Title
Old Sacramento National Register Update (M26-012)
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FileID
File ID: 2026-01005
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Location
Location: Old Sacramento Historic District, District 4
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Recommendation
Recommendation: Review and comment.
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Contact
Contact: Sean de Courcy, Preservation Director, (916) 808-2796, sdecourcy@cityofsacramento.org, Community Development Department
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Presenter
Presenter: Henry Feuss, Preservation Planner, (916) 808-5880, hfeuss@cityofsacramento.org, Community Development Department
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Attachments
Attachments:
1-Description/Analysis
2-Draft Old Sacramento National Register Nomination Update
3-Original National Register Listing
4-Presentation
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Description/Analysis
IssueDetail
Issue/Detail: In early 2025, the City of Sacramento Preservation Office, in partnership with the City's Department of Convention and Cultural Services History Division, began an effort to update the Old Sacramento Historic District's National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) listing to include a more inclusive history of the district. Following a competitive bidding process, Page and Turnbull was awarded the contract to produce the NRHP listing update. Staff is requesting the Preservation Commission provide a review and comment on the first administrative draft of the NRHP listing update (attached).
Old Sacramento, designated as a National Historic Landmark (NHL) in 1965 and automatically listed on the NRHP when it was established in 1966, has a current nomination that primarily focuses on the extant buildings from the 1850s business district. The existing nomination also does not clearly define contributing and non-contributing resources or character-defining features of the district.
Additionally, this historic narrative overlooks the rich and diverse history of the area. Prior to colonial settlement, the land that encompasses Old Sacramento was home to seven Native communities whose contributions and experiences remain largely unrecognized in the district. The Gold Rush era drew a multicultural array of people from around the globe, including Chinese immigrants, African Americans, Hispanics, and people from various other European and Pacific regions. This diversity significantly shaped the cultural and social landscape of the district, but that story is currently unseen by the average visitor to Old Sacramento. Finally, despite the presence and impact of women throughout the district’s history, their impact on the district is not appropriately celebrated in public history displays.
In addition to the groups identified above, during the mid-20th century, the area known as the West End, part of Old Sacramento, became a vibrant multicultural hub for Sacramento. Prior to Urban Renewal/Redevelopment, this area was home to a variety of immigrant, Hispanic, Black, Asian, and LGBTQ+ communities. These communities contributed to the economic and social fabric of Sacramento, yet this period is not identified as a significant part of the district’s history, despite the incredible impact these people had on the physical and cultural development of Sacramento. The proposed project aims to document and highlight these significant contributions by creating a more comprehensive and inclusive historical narrative through an updated NRHP nomination.
Staff is requesting the Preservation Commission review and comment on the first administrative draft of the Old Sacramento NRHP listing update prior to the finalization of the document. There will be an additional public comment period prior to the submission of the nomination.
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PolicyConsiderations
Policy Considerations: Since 2001, the City of Sacramento has been a Certified Local Government (CLG). CLGs are municipalities that have demonstrated through a certification process administered by the State Office of Historic Preservation (OHP) and the National Park Service (NPS) a commitment to local historic preservation. The CLG program was federally mandated as part of the 1980 amendments to the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966.
One of the requirements of the CLG program is to facilitate and participate in the process of nominating historic resources to the California Register of Historical Resources and the National Register of Historic Places. Bringing forward draft nominations for review by the Preservation Commission ensures compliance with this requirement, provides an opportunity for public comment, and allows the Preservation Commission to advise on the merits of the nomination prior to state consideration.
The Old Sacramento Historic District NRHP update advances the City’s CLG responsibilities by documenting a grouping of properties of local, state, and potentially national significance.
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EconomicImpacts
Economic Impacts: None.
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EnvironmentalConsiderations
Environmental Considerations: This report concerns administrative activities that will not have a significant effect on the environment and would be exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA Guidelines section 15061(b)(3)). Additionally, this report concerns administrative activities of government that do not constitute a “project” as defined by the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA Guidelines sections 15061(b)(3) and 15378(b)(5)).
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Sustainability
Sustainability: Not Applicable.
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Commission/CommitteeAction
Commission/Committee Action: None.
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RationaleforRecommendation
Rationale for Recommendation: The Preservation Commission serves as the City’s advisory body on matters relating to historic resources and plays a key role in fulfilling the City’s Certified Local Government (CLG) responsibilities. By reviewing and commenting on draft National Register of Historic Places nominations, the Preservation Commission ensures that local perspectives, priorities, and expertise are incorporated into the state and federal designation process.
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FinancialConsiderations
Financial Considerations: Not applicable.
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LocalBusinessEnterprise(LBE)
Local Business Enterprise (LBE): Not applicable.
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