Old Sacramento in Sacramento County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)
The First Brick Building in Sacramento
The Bridge Lunch Restaurant was the last of a long line of restaurants, saloons and boardinghouses located at, or nearby, 1323 Front Street, the first brick structure in the city. George Zins, a native of Searsburg, Lorraine, started a brick-making business in Sutterville in 1847 and hauled the bricks for the building to Sacramento by oxen-teams. Zins is also credited with building the first brick building in the state a year earlier at Sutterville.
In 1849, Zins constructed his two-story brick house that measured 35 x 60 feet and was built at a cost of $40,000. The property, 60 feet wide, located on Front Street between M and N streets, extended 150 feet to the alley. It had been obtained from John Sutter who, in 1847, had married Zins to Doris or Dorthea Wolfinger, a survivor of the Donner Party.
The building, known as the Anchor House, was intended as a family residence and store. However, during the flood of 1849-50 when it was used as a haven, Zins rented a portion of the building to John Winters, who opened a lodging house. The renting of the space to boarders was a pattern of use that was to characterize the subsequent history of the building and site. It was one of the few buildings to escape the great fire of 1852. A new 252-room hotel opened on the site in 2002.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Industry & Commerce • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1323.
Location. 38° 34.784′ N, 121° 30.442′ W. Marker is in Sacramento, California, in Sacramento County. It is in Old Sacramento. Marker can be reached from Capital Mall. Marker is located near the entrance to the River Front Promenade off of Capital Mall and Front Streets. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Sacramento CA 95814, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Independent Boat Operations of the 1850s (here, next to this marker); The Docks (a few steps from this marker); The River Lines Fleet (within shouting distance of this marker); City Wharf and Warehouses (within shouting distance of this marker); The Interurban Railroad Lines (within shouting distance of this marker); View Near the M Street Bridge (within shouting distance of this marker); Merchant Marine Monument (within shouting distance of this marker); Sacramento’s Maritime Heritage (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Sacramento.
Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on March 4, 2009, by Syd Whittle of Mesa, Arizona. This page has been viewed 1,655 times since then and 39 times this year. Last updated on March 4, 2009, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on March 4, 2009, by Syd Whittle of Mesa, Arizona.