2000 Newsroom Archive

Long-awaited Sacramento History Wall to be Unveiled

Sacramento, California, March 30, 2000 - A historic event of major proportions will take place when the long-awaited Sacramento History Wall is unveiled to the Sacramento community tomorrow afternoon. The History Wall is an 80-foot long mural that has been installed in the K Street Underpass under the I-5 Freeway.

At a cost of $100,000, the mural depicts a broad representation of people, events and places that have shaped the development of Sacramento from its prehistory era to the redevelopment of Old Sacramento. Funding for the History Wall project was provided by the Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency.

The lineup of famous Sacramentans consist of a Native American Woman, representative of pre-gold rush era; John Sutter, of Sutter's Mill and Sutter's Fort fame; James Marshall, the discoverer of gold; John Sutter, Jr., who surveyed and laid out Sacramento; S.C. Hastings, an early Sacramento pioneer judge; Sam Brannon, merchant and publisher; Peter Burnett, first Governor of California and merchant; and E.B. Crocker, Supreme Court Justice.

Railroad figures consist of Theodore Judah, driving force and genious behind development of the railroad. The "Big Four" railroad builders are comprised of Leland Stanford, Jr., Governor of California, and President of Central Pacific Railroad; Charles Crocker, who organized the labor for construction of railroad; Mark Hopkins, architect and financier behind the railroad development; and C.P. Huntington, co-owner with Hopkins of a large hardware business in Sacramento

Philanthropists include Margaret Crocker, who created the art gallery, Margarite Home for women, and Conservatory at 10th and Broadway; and Jane Stanford, philanthropist. Reformers such as William Land, reformer, philanthropist, and Mayor of Sacramento; and Hiram Johnson, reformer who led City lawsuit against the railroad and allowed development to occur along the river.

Educators include Sarah Jones, an African-American principal at an all white school before integration; Ernesto Galarza, writer, educator, labor organizer, diplomat, and nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize; Mary Tsukamoto, educator who brought the story of WWII Japanese-American Internment Camps to California school curriculum; and V. Aubrey Neasham, historian, who wrote original proposal for the Old Sacramento State Historic Park and Historic District.

Other pioneers include Frank Durkee, politician and community leader, and member of the Housing and Redevelopment Commission and major supporter for Old Sacramento; Eleanor McClatchy, political activist who led the charge to relocate the I-5 freeway around Old Sacramento; and Frank Fat, pioneer developer in Old Sacramento and one of the "Risk Takers."

The unveiling of the History Wall begins at 5 p.m., Thursday, March 30, 2000. Mayor Jimmie Yee and the City Council will dedicate the mural. Several family members of the people depicted on the History Wall will attend the event, including relatives of Frank Fat, Aubrey Neasham, and Mary Tsukamoto.