Modesto is a lively city bursting with beautiful attractions, entertainment, restaurants, nightlife and shopping places. It is a modern city with multi-cultural lifestyle, great culture and traditions, plenty of educational and business opportunities, and mild weather throughout the year.
Image By Carl Skaggs [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons History of Modesto
In 1870, Modesto was founded with the emergence of railroad. It was one of the booming towns of the central valley. The town was to be named after William Chapman Ralston, a San Francisco banker. But he objected this, and the town was named “Modesto”, after Ralston’s modesty. Modesto is a Spanish word meaning “modest”. In 1884, the city of Modesto was officially incorporated. With railroad, grain fields, and a nearby river, the city grew. Later, irrigation fields of fruits, nut trees and vegetables, and dams were formed in the foothills.
Modesto’s population was more than 4,500 by 1910. Soon, it came to known as the “Garden City” and the “Rose City” due to its many well-maintained lawns, gardens and the rose bushes. In 1912, the downtown Modesto arch was formed. The arch has a slogan emblazoned on it- “Water, Wealth, Contentment, Health”, which was selected during a contest in 1911 as the slogan for Modesto. The city today has transformed from retail and manufacturing to the service-oriented industry. It has a thriving life and attracts people from across the country.
Important Locations in Modesto
Modesto offers wide array of things to see and do. Tour the museums, catch the dance or musical performance, spend a day in the action-packed parks, and discover the cultural attractions.
McHenry Mansion:
McHenry Mansion is a Victorian Italianate style historic house that exudes history and grandeur.
McHenry Museum: Know the history of Modesto and Stanislaus County at the
McHenry Museum.
Modesto Arch: See the Modesto Arch which displays the Modesto’s motto: Water, Wealth, Contentment, Health.
Boomers! Modesto: Enjoy mini-golf, bumper boats, batting cages, go-karts, arcade games and other thrilling rides at the
Boomers! Modesto.
Gallo Center for the Arts: Catch performing arts and musical shows at the
Gallo Center for the Arts. With state-of-the-art sound system, comfortable seating and great shows, this is the best performing arts venue in Modesto.
State Theatre: See the classic and contemporary movies at the
State Theatre. Also, experience the rock concerts and live stage musicals at this spot.
Great Valley Museum of Natural History: Explore science and natural history at the
Great Valley Museum of Natural History. It features planetarium shows, a discovery room, native habitat displays, interactive periodic table, and more.
To know more about the important locations in Modesto, click here.
People and Culture of Modesto
Modesto has an energy and charm of a metro city. It offers diversity and facilities of big cities, while maintaining the small town elegance. The city’s culture is enriched with performing arts, festivals and events, entertainment and local minor league baseball. It is considered the Central Valley’s cultural hub. The City of Modesto has friendly and welcoming people.
Time Zone and Phone Codes of Modesto
Time Zone
Modesto follows the Pacific Time Zone.
UTC-GMT Offset: Modesto is GMT/UTC- 8hours during Standard Time and GMT/UTC-7 hours during Daylight Saving Time
Daylight Saving Time Usage: Modesto uses Daylight Saving Time
Time Zone Abbrv.: PST is abbreviated for Pacific Standard Time and PDT is abbreviated for Pacific Daylight Time
Phone Code
Area code: 209
Best Time to Visit Modesto
The best time to visit Modesto is spring and fall offering mild weather and perfect to explore the outdoors. The city hosts plenty of festivals and events year round. Some of the popular events and festivals in Modesto are:
Important Locations in Modesto Map Guide
