Project summary

The Old Sacramento Historic District is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and designated as a National Historic Landmark. The current nomination is extremely brief by today’s standards and focuses only on the Gold Rush era, which overlooks the contributions of underrepresented communities, including indigenous peoples, African Americans, women, LGBTQ individuals, and immigrant populations.

To address these gaps, the City of Sacramento is updating the historic district nomination to provide a more complete and inclusive account of Old Sacramento’s history. The approximately $55,000 project is funded primarily through a $45,181 Underrepresented Communities Grant from the National Park Service, with approximately $10,000 in additional funding provided by the City of Sacramento’s Economic Development Department.

The National Park Service grant supports efforts to identify, document, and recognize the histories of communities that have been underrepresented in the National Register of Historic Places. Through this project, the City is expanding the Old Sacramento nomination to better recognize the diverse people, communities, and historical themes that shaped the district. The updated nomination will support the City’s broader efforts to preserve and interpret Old Sacramento and promote the district as a diverse cultural and heritage destination.