Chart of the Sacramento River from Suisun City to the American River, California

Cartographer: Cadwalader Ringgold (Commander, U.S. Navy); assisted by Edwin Cullberg (Lieutenant, Hydrotechnic Corps, Swedish Navy) and T. A. Emmet (Civil Engineer)

Year: 1850

Published in 1850 for Gold Rush navigation, this hydrographic chart follows every meander of the Sacramento River between Suisun Bay and the mouth of the American River. Ringgold’s survey plots depth soundings, sandbars, wooded levees, and anchorages that were vital to steamboat pilots hauling miners and freight upriver. Four detailed insets spotlight the street grids of Sacramento and Boston, the Sacramento Cut, the Middle and East Fork confluence, and Suisun City’s waterfront. Two profile sketches illustrate typical tree lines and riverbank elevations for visual reference on approach. Ranchos, Indian villages, and early landings appear along the banks, offering a snapshot of settlement just before levee building and railroad expansion reshaped the valley. Compass roses, mileage scales, and bottom-type symbols make it a practical guide as well as a rich historical source.