More touring Sacremento, March 26 - 29th

This morning we were not going to leave until later as Ray wanted the sun to "come around" to the buildings he wanted to take pictures of. Unfortunately at 9:30 we noticed the clouds coming in again, so we left anyways. After finding a place to park we went on our walking tour.

First up. the Historic Stanley Mosk Library and Courts Building. Gorgeous. 

There's a humongous tree in front called a Japanese Camphor Tree.

We went through a scanner and they put our phones and stuff through the scanner, just like the airport. Ray's pocket knife had to stay at the desk until we left the building.

From the first floor we went up to the third floor and went in the original elevator, although modernized, the old controls are still mounted inside.

Looking up the stairwell.

Outside there's a memorial to fallen police officers.

Next up is taking a few pictures of the Leland Stanford Mansion. Hard to see the building with all the construction going on behind it and although the sign said it's open during construction the gates were locked today.

See the huge crane behind the building.

We walked back to the Capital Building, now that the bus tour's gone from the steps. Turned out to be lots of kids on a school trip to the building.

The building is currently under some renovations and restoration so we couldn't go through the front doors and had to go through an annexed building. Again, through security and Ray left his pocket knife behind and pick it up on the way out of the building.

On the main floor, besides viewing the dome which is what Ray really wanted to see, they have restored rooms fitting the 1906 era.

1906 Governor's Anteroom

1906 Governor's main office

Govenor's Private Office

Secretary of State Office

State Treasurer's Office

Now for that dome. Spectacular.

We took the elevator up to the 3rd floor to view the Legislative Assembly.

We wound our way back down to the annex and then back onto the street. There is a large garden on the east part of the grounds, but is inaccessible with the construction. Next up is the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrement. Gorgeous stained glass work.

After wandering around for a few hours it's time to find somewhere for lunch. Had to watch out for the trolly trains crossing the road.

Ray suggested Vietnamese, so we got back in the car and drove to "Little Saigon" ("another of the best things to see") which really is just a collection of restaurants. Ray picked the one with the highest rating. Food was delicious.

Back at the motorhome for 2:30. Another great day. Ray managed to snap a picture of some cool clouds. Looks like they are being pulled across the sky.

Wednesday, a cloudy day with showers in the afternoon. We decided to have a down day. We're getting kind of tired of touring around and museums ... ready to go home, but have to stay a few more days.

9 am ... breakfast done, we're dressed now what? lol We're so used to going somewhere by now, it's going to be hard to put on the brakes. Ray decided to go to the Automobile Museum. I stayed home and made the sauce for our spag dinner tonight.

California Automobile Museum is an automobile museum located in Sacramento, California. It has a collection of over 150 classic cars, race cars, muscle cars and early models displayed throughout 72,000 square feet of museum space.

Not my thing, so here's Ray. lol

That would be me. 

This is it, no outside signage

This is a big museum to walk through. Much different than others I've toured this trip. Most museums display lots of 1950's - 1970's muscle cars with a few thrown in of the Model T's, A's and Cs era. Not this one, definitely titled toward the latter. The museum is laid out as to provide the visitor with a progression of the automobile. It starts with an 1886 Benz Patent Motorwagen, considered the first automobile ever. It's powered by a single cylinder gas internal combustion engine and the first automobile sold to the public.

1886 Benz Motorwagen

Turn around and one finds replicas of Henry Fords first model of a gas engine and what he built as his first automobile.

Henry's First Model

Above and below the 1896 Ford Quadricycle

Other manufactures were still playing with the concept of steam powering more wagons.

The first "recognizable" automobile in the museum starts with a 1904 Ford Model B Touring car. 

 And you can also purchase a more sleek Runabout with a sportier look and more elaborate features.

1904 Ford Model C Runabout with added features below

Ford produced a Model K in 1906 before the famed Model T came out in 1908.

Above and below a 1906 Model K Touring Car

1908 Ford Model T

Of course, other manufactures were quick to catch up and other "sundry" models became available for the public to purchase.

1910 Peerless Model 27  Touring above and below

1911 Pierce-Arrow Model 48 Touring above and below

Don't you just love these little rear lanterns for brakes and turning lights?

By then people were already doing some personalized mods to the Model T like this 1911 Model T C Cab.

The cars pics shown above after 1904 were four seaters and then along comes the 1912 Metz Model 22 Roadster, a sporty two seater. This automobile is quite interesting in that it is a kit! You buy a total of 14 crates of parts with instructions for $25 each.

The first Cadillac was produced in 1903, but below is a 1912 Cadillac Model 30 Torpedo automobile. It's claim to fame is it's the first American car to feature an electric start.

1914 Hupmobile Model 32 Touring

The museum features 5 or 6 cars people can sit in for photo opportunities. The 1913 Ford Model T Touring car shown below is one of them. They also have one people can sign out to drive around.... I'm sure the insurance cost alone would be prohibitive. As well they have a policy where a person can pick out an automobile and have Museum staff to chauffuer them to an event.

Probably dating myself here, but I remenber when around 10 and with plenty of bottled up energy (where DID it all go!) my parents used to call me a Stanley Steamer. And until this museum visit, I truly thought it as just an expression. Imagine my amazement when I came across a 1914 Stanley 606 Roadster Steam Car. For it's time, the Stanley Steamer was a speed demon, setting a record 127.6 mph/205 kph in 1906, which wasn't broken (for steam) until 2011.

The curved cover encasing the boiler is sometimes called a "coffin nose"

 

In Dodge Brothers came on the scene in 1914 and a year later produced the 1915 Dodge Brothers Touring automobile.

Elaborate hood ornaments were starting to become a fad.

The 1917 Ford Model T Form A Truck Flatdeck below is modified to sell produce and also included a "Clear Lake" Model T Cooker and Bake attached to the engine.

There's plenty more Model T's and A's I could bore you with. Model A's below.

How about this hood ornament on a 1925 Ford Model A Special Coupe.

Progressing to the 30's and it must've been a hot decade as automobile "grills" became the hot thing. (Hot decade... grills, get it?? OK moving on). 

1933 Lincoln K B Sedan

1935 Chrysler Imperial Airflow Sedan

1936 Ford Model 68 Roadster

1936 Plymouth P1 Business Coupe, check out the hood ornament on this one!

1937 Cadillac Series 60 Sedan and it's hood ornament

1940 Ford Cabover Tow Truck

Beautiful curves on this 1937 Packard 115-C Convertible

 

Bit of a strange looking car next... a 1940 Lincoln Brunn-Bodied Town Car. This is one of four custom town car bodies by the Brunn family for use by the Ford family, specifically Clara Ford.

The 40's were no slouch in the grill department.

1947 Lincoln Continental Convertible Coupe with a great hood ornament below.

1949 DeSoto Carryall Sedan

1948 Chevy Fleetmaster

Being an RV'er I just had to include this customized 1978 Star Streak Motorhome.

Enough with the car pictures. I spent 2 hours there and especially enjoyed getting more close up pictures of lights, fenders, grills, etc. One thing I forgot to mention is this is a working museum. There's a hoist with plenty of tools and three cars were being worked on around the display to keep them running.  Well worth the money.

The museum has a mockup of the 40's era ice cream bar called Vic's Ice Cream. When researching things to do in Sacramento, the real Vic's Ice Cream is mentioned for great homemade ice cream. So I just had to go and see the comparison and MAYBE grab a Pecan Praline two scoops with waffle cone.

Back home to Deb and a relaxing afternoon fixing my pictures. lol

Thursday morning turned out to be quite nice, so we decided to go back to the Old Sacremento area and walk a bit along the river. Managed to snap a few pictures.

The Bike Path along the Sacremento River

Tower Bridge

                                                        The Old Gas Lamps lining the path.

Who knew sea lions would come up the river so far from the ocean.

I Street Car and Rail Bridge

The train below is leaving the station. You can get a 6 mile ride, about 45 minutes. A whole troop of school kids climbed aboard.

After an hour or so. it's time for lunch and today we chose Joe's Crab Shack, on the river and known for their seafood. We started out with crab stuffed mushrooms. Our mains were their lunch specials of a Fried Chicken Sandwich and fries for me and a Prawn Poboy for Ray. We ended up with a much bigger lunch than anticipated because we'd first ordered oysters, 6 fresh and  6 Oysters Rockerfeller as an appetizer before our main. Shortly after ordering they told us they hadn't arrived yet, so we ordered the crab stuffed mushrooms instead. Yumm. While we were eating those, our server came over and said the oysters just arrived ... do you still want them. Well ya .... After eating all of those with Ray, of course I only ate 1/3 of my main, so he'll have the rest of mine for dinner. :)

By the time we made it back home, the clouds came in again. We timed our walk/lunch perfectly.

Friday, our last day in Sacremento before the push to drive back home. Today rained off and on and is quite blustery. Happy we're not travelling today. Other than doing several loads of laundry and out for Chinese Food for lunch, it's a quiet day.

Tomorrow off to Redding, CA