El Sobrante in Contra Costa County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

El Sobrante's First Full-service Post Office

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, April 26, 2016

1. El Sobrante's First Full-service Post Office Marker

Inscription. El Sobrante's first free-standing post office opened in this building in 1957, marking an important milestone in the town's development. The post office was previously located in the adjacent Lee's Variety Store (the Elks Lodge as of 2014) and before that was located in a local grocery store. The post office remained here until projected growth necessitated building a larger and more modern facility on Appian Way.

Erected 2014 by El Sobrante Historical Society.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Communications. In addition, it is included in the Postal Mail and Philately series list.

Location. 37° 57.925′ N, 122° 18.758′ W. Marker is in El Sobrante, California, in Contra Costa County. It is on San Pablo Dam Road near Pitt Way, on the left when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 3927 San Pablo Dam Road, El Sobrante CA 94803, United States of America. Touch for directions.

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

and on the Coast Ranges.

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: Cowboy Country (within shouting distance of this marker); El Sobrante's First Bank (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Arrival of the Strip Mall (about 500 feet away); El Sobrante Chevrolet Service

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(about 600 feet away); Park Theatre (about 800 feet away); Oliver's Hardware & Service Station (about 800 feet away); Fry's Food Stores and Fry's Electronics (approx. 0.2 miles away); Dairy Country (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in El Sobrante.

Additional commentary.
1. Badly Faded
I went to visit this marker along with a number of nearby markers in El Cerrito and El Sobrante. Sadly, many of these markers are badly faded and unreadable at this time. We are thankful for the pictures that were previously submitted.

— Submitted March 9, 2026, by Rover Spotts of San Francisco, California.

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, April 26, 2016

2. El Sobrante's First Full-service Post Office Marker

El Sobrante's First Full-service Post Office Marker (2026) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Rover Spotts, March 7, 2026

3. El Sobrante's First Full-service Post Office Marker (2026)

Credits. This page was last revised on March 24, 2026. It was originally submitted on April 28, 2016, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 552 times since then and 35 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 28, 2016, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. 3. submitted on March 9, 2026, by Rover Spotts of San Francisco, California.