Museums Culture California
Benicia

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Benicia Capitol State Historic Park

Benicia, California

Culture, History, Historic House, Park

Benicia Capitol State Historic Park is the site of California’s third seat of government (1853-54). It is the only pre-Sacramento Capitol that survives. The original building has been restored with reconstructed period furnishings and exhibits. The interior includes a board-for-board reconstruction of the building’s original floor with ponderosa pine. The desks, three of which are originals from the Benicia period or earlier, are furnished with a candlestick, a 19th century newspaper, a quill pen and a top hat.

Benicia Historical Museum at the Camel Barns

Benicia, California

Children's, Culture, General, History, Historic House, Library, Specialized

All of the buildings on the complex are built of native California sandstone quarried right off the site. Their massive, austere style set a precedent at the Arsenal that was followed for most of the buildings constructed in the 1850's. The Arsenal is one of only three locations where native California sandstone was used for US military installations. The other two are Ft. Sill in Oklahoma and Ft. Tejon near Gorman, CA.