Attractions
Attractions
This ain’t no theme park. This here is the real deal. Registered as a national historic landmark, The Waterfront overflows with invigorating things to see and do. Wild museums, riverboat rides, historic railroads excursions, horse carriage, and cobblestone…it’s one non-stop adventure after another just waiting to unfold.
SPOOKOMOTIVE Train Ride
California State Railroad Museum
CELEBRATE THE HALLOWEEN SEASON ABOARD THE SPOOKOMOTIVE TRAIN RIDE
This delightful, not frightful train is just the ticket for the whole family. The diesel-powered train is decorated for the season with cornstalks, scarecrows, skeletons, bats and spiders. Each operating weekend the Spookomotive will have a special theme, and includes exciting on board entertainment and a tasty Halloween treat!
When: October 9 & 10; 16 & 17; 23 & 24; 30 & 31.
Departures at 10am, 11:30am, 1:00pm, 2:30pm, 4pm.
Movies Under the Stars
Happening every Thursday in October
It’s the spookiest time of year and we are ready for a gourd time! Experience Movies Under the Stars presented by Xfinity in partnership with California State Parks Capital District and the California State Railroad Museum every Thursday night in October at the Old Sacramento State Historic Park for a haunting good time. Purchase a group of four tickets and receive a complimentary picnic blanket with each purchase.
Old Sacramento Waterfront Rewards
Have you heard the news?! You can now be rewarded for experiencing the Old Sacramento Waterfront! We are excited to announce the Old Sacramento Rewards program. You can now access exclusive offers, promotions, and other shopping incentives from Old Sacramento Waterfront restaurants, stores, and businesses. It’s so simple to use too, you can access all these rewards from your mobile device!
Theatre of Lights
Presented by Dignity Health
Theatre of Lights is a free holiday lighting extravaganza at the Old Sacramento Waterfront produced by the Downtown Sacramento Partnership. The nightly performances Thursday through Sunday from Thanksgiving Eve – Christmas Eve (no show on Thanksgiving) features a live-action retelling of Moore’s 1823 poem — “A Visit from St. Nicholas,” more popularly known as “’Twas the Night Before Christmas.”
Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony
Old Sacramento Waterfront
If it’s holiday memories you’re after, come find it! Kick-off the holiday season with the annual lighting ceremony for the holiday tree at the Old Sacramento Waterfront. The fun begins at 5 p.m. at Front and K streets with entertainment and family-friendly festivities leading up to the free, public ceremony at 6 p.m.
Anytime Tours (Virtual)
Welcome to Sacramento!
The Sacramento History Museum is bringing the Old Sacramento Waterfront to you! Sit back while you explore and experience a new side of what life was like in 19th century Sacramento with gripping true stories that follow in the footsteps of murderers, ne’er-do-wells and common citizens alike.
Sacramento, CA 95814
California Automobile Museum
Sacramento’s riverfront car museum, is an essential stop during your visit to Old Sacramento Waterfront.
California State Railroad Museum
The California State Railroad Museum, a Smithsonian Affiliate, offers a sight of rail history with over 2.5 acres of exhibits on the property. With a roundhouse museum space filled with trains, a picnic area on our 1849 scene, museum store, library, turntable, passenger station, and the areas only historic and authentic excursion train ride that is volunteer ran!
Classic Coach
Carriage Rides departing from 1002 2nd Street.
Available for private booking
Excursion Train Rides
Operated by the California State Railroad Museum. Train rides depart from and return to the Front Street Train Depot in Old Sacramento Waterfront.
Chug along the Sacramento River behind Granite Rock No. 10 steam locomotive or one of the museums vintage diesel locomotives.
City Cruises
by Hornblower
City Cruises offers a few different options to soak in the views of Old Sacramento Waterfront. Make the most of your weekend and step aboard for a Saturday or Sunday afternoon on the river with a cocktail cruise! Grab a drink at the bar and relax as you set sail on this 1.5-hour cruise along the Sacramento River. Gather your co-workers, friends, or family and head down to Old Sacramento Waterfront to board your new favorite happy hour.
To make your reservation, please see links below!
Huntington & Hopkins Hardware
Part of the Old Sacramento State Historic Park, this free museum recreates a small town hardware business and displays 19th century tools and machinery.
Old Sacramento Schoolhouse Museum
Explore California’s early days of education in a living replica of a traditional one-room schoolhouse.
Old Sacramento Underground Tours
Operated by the Historic Old Sacramento Foundation. The tours will run now through December 31, 2020.
Explore excavated foundations and enclosed pathways hidden since Sacramento raised its streets over a century ago.
River City Queen
Sacramento’s premiere boat venue for birthday parties, company and corporate events, company holiday parties, weddings, receptions, rehearsal dinners, wine tasting, fantasy casino, dining & dancing – all while on a Sacramento River Cruise. We also offer general admission events year round including luncheon cruises, cocktail cruises, dinner cruises as well seasonal events!
Sac Brew Boat
Operated by the owners of the Sac Brew Bike and operated daily through October.
Sacramento’s 16 passenger Brew Boat provides a one and a half hour, pedal-powered party boat tours along the Sacramento River. Groups can bring their own beer/cider/wine aboard the chartered boat (limit 3 drinks per guest), as we cruise, pedal, and have fun on the river.
Cruises depart from the Public Docks just south of the L Street Landing (entrance between Rio City Cafe and Joe’s Crab Shack).
Sacramento History Museum
The Sacramento History Museum is a reproduction of the 1854 City Hall and Waterworks building, which sat on our current site. The original building was completed in the spring of 1854 and was the city’s first municipal structure. It housed the City Waterworks, City Offices – including the Mayor’s office and Fire Department – the City Jail, and Police Court.
The dramatic and diverse history of Sacramento unfolds in the museum’s galleries.
Sacramento Jetboat Excursion
Experience adventure as you glide over inches of water on a Sacramento Jetboat Excursion! Located on the Old Sacramento Waterfront, guests are invited to get on-board for an all new experience of exciting jetboat spins, views of the native wildlife and a little bit of Old Sacramento Waterfront History!
Excursions: Old Town Adventure (Minutes: 30) | Historic Excursion (Minutes: 60)
The Sacramento Southern Railroad
The California State Railroad Museum’s popular excursion railroad — the Sacramento Southern Railroad operates April through September. Train rides include closed coach cars, open-air gondolas and a first-class observation car pulled by either Granite Rock No. 10 steam locomotive or one of our vintage diesel locomotives from the Museum’s collection.
Top Hand Ranch
HISTORY AND PRACTICES
Top Hand Ranch was founded by Rick and Henry Newborn and was established in the early 1970’s–becoming one of the first of its kind to provide quality carriage rides in the Old Sacramento of modern times; since then Rick and Dianne Newborn (Henry has since retired) have been dedicated to giving their customers the best possible experience when touring the Sacramento area. Your satisfaction is important to them and as such you will get your choice of color for both horse and carriage whenever possible. Inquire for possible options!
Underground After Hours Tour
Presented by the Historic Old Sacramento Foundation. Tours run from May 1, 2020 through October 31, 2020.
Relive the night life of Gold Rush Sacramento – if you dare!
Your guides for Underground After Hours divulge matters they just can’t discuss on the daytime tours: Murder, mischief, madness, mayhem – and madams!
Sacramento, CA 95814
Underground Tours in Spanish
Presented by the Historic Old Sacramento Foundation. Tours run from April 12, 2020 through December 13, 2020.
The Sacramento History Museum is proud to announce that a Spanish-speaking Old Sacramento Underground Tour is available at 3 p.m. on the Second Sunday of each month.
Sacramento, CA 95814
Waterfront Attractions
Located at the newly activated Waterfront Park (in front of Rio City Café), a visually-exciting and whimsical 65’ Ferris wheel and carousel, operated by Brass Ring Amusements, Inc, are both open daily at the Old Sacramento Waterfront.
Hours of operation for the Waterfront Wheel and Front Street Carousel will be Monday through Thursday from 12 p.m. to 9 p.m., Friday through Sunday from 12 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Sacramento, CA 95814