State Historical Landmarks
There are many historical landmarks in Solano and Napa counties as well as in Winters in Yolo County. This data is provided by the Office of Historic Preservation - California Department of Parks and Recreation and is also available in the California Historical Landmarks Book. Solano County BENICIA CAPITOLErected in 1852, ostensibly as Benicia's City Hall, this historic building served as one of the four locations of the state "capitol on wheels," earning that title from Feb. 4, 1853 to Feb.25, 1854. It was deeded to the state in 1951. Location: Northwest corner of 1st and G streets, Benicia FIRST BUILDING ERECTED IN CALIFORNIA BY MASONIC LODGE FOR USE AS A HALL The first Masonic hall built in California (1850), it was occupied by the lodge Oct. 14, 1850, and formally dedicated Dec. 27, 1850. This building served as the Masonic Temple for Benicia Lodge No. 5 until 1888, when the Masons moved to a new temple. Used by a boys' club prior to World War I and by the American Legion shortly after the war, the Masonic hall was reacquired by Benicia Lodge No. 5 in 1950. Location: 110 W J St., Benicia SITE OF FIRST PROTESTANT CHURCH IN CALIFORNIA
On April 15, 1849, the Rev. Sylvester Woodbridge, Jr., organized the first Presbyterian Church of Benicia, the first Protestant church established in California with an ordained resident pastor. The church was disbanded in 1875. Location: Benicia City Park, K St between 1st and 2nd streets, Benicia BENICIA ARSENAL
Capt. Charles P. Stone, with 21 enlisted men, established Benicia Arsenal as an ordnance depot in August 1851. The first building, a small wooden powder magazine, was erected in September 1851. Between 1853 and 1863, Congress authorized $550,000 to be spent on the establishment, with some 15 stone and frame buildings constructed. The arsenal was first called "California Ordnance Depot," then "Benicia Arsenal Depot," and finally, in the spring of 1852, "Benicia Arsenal." It played an important role in crises such as the Indian wars. Some of its original buildings are in use today. Descendants of the men who established Benicia Arsenal are still living in Benicia and other parts of California. Location: Main gate of port area, intersection of Adams and Jefferson Sts, Benicia Listed on the National Register of Historic Places: NPS-76000534 SITE OF FORMER BENICIA BARRACKS Benicia Barracks, established April 30, 1849, and organized by Brevet Lt. Col. Silas Casey, 2nd U.S. Infantry, served as the U.S. Army headquarters for the Department of the Pacific from 1851-1857. Also known as the "Post near Benicia," it remained a garrison installation until 1898. The post hospital, built in 1856, is the only remaining structure associated with the original barracks. The barracks became part of the Benicia Arsenal, which closed in 1964. Location: Francesca Terrace Park, across from the Benicia National Guard Armory, 711 Hillcrest Ave, Benicia VACA-PEÑA ADOBE
This is the site of the 10-square-league Rancho Los Putos that Gov. Pio Pico granted to Juan Felipe Peña and Manuel Cabeza Vaca in 1845. The Peña Adobe, erected in 1843, is still owned by the descendants of their families (1955). The nearby town of Vacaville was established in 1851 on land that Vaca sold to William McDaniel. Location: Take Pena Adobe Road interchange on I-80, go northeast 0.5 miles on Pena Adobe Road to Peña Adobe Park, Vacaville. SITE OF STATE CAPITOL AT VALLEJO
Vallejo was the official seat of state government from Feb. 4, 1851, to Feb. 4, 1853. Location: Located in northwest corner of city parking lot, 200 block of York St, between Sacramento and Santa Clara streets. FIRST U.S. NAVAL STATION IN THE PACIFIC
Mare Island Navy Yard, established Sept. 16, 1854 by Commander David G. Farragut, U.S.N., was the Navy's first shipyard in the Pacific. A commission headed by Commodore John D. Sloat, U.S.N. selected the site in 1852 . Mare Island was not only the Navy's first shipyard, but ammunition depot, hospital, Marine barracks, cemetery, chapel, and radio station in the Pacific. Location: Entrance to Mare island Naval Shipyard, main gate, southwest corner of Tennessee street and Mare Island Way, Vallejo ROCKVILLE STONE CHAPEL The cornerstone of this chapel, erected by pioneers of Methodist Episcopal Church South with volunteer labor and donated funds, was laid Oct. 3, 1856, on a site supplied by Landy and Sarah Alford. The chapel was dedicated in February 1857. By 1929, the chapel had deteriorated and the church deeded it to Rockville Public Cemetery District as a pioneer monument. It was restored in 1940. Location: Rockville Cemetery, Suisun Valley Road, 0.2 miles north of Rockville BENICIA SEMINARY
Founded in 1852 as the Young Ladies' Seminary of Benicia, Mills College was acquired from Mary Atkins by Cyrus and Susan Mills in 1865 and moved to its present site in Oakland in 1871. The state of California chartered it as a college in 1885. Location: City park, Military W. St. between 1st and 2nd streets, Benicia SAINT PAUL'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH
Designed in 1859 by Lt. Julian McAllister and built by shipwrights of the Pacific Mail and Steamship Company, St. Paul's is considered an outstanding example of early California Gothic ecclesiastical architecture. Notable for its fine craftsmanship, this building has continuously served the Episcopal Church since its consecration by the Rt. Rev. William Ingraham Kip in 1860. Location: 120 E. J St at 1st St., Benicia FISCHER-HANLON HOUSE
The building, an outstanding example of East Coast Federalist styling, illustrates architectural diffusion during the Gold Rush. Joseph Fisher, a Swiss immigrant who came to Benicia in 1849 and co-owned a butcher store, purchased this lot on July 1, 1858. He moved the house, reputed to be an old hotel, onto it. Location: 135 W. G St., Benicia TURNER/ROBERTSON SHIPYARD 1883-1918
In 1882, Matthew Turner of San Francisco relocated his shipyard to Benicia. Turner, the most prodigious shipbuilder in North America, constructed 228 vessels, 169 of which were launched here. James Robertson purchased the shipyard in 1913 and operated it until 1918. The yard sways, and the Whaler Stamboul, used as a shipyard work platform, are visible at low tide. Location: Matthew Turner Shipyard Park, foot of W. 12th St off of W. K St., Benicia Yolo County UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA EXPERIMENTAL FARM, WOLFSKILL GRANT
In 1842, John R. Wolfskill arrived here, laden with fruit seeds and cuttings. A true horticulturist, he became the father of the fruit industry in this region. In 1937 his daughter, Frances Wolfskill Taylor Wilson, bequeathed 107.28 acres to the University of California for an experimental farm. The university's research at this portion of Rancho Rio de los Putos has enriched the state's horticultural industry. Location: University of California Experimental Farm, Putah Creek Road, 1.5 miles southwest of Winters Napa County OLD BALE MILL This historic gristmill was erected by Dr. E. T. Bale, grantee of Carne Humana Rancho, in 1846. The mill, with surrounding land, was deeded to the Native Sons of the Golden West by Mrs. W. W. Lyman, and was restored through the efforts of the Native Son Parlors of Napa County. Location: Bale Grist Mill State Historic Park, Hwy. 29, 3369 N. St. Helena Hwy., 3 miles northwest of St. Helena CHILES MILL
Joseph Ballinger Chiles, who first came to California in 1841, erected the mill on Rancho Catacula 1845-56. The first American flour mill in Northern California, it was still in use in the 1880s. Chiles served as a vice president of the Society of California Pioneers, 1850-53. Location: Southwest corner on hillside, Chiles and Pope Road and Lower Chiles Valley Road, 3.6 miles north on Hwy. 128, Chiles Valley LA CHRISTIANITA Near this spring, the first Christian baptism in Alta California was performed by Padre Francisco Gomez, a member of the Portol Expedition, in 1769. Location: Site and plaque in Camp Pendleton, Los Cristianitos Canyon, on Cristianitos Road, 0.4 mi north of intersection of San Mateo Road, 3 mi east of I-5 at San Clemente, plaque in San Clemente Civic Center 100 Avenida Presidio, San Clemente CHARLES KRUG WINERY Founded in 1861 by Charles Krug (1825-1892), this is the oldest operating winery in Napa Valley. The pioneer winemaker of this world-famous region, Krug made the first commercial wine in Napa County at Napa in 1858. Location: Krug Ranch, 2800 Main St., St. Helena GEORGE YOUNT BLOCKHOUSE
George Calvert Yount, pioneer settler in Napa County, built this log blockhouse in 1836. Nearby was his adobe house, built in 1837, and across the bridge were his grist and saw mills, erected before 1845. Born in North Carolina in 1794, Yount was a trapper, rancher, and miller. He became grantee of the Rancho Caymus and La Jota. He died at Yountville in 1865. Location: Northeast corner of Cook Road and Yount Mill Road, 1 mile north of Yountville SITE OF YORK'S CABIN, CALISTOGA
Among the first houses in this area was John York's log cabin, constructed in October 1845. Rebuilt as part of the home of the Kortum family, it was used as a residence until razed in 1930. Nearby was the cabin of David Hudson, also built in October 1845. Calistoga was named by Samuel Brannan. Location: Southwest corner Hwy. 29 (Foothill Blvd.) and Lincoln Ave., Calistoga SITE OF HUDSON CABIN, CALISTOGA
David Hudson was one of the early pioneers who helped develop the upper portion of Napa Valley by purchasing land, clearing it, and planting crops and building homes. Hudson built his cabin in October 1845. Location: Northeast corner of Hwy. 29 (Foothill Blvd.) and Lincoln Ave., Calistoga SAM BRANNAN STORE, CALISTOGA
Sam Brannan arrived in Napa Valley in the late 1850s and purchased a square mile of land at the foot of Mount St. Helena. This is the store he built, in which he made $50,000 in one year. Location: Northwest corner of Wapoo Ave. and Grant St., 203 Wapoo Ave., Calistoga SAM BRANNAN COTTAGE, CALISTOGA
Sam Brannan arrived in Napa Valley in the late 1850s with the dream of making it the "Saratoga of California." In 1866 cottages were built and palm trees planted in preparation for the grand opening of the resort. This is the only cottage still standing. Location: 1311 Washington St., Calistoga SITE OF KELSEY HOUSE, CALISTOGA
Nancy Kelsey arrived in California in 1841 with the Bidwell-Bartleson party and settled with her family south of present-day Calistoga. Now the hearthstone is all that can be seen of the house. The property is owned by the Rockstrohs. Location: 500 feet northwest of intersection of State Hwy. 29 and Diamond Mtn. Road, 1.1 miles south of Calistoga NAPA VALLEY RAILROAD DEPOT, CALISTOGA
The Napa Valley Railroad depot, now the Southern Pacific depot, was built in 1868. Its roundhouse across Lincoln Avenue is gone. On its first trip, this railroad brought people to Calistoga for the elaborate opening of Brannan's summer resort in October 1868. Location: 1458 Lincoln Ave., Calistoga GRAVE OF GEORGE C. YOUNT
George Calvert Yount (1794-1865) was the first U.S. citizen to be ceded a Spanish land grant in Napa Valley (1836). A skilled hunter, frontiersman, craftsman, and farmer, he was considered the true embodiment of all the finest qualities of an advancing civilization blending with the existing primitive culture. This kindly host of Caymus Rancho encouraged sturdy American pioneers to establish ranches in this area, so it was well populated before the Gold Rush. Location: George C. Yount Pioneer Cemetery, Lincoln and Jackson streets, Yountville ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON STATE PARK
In the spring of 1880, Robert Louis Stevenson brought his bride to Silverado. He and Fannie Osbourne Stevenson lived here from May 19 until July, while he gathered the notes for Silverado Squatters. Location: Hwy. 29, 75 miles northwest of Calistoga BERINGER BROTHERS WINERY
Built by Frederick and Jacob Beringer, natives of Mainz, Germany, this winery has the unique distinction of never having ceased operations since its founding in 1876. Here, in the European tradition, workers dug underground wine tunnels hundreds of feet in length. These maintain a constant temperature of 58 degrees, a factor considered necessary in the maturing and aging of fine wines. Location: 2000 Main St., St. Helena VETERANS HOME OF CALIFORNIA
This home for California's aged and disabled veterans was established in 1884 by Mexican War veterans and members of the Grand Army of the Republic. In January 1897 the Veterans Home Association deeded the home and its 910 acres of land to the state, which has since maintained it. Location: Southwest corner of California Drive and Hwy. 29, Yountville FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH BUILDING
Designed by pioneer architects R. H. Daley and Theodore Eisen, this church is considered an outstanding example of late Victorian Gothic architectural styling. It is the best surviving example in this region of the early works associated with Eisen, who later became an important Southern California architect. The church has been in continuous use since its construction in 1874, longest pastorates were those of Richard Wylie and Erwin Bollinger. Location: 1333 3rd St between Randolph and Franklin streets, Napa Twentieth Century Folk Art Environments (Thematic) LITTO
This is one of California's exceptional Twentieth Century Folk Art Environments. During a period of 30 years, Emanuele "Litto" Damonte (1896-1985), with the help of his neighbors, collected more than 2,000 hubcaps. All around Hubcap Ranch are constructions and arrangements of hubcaps, bottles, and pulltops which proclaim that "Litto, the Pope Valley Hubcap King," was here. Location: 6654 Pope Valley Road, 2.1 miles northwest of Pope Valley
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