benicia state capitol and historical park

Great visit, very informative to learn about California's history. Great volunteer tour guides, a must visit if you stop in this great little town.

This is an Intersting place to spend a few hours. The building and furnishings are all there. It looks like the legislators have just taken a break back in 1853, but actually they moved to Sacramento.A must visit when you plan to spend some time in Benicia. It's ran by the State Park System and has guides on duty. Small fee.

This building was one of California's early Capitols. It has the room where the legislature met, and many fascinating documents with excellent signage. Right in the charming and historical center of downtown Benicia

Nicely restored former capitol building. You can see how the assembly and senate chambers looked 150 years ago. Worth a visit if you are in the Benicia area.

Wonderfully preserved for an 1850 building. The set-up takes you back in time and it's easy to visualize the chamber full of top hats, cigars, and spittoons. A must visit if you land in Benicia.

Our docent (I wish I could remember his name) is a great story teller and made the history of the once Capitol city come alive. Some really important history happened in the city of Benicia. Be sure to ask about the ghost in the window.

I visited the old State Capitol building while in town for work. it is in wonderful condition and the rangers are very knowledgeable. It's hard to believe it is in such good shape for a building of it's age. Make sure you see the printer, the safe and go upstairs. Look at the maps and images on the walls, they are fascinating.

I live here in Benicia and this is great place to see a interesting part of our heritage . My grandsons love going there even though have gone more than once. Its only 3$ admission and it is right next door to the fischer hanlon house which is worth seeing as well. A lovely garden is between the two a nice place to visit if you enjoy history.

This is an interesting place to visit if you are interested in California history. Cost is $3. per person in this State park. Easy free parking in front. Check on the hours it is opened so as not to be disappointed. The facility consists of two floors - the first being offices and the State Senate chambers. The Assembly is located on the 2nd floor. You can wander about and see on your own schedule what interests you or you can on occasion get the docent to give you a tour. Our docent - Jon - was a walking history book and knew his stuff. An interesting person with in debth knowledge of past politicians, etc. We enjoyed our visit and believe that others interested in history would enjoy a visit to this visit to the past.

The cost is $3.00, as this is a state 'attraction', and it is well worth a visit, if you are close to Benicia.It's a lovely building with the Senate down stairs, and the Assembly on the floor above. A really nice touch is that all the desks have hats of the period on them.

My husband and I have visited Benicia multiple times since our son and his family moved there, and we'd walked past this stately building many times, but we'd never had a chance to see the inside until our most recent visit. It was a wonderful experience. Neither of us knew very much about Benicia's brief history as California's state capital in the mid-1850s, and the fact that this impressive capitol building remains as a reminder of that time is gratifying. The exterior as well as the interior chambers have been restored with remarkable attention to detail, and the video that's available to visitors provides fascinating details about Benicia's history and the governmental use of the building. The docents on duty when we were there answered our questions intelligently and pleasantly without being intrusive when we wanted to look at the exhibits on our own, and one volunteer told us that the price of our entrance fee also included entrance to the Fisher-Hanlon House next door which provided another wonderful qlimpse into the history of Benicia.

Benicia was California's third capitol, from February 9, 1853, to February 26, 1854. The Benicia State Capitol is the only surviving capitol building from the days before the legislature moved to Sacramento. The period furnishings and artifacts evoke the atmosphere of the early Senate and Assembly rooms. Excellent docent tours bring California history to life, complete with scandals, skullduggery, and a shocking duel. The Capitol is open Thursday between noon and 4 pm and Friday through Sunday between 10 am and 5 pm. Check the park's website (see below) to confirm the hours, get directions, and see a photo of the upstairs Assembly chamber. For information about group tours, call 707-745-3670; for special events and weddings, call 707-939-6188. While you're in town, have lunch and check out some of the many shops on First Street!

Visited on a weekday morning---Thursday, I believe. A sign gave the hours as 10-5 midweek. We hung around until after 10 am, but no one showed up. There was a gardener working at the nearby house (part of the grounds) but he couldn't help us.I had visited the capitol in the past, and found it interesting. You need a docent or a good tour book, however. Another sign advised that the site is now under the auspices of Benicia Parks and Rec, and some other local group. No state money, I suppose. And only volunteers of (apparently) questionable reliability---. Check their website and maybe call ahead if the Statehouse is your sole reason for visiting.Nevertheless, Benicia has some good restaurants, Other historic buildings, shoppes, glass blowing studios, a modest riverfront and a nice central park. If the weather is good (and it was) you can still have a pleasant outing and look at the building from the outside.

Bringing visitors to the State Capitol building is always an enjoyable and educational experience. When I go to the East Coast there are many such places to visit but they are not as numerous or available in California. Benicia is an exception and I find those I bring to see this restored building find it worth while and enjoyable.

This is the oldest remaining state capital building and it is from the 1800's. It is well worth seeing. It is especially appropriate for children in the 5th grade and higher.