During our Sacramento walk, we cruised by the gorgeous capitol building and took in its festive Christmas tree out front.

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

The structure 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, which was 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.