On July 3, 2003 the last of a series of fires caused the razing of the Comstock Building at Eighth and J Streets. The pictured block was filled-in in 2005 with 800 J Lofts, a 46 million dollar mixed housing and retail structure. It was built with...
This November 1940 photograph shows Sacramento’s annual Christmas Parade as, led by Santa Claus, it proceeds east on K Street between Sixth and Seventh. Sponsored by the “Sacramento Bee,” the Sacramento Retail Merchants’ Association and...
This March 7, 1941 photograph shows the entrance to Melgrims Millinery on 817 K Street. The store was opened in February 1933 at 1006 K Street under the leadership of Kansas native Mabelle Frank. Frank was a veteran of the retail industry, having...
This photograph from the 1895 California State Fair reveals an exhibit from C.B. Strong and Company. Strong was a wholesale and retail dealer in various kinds of flower, garden and field seeds. Cut flowers and floral designs for weddings, parties...
Taken on August 8, 1940, this photograph shows the interior of the Otto Wiesen Jewelry Shop at 1024 Tenth Street. Prior to settling in at the pictured location, Wiesen had stores at 501-and-a-half K Street, 1013 Eighth Street, 1009 K Street, 1007...
This circa 1929 photograph shows the facade of the Van Voorhies-Phinney saddlery building on 322-324 J Street. Although the company descends from the R. Stone and Company, which was established in 1850, it didn’t hit its stride until 1869, when...
The iconic marquee of the Crest Theater at 1013 K Street dominates this October 30, 1949, photograph. After having been closed for three years for renovation, the theater opened on October 6 of the same year to a crowd of 5,000 giddy...
The southeast corner of Eighth and J Streets is captured in this circa 1940 photograph. Businesses shown are Hank's Smoke Shop at 800 J Street, George Lidekas Fruits at 802 J Street, Chris' Blue Plate Special at 1001a Eighth Street, Ramona Shoe...
This view of a dormant storefront for the Grand Rapids Furniture Company at 631 K Street was taken in 1961. The store had been operated by the Samoville family – Louis, Avron, and Anne – a longtime fixture in Sacramento’s retail furniture...
Taken in circa 1970, this color photograph reveals the western strech of Second Street, between I and J Streets. The pictured buildings are vacant, awaiting a an earnest effort by the City of Sacramento and other players to develop a 28-acre...
Taken in circa 1975, this photograph captures a view of the K Street Mall, looking east from the intersection Twelfth and K Streets. To the left of the frame are the venerable McCurry's Photography at 1131 K Street and Lauter and Son's Gifts. To...
A frenzied scene of pedestrian and automobile traffic clogs the intersection of Ninth and K Streets in this 1945 photograph. Between 1945 and 1946, total national retail income rose from 18.2 billion dollars to 19.8 billion dollars, and a bustling...
A frenzied scene of pedestrian and automobile traffic clogs the intersection of Ninth and K Streets in this 1945 photograph. Between 1945 and 1946, total national retail income rose from 18.2 billion dollars to 19.8 billion dollars, and a bustling...
A large sculptural fountain sits in the center of the intersection of Eleventh and K Streets. In an effort to prevent the migration of retail outlets to suburban shopping centers, Sacramento turned K Street into a pedestrian mall in 1969. Having...
This July 1947 photograph shows busy box offices at the entrance to Edmonds Field at 1100 Broadway. Home to the Sacramento Solons baseball team, the stadium was built in 1922 as Moreing Field, named after team owner Lew Moreing. The stadium was...
This 1905 postcard shows one of Sacramento's first retail landmarks, Weinstock, Lubin and Company at Fourth and Street. The pictured structure replaced the store's previous home which was gutted by fire in January 1903.
This circa 2000 postcard presents Sacramento's contrasting urban realities. The 1960s provided a watershed period for Sacramento as redevelopment efforts purged the blight from realm that -- at one time -- saw one of every three retail outlets...
This 1946 postcard shows the bustling intersection of Eighth and K streets. Prominent are Hale Brothers, located at 825 K Street, the Hotel Clunie, located at 805 K Street, and the Fox Senator Theater, located at 912 K Street. The back of the...
Shown in 1946 is a bustling intersection of Eighth and K streets. Prominent are Hale Brothers, located at 825 K Street, the Hotel Clunie, located at 805 K Street, and the Fox Senator Theater, located at 912 K Street. The back of the card reads as...
An account in “Sacramento County California” printed in 1911 describes Sacramento as a city being “Pushed forward by the tremendous pressure of the richest farming area in the world.” It goes on to describe the capital city as having three...
