Days in the Library

     We spent 4 days in Sacramento, most of them in the state library, which had some of the friendliest and most helpful librarians with whom we have ever dealt.  We stayed at a hotel just a few blocks from the library and, when we weren't reading manuscripts, explored downtown.  It was one of the few places we've ever been where Nan had no problem finding places that served vegan meals.
     The State Capitol is modeled after the US Capitol and is quiet imposing.  The day we arrived, there was a 5k scheduled in the Capitol Park in support of a charity sponsored by the Sacramento Kings.  They had set up a BB court on one of the streets and played an exhibition.  It was very festive.

     We arrived on a Sunday and of course the library wasn't open.  However, in addition to the celebration at the Capitol, we were able to visit Sutter's Fort State Historic Park.

     Construction on the fort was said to have begun in 1840.  Sutter has an interesting background.  According to the printed material we received at the fort, he was born in Germany, lived and worked in Switzerland before he fled Europe  "to escape mounting debt and a rocky marriage".  After coming to America he traveled west and arrived in California after stops along the was including side trips to Hawaii and Alaska.  He had a cozy relationship with the Mexican government and was granted an almost 49,000 acre grant of land.  Additionally, he was appointed "Captain" of troops in Sacramento.  His named is readily associated with the discovery of gold.  He was not however the person who discovered it; that was James Marshall who, while building a sawmill for Sutter 50 mile up the American River actually made the discovery.  The gold rush actually resulted in Sutter losing his "empire".
     The present fort was reconstructed in the 1890s and became part of the California park system in 1947.  The present structure is slightly smaller than the original, but is still quite a good historic site. There is one original building remaining.  It is pictured below.

    
      The fort had walls 2.5 feet thick and from 15 to 18 feet high.  Within the fort walls were sleeping quarters, shops for tradesmen, places for the production of blankets, a grist mill, and a distillery - All the comforts of home.  The present site is quite thorough in reproducing the commercial and social ambiance of the place.

     The other site we were able to visit before getting to the library was the Leland Stanford Mansion State Historic Park.

     This mansion which is still used by the State of California as an official reception site, was built by the businessman and governor of the state Leland Stanford.  He was born near Albany, NY, but worked as an attorney in the Midwest before moving to California in 1852.  He was a Republican and Unionist.  He supported Lincoln's election and worked to have California made a state.  He became governor in 1861 and the house became to Governor's Mansion. His wealth was responsible for the establishment of Stanford University, but it was his wife's management skills that guaranteed it's growth and fiscal stability.  In 1900 Mrs. Stanford gave the building to the Catholic Church and it was used as an orphanage until it was purchased by the state to become a state park.