Historic Preservation in Benicia

Historic Preservation is an approach to conserving structures and sites that represent a physical connection with people and events from our past. In addition to serving as visible reminders of our historical and cultural heritage, historic buildings contribute to Benicia’s unique character identity. This uniqueness strengthens the local economy by preserving property values, attracting tourists and encouraging investment in Benicia.

Much of Benicia’s history was influenced by its location along the Carquinez Strait, where the rivers of the Central Valley flow into the San Francisco Bay. This location allowed the City to be shaped by the transcontinental railway and the international shipping trade. Benicia’s main historic industries—tanneries, canneries, and shipyards— were located right along the waterfront. Ultimately, the waterfront and transportation activity molded Benicia’s social, commercial, and military history.

The City of Benicia values its local history and is home to two historic districts: the Downtown Historic District and Arsenal Historic District.  The local recognition of Benicia’s place in State and National history began over fifty years ago with the establishment of a downtown historic preservation district in 1969, and is now embodied in various aspects of the City’s government and culture. In addition to the Benicia General Plan, the City has adopted various documents to inform and guide the community in protection of our historic resources:

Please review the links below to learn more about the City's historic preservation program.