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Having trouble viewing this email?Click here Vallejo News August 8, 2014| Issue # 147 Sign-Up for other Vallejo will celebrate its 147th birthday this year City and in an effort to commemorate this occasion, the City of Vallejo wants to share its unique history Communications with our readers on our 147th issue of Vallejo News. Vallejo's History Vallejo will celebrate its 147th birthday this year and in an effort to commemorate this occasion, the City of Vallejo wants to share its In This Issue unique history with our readers on our 147th issue of Vallejo News. Vallejo's History Not many people know that Vallejo was the original home of Mare Island Naval Shipyard California's state government prior to the Capitol being moved to Sacramento. In 1852, just two years after Vallejo's Historical Homes and Locations California was admitted to the Union as the 31st state, General Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo, Vallejo Fun Facts a Mexican military officer and pioneer, donated 156 acres of his land in hopes of creating his dream of a thriving new state capitol. Unfortunately, members of the legislature were unhappy with the living and working conditions in Vallejo and moved the Capitol to Sacramento. After bouncing back to Vallejo, and then later to Benicia, the restless General Mariano legislatures returned to Sacramento where the Guadalupe Vallejo Capitol has resided ever since. Once the legislature had left the town for good, Vallejo was on a downward slope until the United States Navy purchased Mare Island for the creation of the first naval installation on the West Coast in 1853, and Vallejo's future was bright once more. Vallejo was later incorporated in 1867, due in large part to the man regarded as the true founder of Vallejo, John B. Frisbie, who diligently Vallejo Fun lobbied for the City in Washington D.C. Facts Vallejo encompasses 53.58 square miles (29.94 of land and 23.64 of water) with a population of 115,942 (2010 Census). Vallejo was founded in 1851 and incorporated as a City in 1867. President Lincoln Historic Vallejo authorized $50,000 for construction of the first Marine Barracks on Mare Island during the Civil War and additional funds to Mare Island Naval Shipyard build Mare Island's hospital. After his Mare Island is Vallejo's biggest claim to fame, gaining its name after assassination in 1865, one General Vallejo's favorite horse saved herself by swimming to shore of the 22 honorary pall- after her transport raft capsized. The mare was later found living on bearers was Admiral David the island. The land was the G. Farragut, Mare Island's prime location for the West first commanding officer. Coast naval needs and was purchased for $83,491 in Vallejo was named the January 1853. Most Diverse City in America in 2013, with 32.8 The first ship, the USS percent white (non- Saginaw, was a four-gun, Hispanic) population, 22.6 wooden-hulled, steam-driven, percent Hispanic side-paddle-wheel gunboat population, 22.1 percent launched in March 1859. The Historic Mare Island black population, 21.1 Saginaw would be the first of percent Filipino population, more than 500 ships to be built 7.9 percent of "other" race in the shipyard in the 142-year history. When Dry Dock #1 was built, it and 7.5 percent of two or became the first permanent dry dock in the west, taking 19 years more races. before finally being completed in 1891. In 1910, the first Navy aircraft landing deck, a wooden landing platform on the cruiser Pennsylvania, There are three higher was crafted. education institutions in Vallejo: The Mare Island Naval Shipyard saw many historical and influential ships. The California Maritime The USS Ward, built during World Academy, located on the War I, fired the U.S.'s first shots of south end of Vallejo, which World War II when she sank a educates nearly 1,100 midget Japanese submarine just off cadets on business, the entrance of Pearl Harbor in the engineering, operations early morning hours on December 7, and policy of the 1941. transportation and related industries of maritime, the During World War II, the Mare Island Pacific Rim and beyond, Naval Shipyard produced 17 offering six different submarines, 4 submarine tenders, bachelors and one master 31 destroyer escorts, 33 small craft, degree. 300 landing craft, repaired more than 1,200 ships, and employed more USS Sperry, ship that fires first Touro University than 46,000 civilian and military shots to bring US into WWII in California, located on personnel. Mare Island went atomic 1941 Mare Island, offers a when the first nuclear submarine in variety of master's and the west was built in 1954 and doctoral degrees for continued to thrive until the base Osteopathic Medicine, closed in the spring of 1996. Pharmacy, Public Health, Physician Assistants, Times have changed for Mare Nursing and Education, Island, and despite the closing serving close to 1,400 of the naval base, the City of students. Vallejo is determined for the Island to succeed. With some of Solano Community the more dangerous and College has a satellite dilapidated buildings being campus in Vallejo, demolished to make way for providing general new potential and the current education, transfer buildings being sold or leased to education to 4-year major companies, job growth is colleges, career training expanding exponentially. Actress Shirley Temple visiting and short-term programs Mare Island Hospital from everything from Lennar Mare Island (LMI), the business and computer current developer, announced last science to fine arts and week than more than 130 new full- behavioral sciences. time jobs have been added to Mare Island over the past s Vallejo has two museums ix months, according to LMI's June that celebrate its rich 2014 jobs survey. There are no history; the Vallejo Naval w more than 2,200 full-time jobs on and Historical Museum Mare Island, ranging from maritime and the Mare Island to manufacturing, and industrial to Museum which is a part of professional. the Mare Island Historical Current Mare Island Dry Dock Park Foundation (HPF). Also a part of the Mare Island HPF, St. Peter's Chapel was built in 1901 as a non-denominational chapel, renowned for the Vallejo's Historical Homes and 25 priceless and beautifully Locations designed Tiffany stained glass windows, the largest In addition to the historical significance that Mare Island played, collection under one roof several homes in Vallejo showcase a lot of skill and sophistication. on the west coast. The Vallejo Heritage District features houses built between 1860 and 1890 that display an elegant style known as the "Working Man's Vallejo is home to four golf Victorian." Many of the homes are carved out of wood and integrate courses: Blue Rock the major styles of Queen Springs Golf Course, Anne, Eastlake, Italiante Hiddenbrooke Golf Club, and Stick, and used Mare Island Golf Club and elements of several styles the Joe Mortara Golf to create unique, elaborate Course. There are four and distinctive community parks and 19 craftsmanship, some of neighborhood parks in which are still standing Vallejo. Community parks today. include Blue Rock Springs Park, Dan Foley Park, "Old Town" starts from Hanns Park and the North Georgia Street and goes Vallejo Community Park. Julia Morgan House, Capitol Street through Capitol, York, Marin and Monterey Popular places and events Streets and has many beautiful homes on display. Although the in Vallejo include: homes are not open to the public, interested parties are able to go through a self-guided walking or driving tour to view the elegant Six Flags Discovery Victorian homes. Kingdom Northern California St. Vincent's Hill Historic District also Pirate Festival flaunts some beautiful homes in the 33- Juneteenth square block surrounding St. Vincent's Celebration Catholic Church. The area, bounded by The Great Vallejo Florida and Carolina Streets, Sonoma Race from the Boulevard, Tennessee Street and Mare Vallejo Yacht Club Island Way, was known as the Vallejo Garden Tour workingman's neighborhood with its Solano County Fair close proximity to the Mare Island Naval Mad Hatter Parade Shipyard. These homes' architectural and Holiday Festival styles resemble Greek revival cottages San Francisco Bay of the 1850s and 1860s. Additional Flyway Festival neighborhoods with historical The Hub Vallejo architecture include Vista de Vallejo, Bay Victorian home in Vallejo Bay Terrace Theater Terrace, Vallejo Heights and Heritage District (MIRA Theatre Washington Park. Guild) Empress Theatre Although Vallejo has seen many changes, many of the homes and Vallejo Symphony buildings with memorable implications persevere on. The Empress Theatre recently celebrated its 100th birthday in 2012 and with the up- Famous Vallejoans include: to-date renovations to the theater the Empress is now thriving, hosting weekly concerts and events. Con Funk Shun - Musical Group Downtown Vallejo was on a Natalie Coughlin - decline until fresh, budding talent Olympic swimmer sought a location for artists and Joey Chestnut - entertainers to flourish and shine Competitive eater and put their work on display. Ernest J. Gaines - The restoration of the Historic Author Masonic Temple was specifically Roy Rogers - rehabilitated for resident artists Musician and opened in August 2013. The C.C. Sabathia - New Downtown Arts and York Yankee pitcher Entertainment District now (Major League features numerous regular Baseball) activities for vendors, crafters Marilyn Smith-Ifland and patrons alike. Farmers' - Olympic Basketball Market, festivals, culture and player liveliness brings tens of Jeff Gordan - thousands of Vallejoans and NASCAR racer visitors to the waterfront every Mike Merriweather - Empress Theatre early years year. Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker (National To read more about Vallejo's Football League) history, culture, and events visit the Vallejo Naval and Historical Museum Blog, the Vallejo Convention and Visitor's Bureau, Vallejo Arts and Entertainment and the newest blog, This is Vallejo.