<P> The Chinese remained resilient despite these efforts . They built their buildings out of bricks just as the building guidelines were established . They helped build part of the railroads that span the city as well as made a great contribution to the transcontinental railroad that spans the United States . They also helped build the levees within Sacramento and its surrounding cities . As a result, the Chinese are a well - recognized part of Sacramento's history and heritage . </P> <P> While most of Sacramento's Chinatown has now been razed, a small Chinatown mall remains as well as a museum dedicated to the history of Sacramento's Chinatown and the contributions Chinese Americans have made to the city . Amtrak sits along what was part of Sacramento's Chinatown "I" Street . </P> <P> The California State Legislature, with the support of Governor John Bigler, moved to Sacramento in 1854 . The capital of California under Spanish (and, subsequently, Mexican) rule had been Monterey, where in 1849 the first Constitutional Convention and state elections were held . The convention decided that San Jose would be the new state's capital . After 1850, when California's statehood was ratified, the legislature met in San Jose until 1851, Vallejo in 1852, and Benicia in 1853, before moving to Sacramento . In the 1879 Constitutional Convention, Sacramento was named to be the permanent state capital . </P> <P> Begun in 1860 to be reminiscent of the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C., the Classical Revival style California State Capitol was completed in 1874 . In 1861, the legislative session was moved to the Merchants Exchange Building in San Francisco for one session because of massive flooding in Sacramento . The legislative chambers were first occupied in 1869 while construction continued . From 1862 to 1868, part of the Leland Stanford Mansion was used for the governor's offices during Stanford's tenure as the Governor; and the legislature met in the Sacramento County Courthouse . </P>

When did sacramento become the state capital of california