Explore Outdoors: Whimsical sculptures in unexpected spot in downtown Sacramento

ENTRANCE TO A COURTHOUSE. IF I WERE TO SAY, HEY, COME WITH ME. LET’S EXPLORE. UNITED STATES COURTHOUSE, YOU MIGHT THINK I WAS NUTS, BUT STICK WITH ME FOR A MOMENT, BECAUSE ONE LOOK AROUND THE PLAZA HERE AND YOU’LL QUICKLY SEE THIS IS NO ORDINARY TRIP TO A COURTHOUSE FROM THE MANY STATUES OF FISH WITH FEET TO A BISON IN A TOP HAT. NATIVE AMERICANS TAKING PICTURES WITH GOLD MINERS TO A PIONEER SMOKING WOMAN DRAGGING HER SQUABBLING CHILDREN IN THE BACK SEAT OF A COVERED WAGON. THIS IS ALL DESCRIBED AS A COMICALLY ANACHRONISTIC SCENE WHERE SALMON MUNCH ON GOLD NUGGETS AND THE IDEAS OF THE GOLD RUSH ARE SEEN IN A WHIMSICAL WAY, COMPLETED IN 1999, THESE KNEE HIGH SCULPTURES ARE THE WORK OF TOM OTTERNESS. AS AN ADDED DELIGHT TO THE OPENING OF THE ROBERT MATSUI FEDERAL COURTHOUSE, THE EXAGGERATED CUTENESS OF THESE SMILING, CARTOONISH CHARACTERS IS SAID TO BELIE A SHREWD SOCIAL COMMENTARY ON THE WESTWARD EXPANSION OF THE GOLD RUSH INTO NATIVE AMERICAN TERRITORY. UPON CLOSER INSPECTION, THE TILES OF THE PLAZA ALSO HOLD ANOTHER REASON TO EXPLORE THESE SQUARES, INSCRIBED WITH LEGAL SAYINGS LIKE FAIRNESS IS WHAT JUSTICE IS OR LIBERTY IS ALWAYS UNFINISHED. BUSINESS OR GREAT NATIONS LIKE GREAT MEN SHOULD KEEP THEIR WORD. SO IF YOU’RE LOOKING FOR A VISUAL, THOUGHT PROVOKING AND UNIQUE SPOT TO EXPLORE, CONSIDER A TRIP TO THE ROBERT MATSUI FEDERAL COURTHOUSE IN SACRAMENTO, MIKE TESELLE FOR EXPLORE OUTDOORS. THAT COURTHOUSE IS LOCATED AT FIFTH AND I STREETS IN DOWNTOWN. YOU CAN SEE THIS STORY AND MORE OF OUR OUTDOOR EXPLORE OUTDOORS STORIE