H. Dikson, reporter for the Sacramento Bee, once said that anyone who wasn’t able to get a drink in Sacramento during prohibition was ‘dimmer than a half-wit.’
That’s because, during this pivotal era in American history, Sacramento was one of the two ‘wettest’ cities in California during prohibition. There were more than 30 known speakeasies throughout downtown Sacramento within 10 blocks of the Federal building, which served as headquarters for Prohibition agents.
With prohibition long gone and Sacramento’s summer nights heating up, a Saturday night spent with a cocktail and splash of history is the perfect recipe for fun.
Join Downtown Sacramento Partnership tour guide and history buff Shawn Peter for a special, guided tour through Old Sacramento’s underground watering holes. The tour begins at the ‘prohibition-era’ style River City Saloon with three additional locations on the tour including the famed Delta King riverboat, which at the time served as a ‘floating’ hotspot for illegal drinking, jazz bands, gambling and fine dining. Along the way, learn fascinating tidbits about the people and events that shaped the city’s early history as one of the ‘wettest cities in the union’. Enjoy cocktails, available for purchase, at each participating tour stop.
When: Saturday, June 20 from 5-7pm
Where: River City Saloon, Old Sacramento
Cost: $15 per person