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

Benicia

Capital of California

— 1853 – 1854 —

Benicia Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Douglass Halvorsen, July 25, 2025

1. Benicia Marker

Inscription.
The State Legislature
Here Convened

Erected 1924 by Daughters of the American Revolution.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Government & Politics. In addition, it is included in the Daughters of the American Revolution series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1853.

Location. 38° 3.011′ N, 122° 9.542′ W. Marker is in Benicia, California, in Solano County. It is on West G Street, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 115 W 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. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Commemoration of California Legislature in Session (here, next to this marker); Fischer-Hanlon House (here, next to this marker); Founders of Benicia (here, next to this marker); Robert Semple (here, next to this marker); Old State Capitol (here, next to this marker); Antonio M. De LaGuerra 1825 – ‘81 (here, next to this marker); Benicia Capitol State Historic Park (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.

More about this marker. This marker is among a number of plaques monumented in concrete

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and brick next to the former capitol building.

Also see . . . The City of Benicia California 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. The General intended that the city be named "Francisca" after his wife, but this name was dropped when the former city of "Yerba Buena" changed its name to "San Francisco," so her second given name was used instead. It is said that first word of the gold discovery 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 goldfields.

Founded in 1849, historic Benicia was the third city to incorporate in the State in 1851. It became the third State capital in 1853. After it was learned that the legislature was unhappy with muddy San Jose, Benicians rushed to erect the red brick capitol building. By making the bricks on site, the construction was finished in just 4 months. Benicia was the State Capital for 13 months before the legislature moved the capital to Sacramento. The building is now a State Park and 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. The Arsenal housed camels after a failed attempt to incorporate the dromedaries
Photographed by Douglass Halvorsen, July 25, 2025

2. Benicia Marker
This marker is among many located at this site and next to the former capitol building.
into the army as pack animals. Ulysses S. Grant, William T. Sherman, and other notables passed through the Arsenal. The Benicia Arsenal was decommissioned in 1964, and the area is now home to a thriving industrial park, museum, and art colony.

As a waterfront community, Benicia was a shipbuilding center until just after World War I and home to thriving waterfront industries, such as canneries and tanneries, well into the 20th century.

(Submitted on September 10, 2025, by Douglass Halvorsen of Klamath Falls, Oregon.)

Former Benicia capitol building image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Douglass Halvorsen, July 25, 2025

3. Former Benicia capitol building

Credits. This page was last revised on November 4, 2025. It was originally submitted on September 10, 2025, by Douglass Halvorsen of Klamath Falls, Oregon. This page has been viewed 49 times since then and 17 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on September 10, 2025, by Douglass Halvorsen of Klamath Falls, Oregon. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.