Historic Highway 99: Sacramento to Stockton
More than100 years ago Stockton Boulevard was a thriving transportation corridor linking the cities of Sacramento and Stockton. This function ended in 1961 when State Highway 99 replaced Stockton Boulevard as the regional transportation artery. Although the lengths of the new freeway and the former street route of Stockton Boulevard were almost identical, eight to 10 minutes were shaved off travel time when driving the entire distance. This was big news in those days! Then, as now, delays on along the route were caused by restricted speed zones, signalized intersections and narrow lanes.

The Central California Traction (CCT) provided interurban train service from Sacramento to Stockton and provided local streetcar service to two new neighborhoods – Colonial Heights and Colonial Acres – and commuter service to the central city. These neighborhoods were built along the main line on Stockton Boulevard between 21^st Avenue and Sacramento Boulevard (now known as Broadway). The CCT stopped offering train service in 1933, but continued offering streetcar passenger service until their system was sold in 1943.

Historic Highway 99 lives on. Stockton Boulevard is a major transportation artery connecting the Central City and South Sacramento. However, you can still drive (West and East) Stockton Boulevard to Galt. It requires some zigzagging and creative use of Google Maps.

Take me to the fair: Then & Now
The first California State Fair was held in San Francisco, October 4, 1854, drawing more than 5,000 visitors.  The fair was held in a different city each year, with Sacramento hosting in 1855.  When the exposition returned to Sacramento in 1859, it was decided that a permanent site should be found. By 1860, a six-block site bounded by E, H, and 20th and 22nd streets was purchased and was home to the state fair for the next fifty years. An Agricultural Hall at 6^th and M streets was used for exhibitions until 1884 until a new exposition hall, completed in 1884, was built at 15^th and N streets in Capitol Park.

Increased attendance at the State Fair forced the purchase of 80 acres just outside the (then) city limits on Stockton Boulevard. The first fair was held there in 1909. The admission price was $.50, which had remained unchanged for 39 years. Continued growth caused that site to be expanded by 75 acres in 1937. By the 1950s, the State Fair annually was attracting 750,000 attendees, considered a top attraction in America through the 1950s and one of the top five fairs in the nation; it was a boon to the Stockton Boulevard bringing jobs and tourism dollars to the community.

In 1968, the California State Fair moved to its current location at Cal Expo.  Much of the Stockton Boulevard location was acquired by the UC Davis Medical Center. Two remaining historic structures still stand at Stockton Boulevard and Broadway.  The old fairgrounds stretched for almost a mile north and east from that intersection. Currently vacant, the majestic Governor’s Hall marked the entrance to the fair. The adjacent Agricultural Pavilion (2921 Stockton Boulevard) now houses the UC Davis Clinical Translational Science Center. The Center is one of approximately 60 National Institutes of Health-supported centers funded to facilitate and accelerate the study of human health and disease to bring new treatments to patients and communities through biomedical research.

Stockton Boulevard’s Medical Mile
Along Stockton Boulevard, a mile-long complex of medical facilities, support systems and education and research centers put this district on the world map!  Teams of professionals and volunteers provide compassionate care to patients and families and the community.

The Boulevard’s “medical mile” history dates back to 1871 with the relocation of the Sacramento County Hospital (aka Sacramento Medical Center).  With time and many changes, the Medical Center officially became the UC Davis Medical Center (2315 Stockton Boulevard) on July 1, 1978. Spread out over more than 142 acres, the campus is a nationally recognized academic medical center offering primary care for all ages, specialty care in 150 fields, and the latest treatment options and expertise for the most complex health conditions.

On April 14, 1997, Shriners Children’s Northern California (2425 Stockton Boulevard) opened and accepted its first patient for care. A new era in treatment for children, the community welcomed Shriners with open arms. More than 70,000 children have been accepted for care since it opened.  The hospital has become the busiest pediatric burn center in Northern California and ranks with UC Davis Children’s Hospital as one of the “Best Children’s Hospitals” for pediatric orthopedics. Northern California Shriners Hospital treats children who have orthopedic conditions, burns, spinal cord injuries, cleft lip, need for specialized plastic surgery and other complex surgical needs.

The Firefighters Burn Institute (3101 Stockton Boulevard) is small but mighty. Built in 1933, the beautifully restored fire station was once home to Engine Company 9. Following the tragic 1972 Farrell’s Ice Cream Parlour plane crash, it became agonizingly clear that Sacramento lacked sufficient burn-treatment facilities to deal with such a catastrophe. Soon after, Sacramento Fire Department Captain Cliff Haskell and Firefighters Local 522 went on a fund-raising mission. The Firefighters Burn Institute was dedicated on Dec. 21, 1973.  A charitable foundation, the Institute works closely with Shriners Hospitals for Children – Northern California and UC Davis Medical Center. They fund continuing education and medical research for the staffs of both hospitals.

“In the beginning, the mission was to establish burn care, but then the aftercare became part of the mission,” said Mike Daw, executive director of the institute. “You go through your healing process. There’s not just surviving but there’s thriving, too. So we established other programs for burn survivors (including firefighters) so they can thrive to best of their abilities. We have camps for burn-survivor children, and a support group and retreat for adult burn survivors as well as additional programs.” 

These three shining stars have helped Stockton Boulevard thrive!