The kids were suppose to spend the long weekend with us in Tahoe, but since we had the flu fest, we decided it best not to have them come. When they suggested a rendezvous in Old Sacramento, Steve and I gleefully agreed.

First stop was IKEA for their free MLK Day breakfast, Christmas money spending and hey, who doesn't need a tube of crab or salmon? This is one of our favorite stores- anywhere.

Located exactly the same distance from Tahoe and Santa Rosa, Old Sacramento, with its rich history was a great place to spend the day.
We even dined amongst history at Fanny Ann’s Saloon, named for the famous steamboat which had several notable adventures throughout history. The boat was first built in 1842 to transport supplies to Sutter’s Fort and the greater Sacramento area. It was also one of Sacramento’s first reliable means of transportation during the Gold Rush. After it served its monumental purpose, all the historical possessions were salvaged and are on display at this very quirky watering hole. A great start to the history lesson that is Old Sacramento.
A must-see was the California State Railroad Museum. This complex (1976) consists of six original, reconstructed, and new buildings with over 225,000 square feet of total exhibit space. After watching a history of orientation movie, we explored all the buildings with their stimulating exhibits, enthusiastic and knowledgeable docents, and beautifully restored railroad cars and locomotives which completely illustrated railroad history in California and the West for us all.

The huge engine (above) is the SP 4294 and was our favorite. In service from 1944 to 1956, hauling both freight and passenger trains in California and Oregon, this massive beast occasionally pulled the famous Overland Limited over the arduous Donner Pass route between Sacramento and Sparks, Nevada. To be able to stand before it and actually touch it was really a highlight of this explore.
Oh, and the toy train exhibit had something for all of us.

American railroads have fulfilled many purposes in their operation during the last 150 years. A primary function of the railroads in the era prior to the wide use of the airplane was the transportation of the United States mail. Railroad transportation offered the United States Post Office Department the fastest and most economical means to move the mail so needless-to-say, I was rather taken with this car.
One fact we learned, that surprised the heck out of us, was the use of the postal service to mail children, something that happened quite often before rules were made. In 1914, May Pierstorff, just short of her 6th birthday, was “mailed” from her parents’ home to her grandparents’ house about 73 miles away for just 53-cents worth of stamps. May’s parents were taking advantage of parcel post service, which began just the year before. In the early years of this service, customers and postal officials were still getting used to how the service could be used. But mailing children? Wild stuff. From Pushing the Envelope Smithsonian's National Postal Museum Blog
Throughout the main Railroad History Museum building, 21 meticulously restored locomotives and cars and numerous exhibits illustrate how railroads have shaped people's lives, the economy, and the unique culture of California and the West. Included are a Pullman-style sleeping car and a dining car filled with railroad china, that we actually got to step aboard. I loved seeing all the opulence train travel once possessed. The magnitude of this museum surprised me and we were all thoroughly impressed. Definitely a must-see.

Old Sacramento State Historic Park is a collection of noteworthy, early Gold Rush commercial structures.  Historic buildings include the 1849 Eagle Theater; the 1853 B. F. Hastings Building, once home to the California Supreme Court; and the 1855 Big Four Building. Old Sacramento’s historical significance comes from it being the western terminus of the Pony Express postal system,  the first transcontinental railroad, and the transcontinental telegraph. To wander in such rich history is a treat. To do it with our kids is an even bigger treat. This was a really great day... Spectacular fun in Old Sac!