History

Benicia, the jewel of Solano County, was named in 1847 after Mexican General Mariano Vallejo sold the land from his vast land grant to Robert Semple & Thomas Larkin. General Vallejo asked that they name the city after his wife Francisca Benicia. It is said that first word of gold found at Sutter's Mill was leaked at a Benicia Tavern thus starting the Gold Rush. Benicia became a way station on the way to the Sierras.

Founded in 1849, historic Benicia was the third city to incorporate in the State in 1851. It became the third State Capitol in 1853. After it was learned that the Legislature was unhappy with muddy San Jose, Benicians rushed to erect the red brick capitol. By making the bricks on site, the construction was finished in just 4 months. Benicia was the State Capitol for 13 short months before Governor John Bigler moved the capitol to his hometown of Sacramento. The building is now a State Park & a historic landmark open for tours.

Benicia was home to a military Arsenal, which supplied weapons to U.S. troops in battles and wars beginning in 1849. It is interesting to note that the Arsenal housed camels at the Camel Barns (now a museum) after a failed attempt to incorporate the dromedaries into the army as pack animals. Also interesting is the fact that Ulysses S. Grant was assigned here during his earlier military service. The Benicia Arsenal was decommissioned in 1960 and the area is now home to a thriving industrial park and many artisans & craftsmen.

As a waterfront community, Benicia was a great shipbuilding center until just after World War I and home to thriving waterfront industries (canneries and tanneries) well into the 20th century. Please visit the links below for more information on Benicia history: