Benicia in Solano County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Benicia Capitol State Historic Park

Photographed by Joseph Alvarado

1. Benicia Capitol State Historic Park Marker

Inscription.

Benicia Capitol State Historic Park. . Center Panel:. Two California Stories Echo Across Centuries Visit the venue for California political action in 1853-54. Tour the Fischer-Hanlon House to steep yourself in 19th century home life., Explore a Historic Garden Typical nineteenth century homes featured formal gardens out front. Back yards were put to work for hanging laundry, growing fruits and vegetables, and keeping chickens, goats, and sheep., Generations of the Fischer-Hanlon family planted and lovingly nurtured this unique landscape. Some of the plants were gifts from students to the Hanlon sisters, who were teachers. The garden combines abundant fruit trees and shrubs, with flowering perennials and exotic succulents. , Walk up the cobbled paths, visit the wisteria, and enjoy exploring this delightful garden. See if you recognize plants and trees., Left Panel:. Fischer-Hanlon House Step Into Another Way of Life Benicia has retained its historic character, as evidenced by the Fischer-Hanlon House. This building was originally constructed on First Street in the 1850s, as a hotel to supply much needed rooms during the gold rush. Joseph Fischer, a local merchant, bought the building and moved it to its current location in 1858. The former hotel was remodeled to create a 14-room home for three generations of the family. Today it stands as an example of a late 1800s, upper-middle-class home., In 1968, the Fischer-Hanlon granddaughters deeded the house and its contents to the State as a memorial to their family., Venture into the yard to discover historic features such as the privy, hitching post, and cistern., Tour the fully furnished house to picture a way of life from days gone by, different in so many ways from today., The Fischer-Hanlon House and the Capitol are listed in the National Register of Historic Places., Right Panel:. Benicia Capitol California's Third Capitol Serving the State and the Community Built in 1852 as a city hall, this grand facility was used to "lure the legislature" and the economic opportunities it would bring. California's oldest standing capitol was the third for a young and restless state., This Greek Revival/Palladian structure housed the state legislature and archives from February 1853 to February 1854. During its time here, the then bi-lingual body passed legislation enabling women to own property., Once the capital was relocated to Sacramento, the building became a workhorse for the community. It was briefly the Solano County Courthouse, then the venue for Episcopal worship services, and later housed the Benicia Grammar School. An added wing served as Fire Department Headquarters and, for a time, the public library was located here., California State Parks acquired the building in 1951 and restored it to its original splendor., Step inside to witness the scene of early California politics. Perhaps you can imagine the echo of voices raised in argument or the rattle of spittoons as emotions became heated., Time Line. Benicia Capitol 1852: The new California legislature is dissatisfied with Vallejo facilities, and Benicia completes construction of “City Hall.” 1853: The legislature moves into the new Benicia Capitol. 1854: The legislature is “removed” to Sacramento. From 1854 until 1858 the former capitol serves as the Solano County Courthouse. 1858: Benicia Grammar School occupies the building. 1860: a wood-framed wing is added for the use by the fire department. 1910: Benicia City Hall and the public library move into the building. Over the years the building serves in many ways, housing a school, for worship services, and more. 1951: The State begins the process of acquiring the building as a State Historic Monument. 1956: The building remains vacant while extensive repairs begin. 1958: A painstakingly restored capitol building opens to the public. 1976: The Capitol, along with Fischer-Hanlon House open to the public and become Benicia Capitol State Historic Park., Fischer-Hanlon House 1852: The Gold Rush Era hotel is constructed on First Street. Fire damages the hotel. 1858: Benicia merchant Joseph Fischer purchases the hotel and this lot at 135 West G Street. He has the hotel moved to this location. 1884: Joseph Fischer, Sr. dies. 1893: Catherine Hall Fischer dies, leaving the house to their children. 1900-03: Martha Fischer Quinn remodels, adds plumbing, electricity, and more. 1938: After Martha’s death, her sister Elizabeth’s daughters, Catherine, Marie Rose, and Raphaelita Hanlon, inherit the house. 1968: The Fischer-Hanlon granddaughters deed the house to the State.

Center Panel:
Two California Stories Echo Across Centuries
Visit the venue for California political action in 1853-54.
Tour the Fischer-Hanlon House to steep yourself in 19th century home life.

Explore a Historic Garden
Typical nineteenth century homes featured formal gardens out front. Back yards were put to work for hanging laundry, growing fruits and vegetables, and keeping chickens, goats, and sheep.

Generations of the Fischer-Hanlon family planted and lovingly nurtured this unique landscape. Some of the plants were gifts from students to the Hanlon sisters, who were teachers. The garden combines abundant fruit trees and shrubs, with flowering perennials and exotic succulents.

Walk up the cobbled paths, visit the wisteria, and enjoy exploring this delightful garden. See if you recognize plants and trees.

Left Panel:
Fischer-Hanlon House
Step Into Another Way of Life
Benicia has retained its historic character, as evidenced by the Fischer-Hanlon House. This building was originally constructed on First Street in the 1850s, as a hotel to supply much needed rooms during the gold rush. Joseph Fischer, a local merchant, bought the building and moved it to its current location in 1858. The former hotel

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was remodeled to create a 14-room home for three generations of the family. Today it stands as an example of a late 1800s, upper-middle-class home.

In 1968, the Fischer-Hanlon granddaughters deeded the house and its contents to the State as a memorial to their family.

Venture into the yard to discover historic features such as the privy, hitching post, and cistern.

Tour the fully furnished house to picture a way of life from days gone by, different in so many ways from today.

The Fischer-Hanlon House and the Capitol are listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

Right Panel:
Benicia Capitol California's Third Capitol
Serving the State and the Community
Built in 1852 as a city hall, this grand facility was used to "lure the legislature" and the economic opportunities it would bring. California's oldest standing capitol was the third for a young and restless state.

This Greek Revival/Palladian structure housed the state legislature and archives from February 1853 to February 1854. During its time here, the then bi-lingual body passed legislation enabling women to own property.

Once the capital was relocated to Sacramento, the building became a workhorse for the community. It was briefly the Solano County Courthouse, then the venue for Episcopal worship services,

Benicia Capitol Building & Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Joseph Alvarado, April 6, 2024

2. Benicia Capitol Building & Marker

and later housed the Benicia Grammar School. An added wing served as Fire Department Headquarters and, for a time, the public library was located here.

California State Parks acquired the building in 1951 and restored it to its original splendor.

Step inside to witness the scene of early California politics. Perhaps you can imagine the echo of voices raised in argument or the rattle of spittoons as emotions became heated.

Time Line
Benicia Capitol
1852: The new California legislature is dissatisfied with Vallejo facilities, and Benicia completes construction of “City Hall.”
1853: The legislature moves into the new Benicia Capitol.
1854: The legislature is “removed” to Sacramento. From 1854 until 1858 the former capitol serves as the Solano County Courthouse.
1858: Benicia Grammar School occupies the building.
1860: a wood-framed wing is added for the use by the fire department.
1910: Benicia City Hall and the public library move into the building. Over the years the building serves in many ways, housing a school, for worship services, and more.
1951: The State begins the process of acquiring the building as a State Historic Monument.
1956: The building remains vacant while extensive repairs begin.
1958: A painstakingly restored capitol building opens to the public.
1976: The

Fischer-Hanlon House & Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Joseph Alvarado, April 6, 2024

3. Fischer-Hanlon House & Marker

Capitol, along with Fischer-Hanlon House open to the public and become Benicia Capitol State Historic Park.

Fischer-Hanlon House
1852: The Gold Rush Era hotel is constructed on First Street. Fire damages the hotel.
1858: Benicia merchant Joseph Fischer purchases the hotel and this lot at 135 West G Street. He has the hotel moved to this location.
1884: Joseph Fischer, Sr. dies.
1893: Catherine Hall Fischer dies, leaving the house to their children.
1900-03: Martha Fischer Quinn remodels, adds plumbing, electricity, and more.
1938: After Martha’s death, her sister Elizabeth’s daughters, Catherine, Marie Rose, and Raphaelita Hanlon, inherit the house.
1968: The Fischer-Hanlon granddaughters deed the house to the State.

Erected by California Department of Parks & Recreation.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Parks & Recreational Areas • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1853.

Location. 38° 3.005′ N, 122° 9.546′ W. Marker is in Benicia, California, in Solano County. It is at the intersection of West G Street and First Street, on the right when traveling west on West G Street. The resin marker is mounted to metal legs at the sidewalk. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 115 West G Street, Benicia CA 94510, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in California’s San Francisco Bay Area,

in Sacramento Valley,

and specifically in the Central Valley.

It is also on the American Pacific Coast.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers.

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At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Commemoration of California Legislature in Session (a few steps from this marker); Founders of Benicia (a few steps from this marker); Robert Semple (a few steps from this marker); Old State Capitol (a few steps from this marker); Antonio M. De LaGuerra 1825 – ‘81 (a few steps from this marker); Benicia (a few steps from this marker); Fischer-Hanlon House (a few steps from this marker); The Joseph Fischer Residence (a few steps from this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Benicia.

Also see . . . Benicia Capitol State Historic Park. California Department of Parks & Recreation

"Benicia Capitol State Historic Park is the site of California’s third seat of government (February 9, 1853-February 25, 1854). It is the only pre-Sacramento Capitol that survives."

(Submitted on October 27, 2024, by Joseph Alvarado of Livermore, California.)

Credits. This page was last revised on November 1, 2024. It was originally submitted on October 27, 2024, by Joseph Alvarado of Livermore, California. This page has been viewed 221 times since then and 15 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on October 27, 2024, by Joseph Alvarado of Livermore, California.