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

Burial Site of Chief Solano

Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein, May 8, 2010

1. Burial Site of Chief Solano Marker

Inscription. In the vicinity of this plaque is the burial site of Chief Sem Yeto, christianized Francisco Solano. Chief of the Suisun Tribe "their word for west winds" sub-group of the Patwin Indians. The village was located near Rockville and he held sway over most of the tribes between Petaluma Creek and the Sacramento River.

Dedicated by
Native Sons of the Golden West
John H. Kurtz — Grand President
April 18, 1971
Under the auspices of Solano Parlor 59, Fairfield — Suisun
In memory of James D. Phelan

Erected 1971 by Native Sons of the Golden West.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Churches & Religion • Native Americans • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Native Sons/Daughters of the Golden West series list. A significant historical month for this entry is April 1833.

Location. 38° 14.047′ N, 122° 7.527′ W. Marker is in Fairfield, California, in Solano County. Marker is on Solano College Road, 0.1 miles north of Oakwood Drive, on the left when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Fairfield CA 94534, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Rockville Station (approx. 0.7 miles away); Rockville Stone Chapel

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(approx. 0.9 miles away); Village of Cordelia Historic District (approx. 1½ miles away); Cordelia and the Fire (approx. 1.6 miles away); Cordelia (approx. 1.7 miles away); Cordelia: A Thriving Town (approx. 1.7 miles away); Thompson's Corner Saloon - 1902 (approx. 1.7 miles away); Cordelia Begins (approx. 1.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Fairfield.

More about this marker. The marker is mounted on a low rock in front of the Student Services Building on the Solano Community College campus.

Also see . . .
1. Chief Solano’s grave site is shrouded in mystery. Nancy Dingler's Daily Republic article on Chief Solano and the search for his grave: "..When Solano appeared at the Martins, they tell a story of how, upon his arrival at Yulyul {site of the former Native American village in Rockville}, the chief suddenly developed pneumonia and died....they had buried the old chief under a cairn of stones, near a Buckeye tree, alongside the road. However, the grave was lost in the natural course of farming. In the 1930s, considerable effort was made trying to locate the chief’s grave....it was

Burial Site of Chief Solano Marker - Wide View image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein, May 8, 2010

2. Burial Site of Chief Solano Marker - Wide View

common knowledge...that the chief stood 6 foot, 7 inches tall. Finding a skeleton of that stature would certainly be enough to identify the remains. Several Indian graves were dug up in the area, but there never was a satisfactory conclusion that the proper grave was found. However, according to local historian, M. Clyde Low, the grave is on the campus of Solano Community College." (Submitted on May 15, 2010.)

2. The Story of Chief Solano. Jerry Bowen's three-part article on the life of Chief Solano, as published in the Vacaville Reporter in 2006: "According to ‘Solano, The Crossroads County,’... by Frank Keegan, “Samuel Martin, with a party of Americans discovered him (Solano) fatally ill at the rancho in 1850 and notes his passing.” Various reports over the years placed his burial under a buckeye tree alongside the Old Sacramento Road (today’s Suisun Valley Road) near Rockville, across from the Martin stone mansion that was built in 1861. The burial site is commemorated today with a bronze plaque on the Solano County College campus. The road has been modified and widened over the years and the buckeye tree no longer exists. " (Submitted on May 15, 2010.)

Credits. This page was last revised on November 8, 2019. It was originally submitted on May 15, 2010, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 2,821 times since then and 83 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on May 15, 2010, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.