Local History Videos

Closeup of an old photo of the Free Masons Hall Sacramento California 1870

Old Images of Sacramento, California

Closeup of an old photo of the Free Masons Hall Sacramento California 1870

Glimpse history through old images of Sacramento, California, USA.

Old Pictures of Sacramento

Flood of Sacramento California January 1850
View of Sacramento City as it appeared during the great inundation in January 1850. Drawn from nature by Geo. W. Casilear & Henry Bainbridge ; lithograph print, Library of Congress Prints & Photographs Division
Old picture of the foot of J. Street, showing I., J., & K. Sts Sacramento California c1850
Old picture of the foot of J. Street, showing I., J., & K. Sts Sacramento California c1850. Image: Library of Congress.
Old lithograph of Sacramento California published 1852
Old lithograph of Sacramento California published 1852. Image: Cooke & LeCount, Library of Congress.

Old Photos of Sacramento

Old photo of J Street Sacramento CA from Hastings Block, published 1866
Old photo of J Street Sacramento from Hastings Block, published 1866. Image: Library of Congress.
Old photo of K Street, Sacramento, from Masonic Hall, published 1866
Old photo of K Street, Sacramento, from the Masonic Hall, published 1866. Image: Library of Congress.
Old photo of K Street, Sacramento, from Kohn's Building, published 1866
Old photo of K Street, Sacramento, from Kohn’s Building, published 1866. Image: Library of Congress.
Old photo of The New Capitol Building, Sacramento City published 1866
Old photo of The New Capitol Building, Sacramento City published 1866. Image: Library of Congress.
Old photo of the Sacramento River and Levee from Front Street, Sacramento City 1866
Old photo of the Sacramento River and Levee from Front Street, Sacramento City 1866. Image: Library of Congress. Image: Library of Congress.
Old photo of the Steamers for the Upper Sacramento River, at Sacramento 1866
Old photo of the Steamers for the Upper Sacramento River, at Sacramento in 1866. Image: Library of Congress.
Old photo of the City Cemetery Sacramento California 1866
Old photo of the City Cemetery Sacramento California 1866. Image: Library of Congress.
Old photo of the Free Masons Hall Sacramento California 1870
Old photo of the Free Masons Hall Sacramento California 1870. Image: Library of Congress.
Closeup of an old photo of the Free Masons Hall Sacramento California 1870
Closeup of an old photo of the Free Masons Hall Sacramento California 1870. Image: Library of Congress.
Old photo of the Bridge across the Sacramento, and C.P.R.R. cars, published in 1870
Old photo of the Bridge across the Sacramento, and C.P.R.R. cars, published in 1870. Image: Library of Congress.

Sacramento in the 1950s

1950s Color photos of Sacramento California buildings, stores, houses and cars Time Capsule – photographbuyer on YouTube

Historic Buildings in 1958

Produced by the Sacramento Bee and KFBK in 1958, this 27 minute film looks at and appreciates the beautiful old buildings still found in the city at the time.

Unfortunately, some of these buildings were later demolished.

There are lots of lovely pictures and old photos included in this archive film, along with lots of information about the city and its historic buildings.

Educational Film – “Old Sacramento: As It Was, As It Is, As It Could Be,” 1958 – Center for Sacramento History on YouTube

Peace Pilgrim 1959

In 1959, 51-year-old Mildred Lisette Norman, known as Peace Pilgrim, made a statement at the Tower Bridge and then walked toward West Sacramento.

Born in 1908, the American spiritual teacher, mystic, pacifist, vegetarian, and peace activist walked across the United States for 28 years. She started at Pasendena on 1st January 1953, and was on her seventh cross-country walk to talk to others about world peace when she died in 1981.

Peace Pilgrim in Sacramento – 1959 – Center for Sacramento History on YouTube

K Street Mall 1969

In 1969, predestrianisation was seen as a way to revitalise central shopping areas.

Hundreds of people appear in this twelve minute video, many of them close up enough to recognise individuals, and some of them speaking to camera.

Redevelopment: Old Sacramento 1965 – Center for Sacramento History on YouTube

More Redevelopment: Old Sacramento and K Street Mall, 1969 – Center for Sacramento History on YouTube

Campbell’s Soup 1989

The Campbell’s Soup company opened its 136 acre Sacramento plant at 6200 Franklin Boulevard on 8th September 1947.

They were still at that location in 1989, and employing 1700 people, when George Reading presented a special feature about it on Newsline.

Along with clips of the production and canning operations, there are also interviews with John Staszewski, Jim Mork, and Joe Battaglia.

Unfortunately, the plant closed in July 2013.

Campbell Soup Sacramento – 1989 – Center for Sacramento History on YouTube

Sacramento in the 1990s

This advertisement for the Sacramento Convention & Visitors Bureau was made in 1991, and visits many locations around the city.

The man disco dancing in his shirt and tie is one of several gentle chuckles provided in these seven minutes.

Early 1990s promo for the City of Trees! – “Sacramento: Where California Begins,” 1991 – Center for Sacramento History on YouTube

More about California

Click to Page: Old Images of California

About the author

Hi, I’m Debbie. I’ve enjoyed books, films, and documentaries about history for more than 30 years. My favourite trips with friends and family are to museums, historic houses, archaeological sites, and I love unearthing old photos and archive film bringing history to life.

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