SACRAMENTO, Calif. — When you stroll through Old Sacramento, it’s easy to appreciate the charm of wooden sidewalks and historic buildings, but few realize there’s a whole other world hidden beneath the city’s surface. The Sacramento History Museum’s Underground Tours offer a rare glimpse into the city’s fascinating and tumultuous past.
The Great Flood of 1862: A City Underwater
From December 1861 through late January 1862, a relentless storm battered the Pacific coast, causing the Sacramento River to swell over 20 feet above normal levels. The newly constructed levee system was no match for the rising waters, and within days, floodwaters engulfed Sacramento.
“It was roughly about 18, 20 feet up to just below the upper landing [of this building], and that’s how deep the water was,” said Greg Tracy, a long-time tour guide with the Sacramento History Museum.
The floodwaters lingered for weeks, devastating the city. The destruction was so severe it bankrupted the state of California. In response, Sacramento’s leaders made a bold decision: they would raise the entire city to protect it from future floods…