Old Sacramento Underground Tour
Old Sacramento Underground Tour
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Old Sacramento Underground Tour
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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4.0
97 reviews
Excellent
48
Very good
29
Average
13
Poor
5
Terrible
2
boseguera
36 contributions
Aug 2023 • Friends
You learn so much from this tour and it is all so interesting (even for those that are not into history). The guide really takes you back in time and gets into character by acting as though she is someone from that time. She'll answer any question as though she was living it. It was very cool! I definitely recommend this tour for anyone visiting Sacramento, even for a last minute plan (just make sure to wear sunscreen since it can get hot!).
Written November 27, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Brian S
2 contributions
Apr 2023 • Couples
I enjoyed this tour very much. Tour guide was informative and I liked that she played a character from the time period. I really liked that they had a audio system so we could hear her. The price was reasonable and it included a ticket to the Sacramento Historical Museum.
Written April 4, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Heather
Las Vegas, NV588 contributions
Aug 2022 • Family
The tour is advertised as a half mile waking tour but there is also a lot of standing while you listen to the tour guide. You are only underground for maybe 15 minutes and you got there by walking through a door that seemed like you were in a basement. The tour guide was knowledgeable but asked a lot of questions. Also, there are no pictures allowed while you are underground.
Written August 18, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
RoseWilcher
Akron, Ohio8 contributions
Aug 2023 • Family
The tour guide was very good. She told us her family's story as a Black family who left New York & moved to California during the Gold Rush. Ticket price included admission the History Museum.
Written September 13, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lissy0717
Waterford, NY674 contributions
Jun 2022
I was under the misconception that this complete tour is underground, but in reality, only a part of the tour is underground. Fascinating history - and our tour guide was charming. She kept in character completely! But this was not what I expected. And no pictures allowed underground.
Written June 15, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Zackary S
Sacramento, CA114 contributions
Jun 2014 • Friends
This tour was not worth the price of admission. Despite other reviews, I was dying to do this tour. I chalked the negativity to Sacramento Haters, that is until I took the tour. That was the last time i doubted the wisdom of crowds. Before the tour began, My brother and nephew asked how much it cost for the tour and I said $15. They assumed, as I wanted them to, it was $15 for all 3, but it was $15 each. Something I didn't mention to my brother until later that day. When he found out it was $45 total my brother went BALLISTIC. Here's why. Part 1, you go into one basement and sit down and watch a slide show projection on a white sheet hanging pinned to the wall for the first 30 minutes. Part 2, you stand and walk a total of 150 yard perimeter basement about the size of a Walgreens looking at broken glass, abandoned furniture and lots of dirt, The furniture, supposedly historic, ranges from what looks like the 1930's to the 1980's. The didn't even stage it. Part 3, you walk across the street to another basement with a single room of 1980 newspaper clippings. I recommend NOT DOING this tour. Instead, Do the train museum, go to the Crocker Art Musuem and take the FREE tour of the State Capitol.
Written January 1, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
HatManGeno
Sacramento, CA79 contributions
Oct 2012 • Family
Old Sacramento Underground City Tour
Hi, HatMan GENO here, this time "under ground" at Old Sacramento, CA. This time we tookd the famous Old Sac City Underground tour. As always, my scales is based upon if what was promised was delivered in a most enjoyable way, so here goes...
OVERVIEW -
This is a very good tour...BUT...as it is truly an undergound experience (yes, you walk directly below the current Sacramento Old City historic area), it is likely more for history buffs than for action-oriented folks. If your child (we had our grand daughter, age 8) is NOT into walking lectures and explanations (which were excellent), then you may want to stay up in the light and enjoy the rest of the Old City.
TOUR PRICES -
As this is an historic site, the fees are typical so as to help with restoration and preservation. General public Adults are $15 each, kids 6-17 are $10 each, and children under age 6 are free (though it will very likely NOT be their finest hour!). PARKING is available on the street IF you are very early, otherwise, use the PUBLIC PARKING GARAGE at the northeast corner by the Railroad Museum.
TOUR -
Each tour is apporx 1 hour, and the guides most entertaining, dressed in the time period of the old city. NOTE: this is a WALKING tour: lots of underground uneven surfaces, and cool temperatures in many areas (hey, it's really underground!). So if you are not sure-footed for any reason, this is not a place for you as it is an active archeological site...think Indiana Jones and the big "dig".
NOTE -
It's amazing to learn of how disaster prone Old Sacramento was: floods, fires, disease...jeez! And to think that our ancestor citizens actually chose - and privately funded - to literally raise the city buildings by more than 10 feet in a time without modern hydraulic technology...now THAT's "pioneer spirit"!
CONCLUSION -
More than likely best for relatively able bodied adults becasue of the tunnels and underground surfaces, but worth stepping back - and under - real and fascinating history.
SO...
That's it for now...be well and safe travels. I'll catch you next time from the road.
Unil then, Ciao-4-Now,
HatMan GENO
Hi, HatMan GENO here, this time "under ground" at Old Sacramento, CA. This time we tookd the famous Old Sac City Underground tour. As always, my scales is based upon if what was promised was delivered in a most enjoyable way, so here goes...
OVERVIEW -
This is a very good tour...BUT...as it is truly an undergound experience (yes, you walk directly below the current Sacramento Old City historic area), it is likely more for history buffs than for action-oriented folks. If your child (we had our grand daughter, age 8) is NOT into walking lectures and explanations (which were excellent), then you may want to stay up in the light and enjoy the rest of the Old City.
TOUR PRICES -
As this is an historic site, the fees are typical so as to help with restoration and preservation. General public Adults are $15 each, kids 6-17 are $10 each, and children under age 6 are free (though it will very likely NOT be their finest hour!). PARKING is available on the street IF you are very early, otherwise, use the PUBLIC PARKING GARAGE at the northeast corner by the Railroad Museum.
TOUR -
Each tour is apporx 1 hour, and the guides most entertaining, dressed in the time period of the old city. NOTE: this is a WALKING tour: lots of underground uneven surfaces, and cool temperatures in many areas (hey, it's really underground!). So if you are not sure-footed for any reason, this is not a place for you as it is an active archeological site...think Indiana Jones and the big "dig".
NOTE -
It's amazing to learn of how disaster prone Old Sacramento was: floods, fires, disease...jeez! And to think that our ancestor citizens actually chose - and privately funded - to literally raise the city buildings by more than 10 feet in a time without modern hydraulic technology...now THAT's "pioneer spirit"!
CONCLUSION -
More than likely best for relatively able bodied adults becasue of the tunnels and underground surfaces, but worth stepping back - and under - real and fascinating history.
SO...
That's it for now...be well and safe travels. I'll catch you next time from the road.
Unil then, Ciao-4-Now,
HatMan GENO
Written November 14, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
sojourner12345
Williamsburg, VA25 contributions
May 2012 • Family
Who ever knew that the capitol city of California was once so flood prone that the good citizens raised the city about twelve feet. No they didn't move to get away from the floods because they wanted to stay near the waterfront: they raised the city, buildings streets and all.
The Underground tour actually takes you under the historic buildings where you see how the city was raised and see the perseverance and ingenuity of the earlier settlers.
It's a wonderful tour conducted by personable and knowledgeable guides.
It's a "Must Do"
The Underground tour actually takes you under the historic buildings where you see how the city was raised and see the perseverance and ingenuity of the earlier settlers.
It's a wonderful tour conducted by personable and knowledgeable guides.
It's a "Must Do"
Written July 11, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
maggiedanurse
San Francisco, CA200 contributions
Jul 2012 • Solo
This is a one hour long walking tour. Wear comfortable sturdy shoes because the ground the tour takes you through is cobblestone, dirt, paved street, and boards. We were given these little devices to wear around our necks and headphones for our ears so we could hear the tour guide but not have to be directly next to the tour guide. The tour guide talks about the buildings, businesses and showcases the remains (stuff found in the garbage) found while digging to prepare for the underground tour. We went from indoors to outdoors back to indoors underground then back outdoors, found the most haunted building in Old Sacramento, then back indoors and finally outdoors at the completion of the tour. The tour guide talked of the people who made Sacramento and told us about the gold rush. I listened to other tour guides and my tour could have been better based on what I heard from other tour guides. The tour guide showed us how to tell if a building was razed by looking at the bricks. I could see that some windows were closed up with bricks that didn't match the building. My tour guide did not dress in period clothes, but the tour guide I listened to, after my tour ended, was in period clothes. The tour guide dressed in period clothes was more informative than the tour guide I had. It is an inexpensive tour that in spite of the tour guide who lacked, it was still worth the $12.00. i don't think this is a good tour with really young children.
Written July 9, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
A Joe I
Las Vegas, NV430 contributions
Jul 2023 • Couples
This was entertaining, worth the money, informative but needing help. The tour guide was pleasant but seemed rushed. We moved so fast that you could not read all the information on each section. The microphone kept cutting out; and they don’t let you take photos. Hey, no problem, when it was over we will just buy a book (from the store) that has the whole history from Cholera, flood, fires and raising the city 25 feet. No luck. They did not have a single book about the city’s build up. This was good but it could have been so much more.
Written July 19, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Wheelchair accessible?
A_Vail
California20 contributions
As the other commenter mentioned, there are uneven surfaces, but the wooden ramps/walkway through the buildings are definitely wide and solid as you tour “underground.” I suspect, the bigger challenge would be the gravel and cobblestone between the main Sacramento museum and the walk over to the sites. Not to mention, the number in the group would impact the pace. I would not consider it a “leisurely” stroll and would probably make the museum aware of the ADA accommodation so your group could be smaller and therefore, slower to account for uneven terrain for the wheelchair. That said, we had seniors and younger children with us and it was fun!
Is the ghost tour pretty scary ? For adults?
5150rocks
Redwood City, CA264 contributions
NOPE. I looked really hard and couldn't see it...
Pam C
Lincoln, California54 contributions
Is the Old Sacramento Underground Tour appropriate for children? Our grandsons, ages 6 & 8 will be visiting and we are looking for fun activities to do with them.
Thank you
curtismapman
West Sacramento, CA133 contributions
Thank you for your interest in the Underground Tour. Tours are not recommended for children 5 and under so your grandsons are at an age they should enjoy and understand most the tour. It's strongly advised that accompanying adults stay close to their child guests holding hands through the busy sidewalks and cross-streets of Old Sacramento.
Please note the first tour for 2016 is April 2nd at 11 am.
How do I book the tour online?
curtismapman
West Sacramento, CA133 contributions
Please call the phone number provided to obtain the link. Thank you.
Ron S
Loomis, CA1 contribution
Have out-of-town company coming that will be here on a Monday. Any tours ever available on Mondays?
curtismapman
West Sacramento, CA133 contributions
Thank you for your interest in the Underground Tours. Because of reduced demand, our tours operate Thursday through Sunday after Labor Day. Daily tours will resume on Memorial Day weekend in 2016. We're sorry we can't accommodate your guests and hope you'll keep us in mind for a future visit.
Ron S
Loomis, CA1 contribution
When are tours?
curtismapman
West Sacramento, CA133 contributions
Good morning,
For the rest of September, our Underground Tours are Thursday through Sunday.
Thursday and Friday tours leave the museum at 11 am, 12:30 pm, and 2 pm.
Saturday and Sunday, the first tour is at 10:30 am and then every half hour until 2:30 pm.
It's advisable to buy the tours on-line and leave enough time to secure parking.
Please let me know if you have any further questions.