 9th & J streets
COST: $10.00 per person

Art is All Around Us | A tour of Sacramento's collection of art in public places
Tour Sacramento's impressive collection of permanently sited works of art integrated into Sacramento's built and natural environments. See local works by notable local and regional artists. This tour was developed in partnership with Sacramento Metropolitan Arts Commission's Art in Public Places program. Richard MacGill leads this tour.
Tuesdays: 3 pm
Wednesdays: 10 am
Thursdays: 11 am
STARTING POINT: Indo Arch outside of Downtown Plaza at 3rd & K streets
COST: $10.00 per person

Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow | K Street commerce, growth and redevelopment
Beginning in Old Sacramento at Front and K streets, this tour will trace Sacramento's commercial growth by traveling on foot toward 13th & K. On this walk, see Sacramento's first commercial district, learn about K Street's early history as a vaudeville and entertainment hotspot and be the first to hear future plans for Sacramento's most talked-about pedestrian mall. Shawn Peter or Mike Munson will lead this tour.
Tuesdays: 2 pm
Wednesdays: 1 pm
Thursdays: 10 am
Fridays: 2 pm
STARTING POINT: Delta King docks at Front & K streets
COST: $10.00 per person

The Art of Terra Cotta | An architecture tour featuring local clay artisans Gladding McBean
This tour will discuss the history of terra cotta as an architectural art form and will highlight downtown's best examples of this turn-of-the-century technique. This tour emphasizes the contribution of the Gladding McBean studio, one of the region's best cultural and artistic assets, which has provided terra cotta tiles, pipes and sculpture for customers worldwide. Based in Lincoln, California, this studio has been in continual operation since 1874, with many downtown buildings showcasing the studio's early works. This tour will highlight these structures as well as discuss the evolution of this notable clay studio, the process of working with this unique type of clay and the studio's legacy on the art of terra cotta. Mike Munson leads this tour.
Sundays: 1 pm
Mondays: 2 pm
Wednesdays: 2 pm
STARTING POINT: Cesar Chavez Plaza at 9th & J streets
COST: $10.00 per person

Riverfront Bike Trails

Located at the confluence of the Sacramento and American Rivers, Downtown Sacramento provides bicycle access to the riverfront. Cyclists can access the northbound/southbound bike trail along the Sacramento River via O Street or in Old Sacramento on Front Street between L and I streets. The southbound trail will lead you to the Miller Park. The Northbound trail will lead you towards Richards Boulevard, Discovery Park and the 23-mile American River Parkway that stretches from downtown to Folsom.

Practice bicycle safety on the bike trails. Avoid biking alone or after dusk. Click here for more helpful times.

In cooperation with the City of West Sacramento across the river, the City of Sacramento is working to expand access to Sacramento's namesake river. Currently on the Sacramento side, visitors can walk along the waterfront from O Street to I Street through Old Sacramento. On the West Sacramento side, visitors can catch some of the best views of the downtown skyline by visiting Waterfront Park between the Tower Bridge and the I Street Bridge.