Site of Home of Newton Booth

Newton Booth kept a platform on the roof. From it his people signalled ships still working their way up the river, so the Booth Company could buy a cargo before it reached the dock and the competition. He was a wholesale grocer who became a lawyer, a state senator, then governor from 1871, and he went to the Senate in 1875 on an argument against the railroad monopoly the rest of this block was built on. He lived above the store. The bronze here was placed by the Native Sons.

What the plaque says

Booth Building This building was the home of the Booth Company, a wholesale grocery business and its founder Newton Booth, lawyer, writer, lecturer, and politician. Booth served as State Senator 1862-1863, and lived here while Governor of California 1871-1875 and United States Senator 1875-1881. His Inaugural Ball as governor was held in a ballroom on the second floor. The platform on the roof of the building was used to signal ships approaching Sacramento in order to purchase the cargo before the ships arrived at the dock, thus getting a jump on his competitors. Dedicated August 30, 2008 by the Native Sons of the Golden West, Duane R. Gavin, Grand President 2008-5

Where it stands

Worth the stop nearby

• Sacramento — steps away
  The Gold Rush river port that became the state capital, and jacked itself ten feet into the air to stop drowning.

More markers nearby

• Eagle Theater — steps away
• Vernon-Brannan House — steps away
• Site of Sacramento Union — steps away
• Site of Stage and Railroad (First) — steps away