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Historical Markers and War Memorials in Walnut Creek, California
Martinez is the county seat for Contra Costa County
Walnut Creek is in Contra Costa County
Contra Costa County(480) ► ADJACENT TO CONTRA COSTA COUNTY Alameda County(674) ► Marin County(249) ► Sacramento County(392) ► San Francisco City and County(722) ► San Joaquin County(142) ► Solano County(114) ► Sonoma County(163) ►
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Walnut Creek's Old Borges Ranchhouse, as the cornerstone of a working cattle ranch, was first built by Frank (Francisco) and his wife Mary Borges, their sons and daughters in 1899. Since then, this house has withstood five generations of the hard . . . — — Map (db m93983) HM
First called "The Corners," Walnut Creek evolved at the junction of the region's two main roads - Pacheco (running from Martinez to San Jose) and Lafayette (running west to Oakland). The Oak Saloon stood at the junction. The town was named Walnut . . . — — Map (db m93726) HM
Hand of Peace, 1967
Born in Italy, Beniamino Bufano immigrated to the United States when he was three years old, and settled in San Francisco in 1915. A popular figure of the San Francisco art scene, Bufano was well . . . — — Map (db m91551) HM
The Blackhawk Ranch fossil quarry is located south of Rock City on the lower slopes of Mount Diablo. During the Late Miocene, approximately 9-10 million years ago, this region was a rolling lowland. It represented the first evidence of emergence of . . . — — Map (db m93648) HM
In the 1880s, this was the rear yard of Antonio Botelho's stately home. Botelho owned more than 300 acres of farm land south of town, and the home - originally a hotel - fronted on the main road to Alamo (today's Main Street). — — Map (db m93740) HM
Walnut Creek's namesake creek is formed under this plaza, where Las Trampas and San Ramon creeks merge. The two creeks bound land known as "Botelho's Island." which had been owned by the pioneer Botelho family. Broadway Plaza, opened in 1951, now . . . — — Map (db m93731) HM
Customers from as far as Oakland would make the drive to Guy and Ed Bradley's soda shop, particularly to watch the large electric ice cream machine displayed in the store's front window. The store also housed the town's first telephone exchange. — — Map (db m93858) HM
Walnut Creek's namesake creek runs beneath Broadway at the end of this block. Before the creek was "underground" to prevent flooding, a bridge at the end of this street was essential to reach the homes and farms across the creek and to get to the . . . — — Map (db m93864) HM
Used for sowing seeds in the fields. Most early farm machinery were Rube Goldberg-like contraptions. When the wagon wheels turned, the gears fastened to them turned other gears. — — Map (db m93982) HM
One of the first open-air malls, Broadway Shopping Center was built on undeveloped land at Main Street (Highway 21) and Mt. Diablo Boulevard (Highway 24). The 38-store center had Sears and J.C. Penny, a Lucky grocery store, and 1,500 free parking . . . — — Map (db m93739) HM
The 1951 debut of Broadway Shopping Center transformed Walnut Creek into the commercial center of the region. Originally, many of the stores were clustered around a central "horseshoe" parking lot that was anchored by the trademark Broadway sign. — — Map (db m93695) HM
Diagonally across the street stood Walnut Creek's second library, built with a $2,500 Carnegie Library Foundation grant. In 1961 (after 45 years), the fast-growing city needed a larger library. This site was sold to help fund the new library, . . . — — Map (db m93801) HM
Costing $3,000 to build, the two-story Central Fire Station was the first and "hub" station in the County's newly formed Central Fire Protection District. The station's pumper engine cost $7,000. The first fire chief was Raymond Spencer, son of . . . — — Map (db m93825) HM
In 1871, residents voted to tax themselves $1,500 for a school. Central School, built on a hill on School Street (now Locust Street), had 40 students its first year. The larger Walnut Creek Grammar School, on the same site, replaced Central School . . . — — Map (db m93696) HM
The first "modern" City Hall sat on Ignacio Avenue (now Civic Drive), across from the park. Its design was similar to that of the American Red Cross Building (now Park Place), which sits at the opposite corner of Civic and Broadway. In 1981, a new . . . — — Map (db m93797) HM
In 1981 and after three decades of rapid growth, Walnut Creek built its second City Hall, using the same site but facing Main Street. In recent years, the City renovated and expanded the 1981 building. — — Map (db m93802) HM
Walnut Creek's first park - City Park (now Civic Park) - opened in 1949 at the site of an abandoned sewer farm. City Park had a lighted ballfield and tennis courts and, until 1976, was the site of the annual Walnut Festival, held in September. — — Map (db m93798) HM
By the mid-1960s, community theater groups needed better performance space. The City re-purposed an obsolete walnut warehouse as the Civic Arts Theatre & Gallery - affectionately nicknamed "The Nuthouse." In 1990- and after extensive private . . . — — Map (db m93756) HM
In 1965, the City repurposed an abandoned walnut warehouse to house the Civic Arts Theatre & Gallery - affectionately nicknamed "The Nuthouse." Some 25 years later ant through extensive private fundraising, the Lesher Center of the Arts was built, . . . — — Map (db m93784) HM
The Italianate house across the street was originally built as a ranch home for Lawrence Peel and his wife, Margretta. Peel operated a mercantile store on Main Street in the 1860s. The home had many owners over the years and was built by Eldridge . . . — — Map (db m93956) HM
The 1951 opening of Broadway Shopping Center led to almost daily gridlock at Main and Mt. Diablo, streets that were also part of two state highways. Local officials used photos to "plead their case" for traffic relief. The freeway to bypass downtown . . . — — Map (db m93710) HM
The 1951 opening of Broadway Shopping Center increased traffic on Main Street, which also doubled as part of two state highways. Photos like this helped convince State officials to build a freeway bypass to ease congestion. The new freeway opened in . . . — — Map (db m93863) HM
The plush El Rey Theatre was Walnut Creek's second movie house and a popular venue for nearly 50 years. The El Rey showed films ranging from Shirley Temple's "Wee Willie Winkie" to the cult classic "Rocky Horror Picture Show." An office building . . . — — Map (db m93808) HM
First model built by International Harvester in 1924. Designed to cultivate or weed between rows. Instead of the traditional side-mounted flywheel to which a belt was attached to run machinery, the Farmall had what was known as a "power take-off," a . . . — — Map (db m93979) HM
Local Christian Scientists first organized in Walnut Creek in 1913, meeting each Sunday at the Masonic Temple. Church members built their own church on Locust Street in 1924 and building a larger church on the same site in 1949. The church moved to . . . — — Map (db m93949) HM
Now a row of retail shops with apartments above, this two-story building with the distinctive roofline was built by Robert Noble Burgess as the First National Bank, the town's second financial institution. First National merged with San Ramon Valley . . . — — Map (db m93871) HM
The community celebrated Independence Day in 1917 by dedicating a flagpole at Main Street and Lafayette Road (now Mt. Diablo Boulevard) The flagpole served as a focal point for community ceremonies. Eventually, the City removed the flagpole because . . . — — Map (db m93707) HM
This building at the corner of Locust and Cypress (originally School ad China Streets) was a private home until 1949, when it was converted to a funeral home and morgue. The building has been in commercial use since that time. A circular stained . . . — — Map (db m93947) HM
In 1932, Emil Hagstrom opened the 25th store in his chain of cash-and-carry grocery stores on Main Street. In 1946, the store moved to this location on Locust Street and offered free off-street parking. — — Map (db m93752) HM
The most important corner in Walnut Creek has alway been a center of transportation. In the late 1800's and early 1900s, a livery stable (horse barn) occupied this entire block, allowing locals and visitors to board or rent horses and buggies. — — Map (db m93728) HM
From its first meeting following city incorporation in October 1914, Walnut Creek's City Council held its meetings for a number of years in the courtroom of Judge George O. Duncan, adjacent to the San Ramon Bank. — — Map (db m93723) HM
Two giant date palms flanked the entrance to this stately home, owned by Michael Kirsch and his family. Kirsch owned a blacksmith and wheelwright shop next door to this house, at the corner of Main Street and Lafayette Road (now Mt. Diablo Boulevard. — — Map (db m93698) HM
A popular cafι for more than 20 years, Kitty Milk Bar was particularly renowned for its ice cream and donuts. The cafι took its name from the nickname of the proprietor's sister, Catherine. — — Map (db m93742) HM
Preferring cars to the family meat business, Lester Lawrence opened this auto garage across from his brother's meat market in 1921. Soon, he also began selling cars. He owned several dealerships over the years, including a dealership on North Main . . . — — Map (db m93877) HM
1525 N. Main St. This wood-frame Italianate house was about 30 years old when it was purchased by Dr. Claud Leech, town physician, and his wife, Eva. The first floor served as the medial clinic, the upper floor as the family residence. The house . . . — — Map (db m93822) HM
During the U.S. Bicentennial, President Gerald R. Ford dedicated a replica of the Liberty Bell as a war memorial. The bell was donated by the local Soroptimist International chapter. Liberty Bell Plaza covers the confluence of the two creeks that . . . — — Map (db m91565) HM WM
Diagonally across the street stood Lommel's Creamery, opened in 1939 and a local favorite for 35 years. After Greyhound began commuter bus service to San Francisco, Lommel saw his chance and convinced the company to use his Creamery as the bus stop. — — Map (db m93809) HM
From earliest times, Main Street (then Pacheco Road) was a highway. It was a main stagecoach route from Martinez to San Jose. Main Street was paved in 1921 and served as a state highway until the freeway opened in 1960. — — Map (db m93703) HM
By a vote of 127-76, Walnut Creek residents chose to incorporate as a city in October 1914, largely to get Main Street paved. It took another seven years to secure the funds but, finally, Main Street was paved in 1921. — — Map (db m93873) HM
Walnut Creek Masonic Lodge - founded around 1873 - built its Masonic Temple in 1916. Previously, the group met on Main Street. The building was expanded in 1953. It closed as a Temple in 1984 and was remodeled for commercial use. — — Map (db m93945) HM
Mauzy Plumbing was Walnut Creek's longest-operating family-owned business when it closed after 98 years in 2011. The family business moved to Walnut Creek from Oakland in 1913, eventually to the site across Main Street. Four generations of the . . . — — Map (db m93823) HM
When James Pomeroy Howe died in
1970, at the age of 91, he left behind
not only his estate and its history, but
also a legacy of intriguing stories of his
adventures here and abroad.
While growing up in Kansas Jim Howe longingly
dreamed of . . . — — Map (db m153429) HM
A large flashing light atop this rotunda once guided airplanes flying through the night skies of the Bay Area. Originally held aloft on a 75-foot tower erected by Standard Oil in 1928, it served as a crucial route-finding aid in the days before . . . — — Map (db m93631) HM
Welcome
Heading to the top?
Rising to 3,849 feet in elevation, Mount Diablo dominates the foothills and offers unobstructed views. Stand on its summit on a clear day and see over 200 miles in all directions; the Sierra Nevada to the east and past . . . — — Map (db m103091) HM
Like many other isolated peaks, Mt. Diablo is steeped in lore - much of it involving the mountain's name.
On a 1824 map, "M. del Diablo" signifies a Christian Indian village, not a peak. The reference to "diablo" or devil can be traced back to . . . — — Map (db m93632) HM
Originally a hardware store, the corner of this two-story building became the Nut Bowl Fountain restaurant in 1947. Proprietor Vern Snedden opened a second Nut Bowl in Pleasant Hill. The Walnut Creek Nut Bowl closed in 1967. — — Map (db m93810) HM
Electric rail service came to Walnut Creek in 1911. The railway (later called Sacramento Northern) provided passengers and freight service from Sacramento through Walnut Creek and on to Oakland and the San Ramon Valley. The tracks run along today's . . . — — Map (db m93754) HM
In the early years, Walnut Creek residents picked up their mail from one of the local merchants on Main Street, who served as postmaster. This brick building served as Walnut Creek's first post office, beginning in 1928. A newer post office opened . . . — — Map (db m93826) HM
The 400-seat Ramona, Walnut Creek's first cinema, opened in 1920 as a silent-movie house. The theater sat on Main Street, next to the Contra Costa Courier newspaper and where Cypress Street now connects to Broadway. It was owned by Theodore . . . — — Map (db m93828) HM
For 60 years, the Art-Moderne-style clock on the sidewalk on Main Street was the trademark of Rinehart's of Walnut Creek, a jewelry and gift store. Although Rinehart's closed in 2007, the clock still stands in from of the retail building. — — Map (db m93807) HM
For 80 years, the corner across the street was a hotel. From its opening in 1879, the Rogers Hotel did a brisk business, partly because it also served as a stagecoach stop. The hotel changed owners and names several times before it was razed for a . . . — — Map (db m93870) HM
Joseph Silveria, owner of Valley Mercantile at Main and Cypress, was the first merchant to offer local banking services. Knowing the town needed a "real" bank, Silveria spearheaded the first bank - San Ramon Valley Bank - located directly across the . . . — — Map (db m93720) HM
This Property Has Been Placed On The
National Register of Historic Places
By The United Stated Department of the Interior
Built 1903 — — Map (db m209648) HM
The Sherburne Building is Walnut Creek's oldest remaining commercial structure. The structure was built in 1861-62 but was partially destroyed by fire in 1879 and rebuilt the following year. Over the years, it was home to a number of mercantile and . . . — — Map (db m93714) HM
The first passenger train rolled into Walnut Creek in 1891. Southern Pacific built the train depot later that year on a site that was across the creek (now under Broadway) and close to this plaza. The depot was converted to commercial uses and . . . — — Map (db m93738) HM
Site of
St. Mary's Catholic Church
1884 -- 1940
Land given by the Botelho Family in 1880
Construction began 1882
Blessed by the Bishop 1884
Last Service - May 12, 1940 — — Map (db m93693) HM
Walnut Creek's first Catholic church was dedicated in 1884 on this site. A wooden structure of Gothic design, St. Mary's also served as a community center for many local Portuguese families. The parish later moved to its location on Mt. Diablo . . . — — Map (db m93694) HM
Oldest church building
in Walnut Creek Originally
located on Locust Street
Erected 1888 -1889
Consecrated, April 26, 1891
by
Bishop William Ford Nichols — — Map (db m93978) HM
Local Episcopalians built St. Paul's Chapel on this lot in 1889. In 1950, St. Paul's built a new church up the hill. Wanting to save the treasured chapel, church members "trundled" the sturdy redwood building to the new church site, where it still . . . — — Map (db m93743) HM
With its twin towers and bay windows, the two-story Stow Building was a landmark on Main Street for many years. James Stow constructed the building for his mercantile store. The towner and bay windows were removed in a 1947 remodel. — — Map (db m93860) HM
Originally located at the Cereghino Ranch of Walnut Creek
Relocated to Shadelands in 1995
Restoration of the buildings was made possible by the efforts of:
Walnut Creek Historical Society
Joseph Bologna, Project Architect
Primo E. . . . — — Map (db m209652) HM
Built by Eldridge Dole c. 1879
Renovation completed April 2004
Renovation
Greater Bay Development Corp.
Walnut Creek
Architect
Johnson Lyman Architects
Walnut Creek
Contractor
Guilkey Construction, Inc.
Dedicated . . . — — Map (db m27644) HM
Desiring a place for community meetings and events, a newly formed Town Hall Association acquired the lot at Main and Bonanza. Several years later, and with a loan from the new San Ramon Valley Bank, the group built the imposing two-story Town Hall. — — Map (db m93824) HM
Originally located at another Main Street site, Valley Mercantile move into the old Grange Hall at this corner around 1910. The owner, Joseph Silviara, replaced the wood structure with a brick building in 1916. In addition to its retail business, . . . — — Map (db m93876) HM
Walnut Creek's Veterans Memorial Building was both a meeting place for local veterans and other groups and a popular site for weekend dances. The building also doubled as a County courthouse. Local veterans now have a new building in Lafayette. — — Map (db m93958) WM
The Walnut Creek and Mt. Diablo Central Hotel sat across from here on Pacheco Road (now Main Street), which connected Martinez to San Jose. Antonio Botelho, who had purchased the surrounding farm land, bought the hotel in 1882 and converted it to . . . — — Map (db m93692) HM
Walnut Creek Grammar School replaced the 40-year-old Central School on this site in 1912. The school was expanded several times. After WW II, neighborhood elementary schools were built. The downtown school closed in 1957 and the site became part of . . . — — Map (db m93697) HM
Walnut Creek's third library opened at this site in 1961, when the city had fewer than 10,000 residents. This library replace the small Carnegie Library on Main Street, which had opened 45 years before. The current library opened in 2010. — — Map (db m93799) HM
For 75 years, this brick building - with its sign on the north side - was the Walnut Creek Meat Market, owned by brothers Fred, Joe and Harry Lawrence. (The fourth brother ran an auto garage across the street.) The family meat market moved to Alamo . . . — — Map (db m91574) HM
The town's first house of worship, the Methodist Church, originally stood behind this site on Main Street. By the early 1900s, Main was a bustling commercial street, so the church was moved here. In the 1950s, the congregation built a new church on . . . — — Map (db m93948) HM
Local Presbyterians first held their Sunday services in the schoolhouse, then built their first church at this site in 1884. They replaced their wooden church with a stone structure in the 1930s, then moved to a new location a few blocks away in the . . . — — Map (db m93946) HM
In 1917, local walnut ranchers formed a growers association and, a few years later, built a walnut processing plant next to the railway line that ran along today's California Boulevard. The plant closed in 1957 after most walnut groves were removed . . . — — Map (db m93786) HM
War Veterans
of
Walnut Creek
Memorial to Those Sons of
Walnut Creek Who Gave Their
Lives for Freedom
Viet Nam
1965 - 1975
Robert J. Reilly Jr. · LCPL USMC
John P. Burke PFC · USMC
Frank C. Torres Jr. · SP4 Army
James K. . . . — — Map (db m91563) WM
Mount Diablo has always been a guide and landmark to people far bellow, and so it became a natural location for many radio and transmission towers as well.
As early as 1928, the Standard Oil Company and U.S. Dept. of Commerce jointly . . . — — Map (db m103092) HM
As the community's first service organization,
the Women's Club of Walnut Creek helped meet
many community needs. It established the first
public library in 1916 and the first Walnut Festival
in 1936. The club purchased the land for . . . — — Map (db m159601) HM
Two blocks east is the clubhouse of the Women's Club - the town's first service club, founded in 1911. Among the Club's accomplishments, the group secured the Carnegie Library Foundation grant for the 1916 library. The Women's Club sold its . . . — — Map (db m93811) HM
