Built between 1860 and 1874, the California State Capitol Building and its lush grounds were listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973, and became California Historic Landmark in 1974.

It was based on the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington, D.C., and designed by Reuben S. Clark of Clark and Kenitzer, one of San Francisco’s oldest architectural firms, founded in 1854.

The building went through a major renovation frim 1975-1982 to help it withstand earthquakes. Although it’s not in what is considered earthquake country, Sacramento did have two 1892 earthquakes that damaged the Capitol.