History is taught in many campus classrooms, but even street names can offer a lesson or two. Key players in Sacramento’s history are represented in Sac State’s moniker-inspired roads.
The University’s original street names, Jed Smith Drive and Judah Way (since renamed State University Drive), as well as the current Sinclair Road and Moraga Way, were inspired by early settlers’ exploration and activities in the Sacramento Valley.
Jedidiah Smith crossed the continent to California’s coast at a time when it was part of Mexico. In 1827, motivated by his fur trading company’s need for beaver pelts, Smith and 11 other men traveled from St. Louis to the San Gabriel Mission in California. From that region, he and his crew journeyed to the American River, presumably somewhere between the campus grounds and Folsom.
Theodore Judah contributed to California’s expansion through his role in the development of the railroad system. Judah took on the task of building the railroad from Sacramento to Folsom in 1854- 56. Southern Pacific Railroad emerged from the railroad company Judah formed, and later built the railroad tracks that form the western boundary of today’s campus.
Perpendicular to those tracks is Sinclair Way, the street that runs east-west from the railroad tracks to the back of Eureka Hall. John Sinclair, for whom it was named, lived on the property where the campus now stands.
Explorer Gabriel Moraga’s ventures into the Sacramento Valley were the inspiration for Sac State’s Moraga Way, the road that runs north and south beginning at Yosemite Hall and ending at the Central Plant. Moraga began his journey in San Jose and arrived in Sacramento just below the present site of Auburn.
Street-smarts
Eyes in the skies
Though he could easily tell you
how a galaxy forms or what makes
up a star, astronomy and physics
professor Chris Taylor knows that
talking about extraterrestrials
comes with the territory.
“You wouldn’t believe how many people come up to me and ask me if I believe in UFOs,” says Taylor.
The radio astronomer understands any fascination with such unknowns, adding he and his colleagues are available to clear up any misconceptions about space.
“It’s fun,” says Taylor, who specializes in how galaxies and stars form. “People have a general interest in astronomy that they don’t have with other areas of science.”
Since joining the faculty in 2003, Taylor has been glad to share his expertise with the media and public. In November, he answered questions from nearly 400 stargazers who came to Amador Hall’s rooftop observatory to see the rare transit of Mercury across the Sun—not visible in Sacramento since 1960.
Taylor has also spoken about annual events such as the summer solstice, and recently held a talk on “What the Heck Just Happened to Pluto?”
He hopes any added attention to the astronomy and physics department helps garner support for the university’s plans to build a Science and Space Center. So far the University has $1.5 million in federal appropriations for the project, which will have a planetarium and a new observatory. Until it’s built, the department continues to offer public viewings from the Amador observatory each semester. “It’s our duty to reach out to the public as the only Sacramento-area university with an observatory,” Taylor says.
As for those unidentified flying objects, he says, “No,” he doesn’t believe in them. Taylor contends there could be more life out there, “but they most certainly can’t reach us in space ships.”
» For a list of upcoming viewings and other astronomy events visit www.csus.edu/physics/astronomy/ events.stm.
“You wouldn’t believe how many people come up to me and ask me if I believe in UFOs,” says Taylor.
The radio astronomer understands any fascination with such unknowns, adding he and his colleagues are available to clear up any misconceptions about space.
“It’s fun,” says Taylor, who specializes in how galaxies and stars form. “People have a general interest in astronomy that they don’t have with other areas of science.”
Since joining the faculty in 2003, Taylor has been glad to share his expertise with the media and public. In November, he answered questions from nearly 400 stargazers who came to Amador Hall’s rooftop observatory to see the rare transit of Mercury across the Sun—not visible in Sacramento since 1960.
Taylor has also spoken about annual events such as the summer solstice, and recently held a talk on “What the Heck Just Happened to Pluto?”
He hopes any added attention to the astronomy and physics department helps garner support for the university’s plans to build a Science and Space Center. So far the University has $1.5 million in federal appropriations for the project, which will have a planetarium and a new observatory. Until it’s built, the department continues to offer public viewings from the Amador observatory each semester. “It’s our duty to reach out to the public as the only Sacramento-area university with an observatory,” Taylor says.
As for those unidentified flying objects, he says, “No,” he doesn’t believe in them. Taylor contends there could be more life out there, “but they most certainly can’t reach us in space ships.”
» For a list of upcoming viewings and other astronomy events visit www.csus.edu/physics/astronomy/ events.stm.
Museum of the peopleSacramento State faculty members are part of a new museum focused on working class art and culture.
Plans call for the 20,000 square-foot facility—to be located on Del Paso Boulevard in Sacramento—to feature a main gallery with rotating exhibits, presentations, lectures and concerts. Working class musical genres such as blues, Mexican border music and Zydeco will be highlighted. There will also be an edible gallery with a demonstration kitchen highlighting food that is grown and prepared in the Central Valley. It is set to open Labor Day weekend of 2008.
The effort to establish the museum has been led by Joe L. Moore, who has handled special grant-funded projects through the University Library such as the digital California Underground Railroad archives. A number of Sacramento State professors have been involved and are on the museum’s curatorial and advisory boards.
Though the museum will be independent of the University, plans call for ongoing partnerships with specific academic departments in areas such as faculty research, exhibit development and student internships.
Then and Now
The Administration Building, now known as
Sacramento Hall, was the first building on
Sac State’s “new” J Street site. The University
movedto the current campus location in 1953.
The Administration Building, now known as
Sacramento Hall, was the first building on
Sac State’s “new” J Street site. The University
movedto the current campus location in 1953.
(left) Sacramento Hall, circa 1953.
(right) Sacramento Hall, Spring 2007.
(right) Sacramento Hall, Spring 2007.