However, the Fort was some distance from the Sacramento River, which was the main means of transport to the coast of California, and the area that would become the modern city developed along the waterfront.
A large effort was made to secure the area's future as an outdoor living history center similar to Colonial Williamsburg in Virginia.
[3] Today, the Old Sacramento Historic District covers the area between the river frontage and Interstate 5, between I Street and the Capitol Mall.
The State Historic Park comprises about a third of the total acreage of the district including half of the waterfront, a large grassy area and railroad features.
A historic sternwheel riverboat, the Delta King, is moored in the river and serves as a hotel, restaurant and theater.
Old Sac's regular corps of costumed docents is supplemented by extra volunteers and professional reenactors to recreate life in Sacramento as it was in the mid to late 1800s.