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’s State Capitols 1850–present nterey San Jose Vallejo Benca Sacramento San F Monterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia Sacramento nterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia Sacramento San F Monterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia Sacramento nterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia Sacramento San F Monterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia Sacramento nterey San Jose Vallejo SACRAMENTOBenicia Sacramento San F Monterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia Sacramento nterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia Sacramento San F Monterey VALLEJOSan Jose Vallejo Benicia Sacramento nterey San Jose BENICIAVallejo Benicia Sacramento San F Monterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia Sacramento nterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia Sacramento San F Monterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia Sacramento nterey SANSan FRANCISCO Jose Vallejo Benicia Sacramento San F Monterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia Sacramento nterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia Sacramento San F SAN JOSE Monterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia Sacramento nterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia Sacramento San F Monterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia Sacramento nterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia Sacramento San F

Monterey San Jose MONTEREYVallejo Benicia Sacramento nterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia Sacramento San F Monterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia Sacramento nterey SanOfficial Jose State MapVallejo was Benicia Sacramento San F adopted by Monterey theSan Legislature Jose Vallejo Benicia Sacramento nterey San MarchJose 25, 1853Vallejo Benicia Sacramento San F at Benicia Monterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia Sacramento nterey SanThe California Jose Legislature Vallejo convened at BeniciaBenicia on February Sacramento16, 2000, in honor of San F Monterey San theJose 150th AnniversaryVallejo of California Benicia Statehood Sacramento t S J Vllj B ii S t S F Franc sco Monterey San Jose Vallejo Benca Sacr Monterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia Francisco Monterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia Sacr San Francisco Monterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia Francisco Monterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia Sacr San Francisco Monterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia Francisco Monterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia Sacr San Francisco Monterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia Francisco Monterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia Sacr San Francisco Monterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia Francisco Monterey ColtonSan Hall, Jose Monterey Vallejo Benicia Sacr Site of Constitutional Convention of 1849 San Francisco Monterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia Francisco Monterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia Sacr The Siting of a Capitol San Francisco(Excerpt from the 2000 editionMonterey of California’s Legislature San) Jose Vallejo Benicia FranciscoAmong the Montereyduties of the Constitutional San Jose Convention Vallejo of 1849 was thatBenicia of proposing Sacr a seat of government for the new state. The question was placed before a group San Franciscoof men little affected Monterey by historical precedent, San forJose the majorityVallejo of the delegatesBenicia had settled in the northern part of the territory for less than a decade, and one- Franciscofourth had Montereycome west with theSan .Jose The fewVallejo native Californians Benicia present Sacr might have recalled a territorial capital being moved from Monterey to , San FranciscoSanta Barbara or LosMonterey Angeles at the whimSan of various Jose Mexican Vallejo governors. Benicia Even Monterey, Montereywhile playing host to the convention,Vallejo claimed only the dubious Sacr Franciscodistinction of housing, since 1846,San the Jose headquarters of the AmericanBenicia military San Franciscogovernors. Monterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia FranciscoThus unencumbered Monterey by tradition, San the Josedelegates voicedVallejo their desire Benicia for a location Sacr free of the distractions of commerce. Offers of accommodations poured in from San Franciscocommunities large Monterey and small, all envisioningSan Jose a substantial Vallejo return onBenicia their Franciscoinvestment. Monterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia Sacr During the session, two men from the booming little town of Pueblo de San FranciscoSan Jose wereMonterey sent galloping overSan the hillsJose to MontereyVallejo to offer Benicia Square in their town as a capitol site and to assure delegates Francisco thatMonterey a suitable building Sanwould awaitJose them. AfterVallejo hours of debateBenicia the Sacr convention accepted the offer and named Pueblo de San Jose the capital San Francisco–with the qualificationMonterey that, by law,San it might Jose be moved Vallejoelsewhere. 1 Benicia Francisco Monterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia Sacr San Francisco Monterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia Francisco Monterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia Sacr San Francisco Monterey 1San Jose Vallejo Benicia F i Mt S J Vllj B ii S nterey San Jose Vallejo Benca Sacramento San F Monterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia Sacramento nterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia Sacramento San F Monterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia Sacramento nterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia Sacramento San F Monterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia Sacramento nterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia Sacramento San F Monterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia Sacramento nterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia Sacramento San F Monterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia Sacramento nterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia Sacramento San F Monterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia Sacramento nterey San Jose VallejoCapitol at San BeniciaJose—1849-51 Sacramento San F SAN JOSE MontereyState Capital, SanNovember Jose 13, 1849Vallejo to May 1, 1851Benicia Sacramento ntereyThe FirstSan and Jose Second SessionsVallejo of the Legislature,Benicia which Sacramento were held in 1850 andSan F 1851, convened at San Jose. Founded in 1777, San Jose was the first incorporated Montereycity in the stateSan and is Josethe Vallejo seat of Santa ClaraBenicia County. Sacramento ntereyThe CapitolSan Josewas a two-story Vallejo adobe hotel,Benicia 60 by 40 feet,Sacramento the upper story being San F Montereyassigned to theSan Assembly Jose and theVallejo lower to the Senate.Benicia William Sacramento Kelly, English author of A Stroll Through the Diggings of California, who visited the First Legislature ntereyat work,San describes Jose the SenateVallejo and Assembly Benicia Chambers asSacramento being: San F Monterey. . . accommodatedSan Jose under theVallejo same roof, one downstairs,Benicia the otherSacramento above; but, by a sort of solecism in the arrangement, the Senate, or upper house, nterey Sanoccupy Jose the lower apartment,Vallejo which isBenicia a large, ill-lighted, Sacramento badly-ventilated San F room, with a low ceiling, and a rough railing a little inside the door, beyond Montereywhich noneSan but Josethe elect mayVallejo pass. Each memberBenicia had a rush-bottomed Sacramento armchair, and a small desk with stationery . . . At the farther end, the nterey SanSpeaker Jose was perched Vallejo in a species ofBenicia pulpit; the floor wasSacramento covered with a San F number of little carpets, of various shapes and patterns . . . The other Montereyapartment San (the AssemblyJose Chamber)Vallejo is of preciselyBenicia the same size,Sacramento but has the advantage of greater loftiness . . . plain common chairs, flat deal tables, nterey Sanand aJose strip of mattingVallejo thrown where Benicia the feet are erroneously Sacramento supposed to San F Montereyrest, beingSan the extent Jose of the accommodationVallejo . . Benicia. 2 Sacramento ntereyJudge San Sexton Jose of Oroville Vallejo said that “no soonerBenicia was the LegislatureSacramento fairly organized San F than the members began to growl about their accommodations. They didn’t like Montereythe legislative buildingSan Jose and swore Vallejoterribly between Benicia drinks at the accommodationsSacramento of the town generally. Many of the solons expressed a desire to remove the ntereycapital San from SanJose Jose immediately.”Vallejo 3 Benicia Sacramento San F Monterey San Jose Vallejo2 Benicia Sacramento t S J Vllj B ii S t S F Franc sco Monterey San Jose Vallejo Benca Sacr San Francisco Monterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia During the session of 1850, several proposals to provide suitable lands for state Franciscobuildings, alongMonterey with lands, bondsSan or moneys Jose to establishVallejo funding forBenicia construction, Sacr were presented to the Legislature. General Vallejo’s offer was by far the most San Franciscogenerous. “The CommitteeMonterey on Public BuildingsSan Jose reported Vallejoin favor of acceptingBenicia Franciscothe Vallejo proposition,Monterey and on AprilSan 22, Jose an Act wasVallejo passed and approvedBenicia directing Sacr the Governor to submit to the people at the following general election the various San Franciscopropositions that hadMonterey been made for theSan location Jose of the CapitalVallejo . . . ” 4 AtBenicia the general election of October 7, 1850, the proposal of General Vallejo was Franciscooverwhelmingly Monterey favored. San Jose Vallejo Benicia Sacr San FranciscoOn , 1851,Monterey General Vallejo presentedSan Jose a communication Vallejo to the SenateBenicia offering bonds as security for the fulfillment of his proposal. A majority of the FranciscoSenate CommitteeMonterey on Public BuildingsSan Jose reported aVallejo bill recommending Benicia removal of Sacr the capital to the town of Vallejo which, passing both houses, was approved by San Franciscothe Governor on FebruaryMonterey 4, 1851. 5 California’sSan Jose first StateVallejo Capitol site isBenicia now marked with a plaque across from the Plaza de on South Market FranciscoStreet in downtownMonterey San Jose. San Jose Vallejo Benicia Sacr San Francisco Monterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia Francisco Monterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia Sacr San Francisco Monterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia Francisco Monterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia Sacr San Francisco Monterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia Francisco Monterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia Sacr San Francisco Monterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia Francisco Monterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia Sacr San Francisco Monterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia Francisco Monterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia Sacr San Francisco MontereyCapitol at Vallejo—1852-53San Jose Vallejo Benicia FranciscoVALLEJO Monterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia Sacr State Capital, January 5, 1852 to February 4, 1853. Removed temporarily to San FranciscoSacramento JanuaryMonterey 16, 1852 to May San4, 1852. Jose Vallejo Benicia

FranciscoThe Third MontereySession opened at VallejoSan Joseon January Vallejo 5, 1852. The capitalBenicia was in a Sacr state of total chaos. Accommodations of all sorts were in varying stages of San Franciscoconstruction, with Montereyworkmen noisily determinedSan Jose upon theirVallejo completion. Benicia The Sacramento Daily Union reported: “The furniture, fixtures, etc., are not yet in Franciscotheir places Monterey (in the Capitol); manySan of themJose have notVallejo yet arrived atBenicia Vallejo . . . no Sacr printing materials in town . . . few or none of the buildings in town finished . . . San Franciscomusic of the saw andMonterey hammer heard nightSan and day.”Jose 6 Vallejo Benicia Francisco Monterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia Sacr San Francisco Monterey 3San Jose Vallejo Benicia F i Mt S J Vllj B ii S nterey San Jose Vallejo Benca Sacramento San F Monterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia Sacramento Of the State House itself, Bancroft wrote: “The $125,000 capitol so far was a ntereyrather San insignificant Jose two-story Vallejo building withBenicia a drinking-saloon Sacramento and a skittle- San F in the basement—the third house, as it was ironically called.” 7 The site is now Montereymarked by a bronzeSan plaqueJose on theVallejo corner of YorkBenicia and Sacramento Sacramento Streets in ntereyVallejo.San Jose Vallejo Benicia Sacramento San F MontereyThe steamer, EmpireSan, Joseestablishing Vallejo itself as a floatingBenicia hotel, berthedSacramento some 250 persons, of whom 50 were Members of the Legislature. Anywhere else, wrote ntereythe DailySan Union Jose, should aVallejo man become “soBenicia prodigal as toSacramento purchase the exclusive San F privileges of a settee or a line of stools, it is perfect destruction on the purse.” 8 Monterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia Sacramento The dearth of essentials and the absence of amenities plunged the legislators into ntereya newSan battle Joseto move theVallejo Capitol. TheBenicia obvious efforts Sacramentoof builders to complete San F construction and the pledges of townspeople to secure conveniences were Montereycountered by chargesSan Josethat General Vallejo Vallejo had brokenBenicia his contract Sacramento to provide a suitable capital. Compromise prevailed, and it was decided that, while the town ntereyof VallejoSan would Jose remain Vallejo the permanent Benicia capital of theSacramento state, the Senate andSan F Assembly would repair to Sacramento on January 16, 1852 to complete the Montereysession. San Jose Vallejo Benicia Sacramento nterey Vallejo Sacramento The followingSan Jose year, on January 3, 1853, theBenicia Legislature assembled again in VallejoSan F Montereyfor the Fourth San Session. Jose Compared Vallejo with the previousBenicia year, conditionsSacramento were a little better, and the weather worse. Transportation and communication, in spite ntereyof greatSan effort, Jose fell far shortVallejo of the needs ofBenicia the Legislature. Sacramento Proponents of removal San F viewed, on the one hand, Sacramento recovering from a flood and, on the other, Montereythe town of BeniciaSan offering Jose the freeVallejo use of its newBenicia city hall and Sacramentoa port of call at which all river traffic stopped. Spurred perhaps by the immediate prospect of an ntereyuncomfortable San Jose session inVallejo Vallejo, the LegislatureBenicia passed Sacramento a bill on February 4San F Montereyordering the seatSan of government Jose toVallejo be moved instantlyBenicia to the CitySacramento of Benicia. nterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia Sacramento San F Monterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia Sacramento nterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia Sacramento San F Monterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia Sacramento nterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia Sacramento San F Monterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia Sacramento nterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia Sacramento San F Monterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia Sacramento nterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia Sacramento San F Monterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia Sacramento nterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia Sacramento San F Monterey San Jose Vallejo4 Benicia Sacramento t S J Vllj B ii S t S F Franc sco Monterey San Jose Vallejo Benca Sacr San Francisco Monterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia Francisco Monterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia Sacr San Francisco Monterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia Francisco Monterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia Sacr San Francisco Monterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia Francisco Monterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia Sacr San Francisco Monterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia Francisco Monterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia Sacr San Francisco Monterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia

Francisco Monterey CapitolSan at Benicia—1853-54 Jose Vallejo Benicia Sacr San FranciscoBENICIA Monterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia State Capital, February 4, 1853 to February 25, 1854 Francisco Monterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia Sacr The newly designated capital promptly welcomed the Legislature as the Fourth San FranciscoSession reconvened Monterey on February 11, 1853.San Benicia, Jose given Vallejo the second nameBenicia of the wife of General Vallejo, had grown with the addition of an ordnance depot Franciscoand a military Monterey post into a majorSan port Jose of call Vallejobetween San BeniciaFrancisco and Sacr San FranciscoSacramento. Monterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia The new State Capitol was a roomy, two-story brick building which, besides two Franciscolarge legislative Monterey chambers, contained San much-demanded Jose Vallejo rooms for committees.Benicia Two Sacr Doric pillars and four pilasters presented, for the first time, a suitably grand San Franciscofaçade. The lawmakers, Monterey with little or noSan complaint, Jose resumed Vallejo their labors Benicia and Franciscoadjourned MayMonterey 19, 1853. San Jose Vallejo Benicia Sacr San FranciscoYet once more, the Montereycapital seemed inadequate San toJose the accommodations Vallejo requiredBenicia for a legislative session and its entourage of scribes, journalists and advocates. FranciscoOn January Monterey 2, 1854, the opening San day Jose of the Fifth Vallejo Session, it is reportedBenicia that “at Sacr least a hundred men had no place to sleep except barrooms of saloons.” 9 As with San FranciscoVallejo, inclement weatherMonterey heightened theSan general Jose irritation. VallejoThe change to BeniciaBenicia Franciscohad proved Monterey apparently to be aSan change Jose in the degree Vallejo of discomfiture. Benicia Sacr A handsome proposal from the City of Sacramento arrived at about this time. San FranciscoFree use of the Sacramento Monterey County CourthouseSan Jose as a capitol Vallejo building, roomsBenicia for state officers, fireproof vaults for the records, removal of the Legislature and Franciscofurnishings Monterey from Benicia to SacramentoSan Jose without charge,Vallejo and a buildingBenicia site for a Sacr San Franciscopermanent capitol—were Monterey included. San Jose Vallejo Benicia FranciscoOther political Monterey considerations Sanwere agreed Jose to, andVallejo an act was passedBenicia repealing Sacr all prior legislation which had to do with a state capital and naming Sacramento San Franciscoas the permanent seatMonterey of government. OnSan February Jose 25, theVallejo bill was signedBenicia by Governor Bigler, and the Legislature, bag and baggage, climbed aboard the Franciscosteamer, WilsonMonterey G. Hunt, for theSan voyage Jose to the newVallejo capital. Benicia Sacr San Francisco Monterey 5San Jose Vallejo Benicia F i Mt S J Vllj B ii S nterey San Jose Vallejo Benca Sacramento San F Monterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia Sacramento nterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia Sacramento San F Monterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia Sacramento nterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia Sacramento San F Monterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia Sacramento nterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia Sacramento San F Monterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia Sacramento nterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia Sacramento San F Monterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia Sacramento nterey San Jose VallejoFirst Capitol at SacramentoBenicia 1854 Sacramento San F MontereySACRAMENTOSan Jose Vallejo Benicia Sacramento State Capital, February 25, 1854 to present. Removed temporarily to San ntereyFrancisco San in Jose 1862. Vallejo Benicia Sacramento San F Monterey—The First StateSan House Jose in SacramentoVallejo (1854)— Benicia Sacramento ntereyA fewSan of the Jose legislators Vallejorecalled the surroundingsBenicia of twoSacramento years before as theySan F reconvened the session of 1854 in Sacramento County’s first courthouse. Just Montereyprior to its completionSan Jose in 1851, Vallejo the wooden two-storyBenicia building Sacramento was proudly described in the Daily Union: “Sacramento can now boast of the finest and most ntereycommodious San Jose courthouse Vallejo in the State . . .Benicia The design of theSacramento main entrance is verySan F neat and in good taste. Four fluted columns will support a balcony, surrounding Montereywhich there willSan be a Josehandsome Vallejoiron railing. TheBenicia building will Sacramentobe ornamented ntereywith aSan neat cupola,Jose in whichVallejo a bell is to beBenicia suspended, andSacramento a clock also will show San F its face and hands to late witnesses and trembling culprits.” 10 Monterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia Sacramento The confidence of the city was to be seen everywhere. Sturdy levees braced it ntereyagainst San flooding Jose rivers, andVallejo the new CapitolBenicia looked downSacramento upon streets covered San F with wooden planking, ever-increasing numbers of substantial brick and iron Montereybuildings and Sanno less Josethan 55 hotels.Vallejo , Benicia freight wagonsSacramento and pack trains combined with frequent steamboat service to make Sacramento one of the ntereymost Sanaccessible Jose cities in theVallejo state. More Beniciarapid communications Sacramento were available bySan F Montereytelegraph. San Jose Vallejo Benicia Sacramento At last, a permanent capital seemed able to offer an abundance of those facilities ntereydeemed San necessary Jose for theVallejo appropriate conductBenicia and comfortSacramento of the Legislature. San F Soon after the conclusion of the session, the stately courthouse, along with a Montereyconsiderable portionSan ofJose the city, wasVallejo razed in the Beniciadisastrous fire ofSacramento July 13, 1854. ntereyUndaunted, San Josethe energetic Vallejo citizenry sawBenicia the cornerstone Sacramento of a more splendid San F courthouse laid on September 27, 1854. The 7th and I Street location of these Montereyfirst two Capitol San buildings Jose in Sacramento Vallejo is now theBenicia site of the Sacramento Sacramento County Jail. Although the location is registered as State Historic Landmark No. 869, no ntereyplaque San has been Jose placed thereVallejo to identify Benicia it as such. Sacramento San F Monterey San Jose Vallejo6 Benicia Sacramento t S J Vllj B ii S t S F Franc sco Monterey San Jose Vallejo Benca Sacr San Francisco Monterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia Francisco Monterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia Sacr San Francisco Monterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia Francisco Monterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia Sacr San Francisco Monterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia Francisco Monterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia Sacr San Francisco Monterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia Francisco Monterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia Sacr

San Francisco MontereySecond Capitol at SacramentoSan Jose 1855-69 Vallejo Benicia Francisco Monterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia Sacr —Sacramento’s Second State House (1855-69)— San Francisco Monterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia Sacramento’s Second County Courthouse was ready for occupancy in less than Franciscofour months. Monterey Completed in JanuarySan 1855,Jose construction Vallejo of the newBenicia State House Sacr San Francisconeither delayed norMonterey distracted the Legislature. San Jose Vallejo Benicia The façade was graced by eight fluted pillars with Ionic capitals supporting an Franciscoimposing entablature.Monterey The secondSan floor Jose was 80 byVallejo 120 feet, grantingBenicia sufficient Sacr space not only for adequate chambers for the Senate and Assembly, but also for San Francisconine rooms to be usedMonterey by officers and clerksSan of the Jose Legislature. Vallejo The ground Benicia floor Franciscoprovided officesMonterey complete with San fireproof Jose vaults forVallejo the Controller Benicia and Treasurer. Sacr San FranciscoThe rebuilding of Sacramento caused JamesSan G. JoseRead to write: “After four Beniciayears, in which she had beenMonterey in turn desolated by flood and pestilence,Vallejo consumed by Franciscofire, and shookMonterey by civil commotion, San we Jose will look atVallejo her as she standsBenicia in her pride Sacr of wealth and power. We will look at her extensive levees, her commodious San Franciscowharves, her noble Montereylines of storehouses, San her magnificent Jose postVallejo office, her elegantBenicia and spacious church, and other public buildings; her fine hotels and her palace- Franciscolike private Monterey residences, and whoSan can forbearJose astonishment?” Vallejo 11 Benicia Sacr San FranciscoThis “pride of wealth Monterey and power” embraced San the Jose Legislature. Vallejo In 1854, the publicBenicia square at 9th and 10th, I and J Streets, was donated by the city as a site for the Franciscopermanent MontereyCapitol. The work, San which Jose commenced Vallejo in December Benicia of 1856, was Sacr halted by court litigation, and construction was never resumed. 12 The site, which San Franciscoreverted to the city, Monterey is now Cesar E. ChavezSan Plaza. Jose Vallejo Benicia

FranciscoIntense geographicalMonterey and political San scheming Jose led toVallejo various legislative Benicia attempts to Sacr move the capital again. At one point even the ruled, but San Franciscolater reversed itself, Monterey that the state capital San was actually Jose still VallejoSan Jose. 13 SeveralBenicia Franciscocities, including Monterey San Francisco, San Oakland Jose and San Jose,Vallejo reopened Benicia the prospect of Sacr change by proposing capitol sites to the Legislature, but Sacramento’s gift of San Franciscofour blocks between Monterey L and N, 10th and San12th Streets, Jose was finallyVallejo agreed uponBenicia in 1860. The Legislature appropriated $500,000 as a construction fund, and Franciscoappointed aMonterey commission to superintendSan Jose the building Vallejo of a capitol. Benicia Sacr San Francisco Monterey 7San Jose Vallejo Benicia F i Mt S J Vllj B ii S nterey San Jose Vallejo Benca Sacramento San F Monterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia Sacramento nterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia Sacramento San F Monterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia Sacramento nterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia Sacramento San F Monterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia Sacramento nterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia Sacramento San F Monterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia Sacramento nterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia Sacramento San F Monterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia Sacramento nterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia Sacramento San F Monterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia Sacramento nterey San JoseMerchants VallejoExchange Building Benicia at San Francisco—1862 Sacramento San F MontereySAN FRANCISCOSan Jose Vallejo Benicia Sacramento ntereyTemporary San StateJose Capital, Vallejo January 24,Benicia 1862 to May 15,Sacramento 1862 San F December 9, 1861, found Sacramento completely flooded. Early in January, the MontereyDaily Union , whileSan describing Jose conditionsVallejo in theBenicia city as normal, Sacramento reported “a movement, probably having a speculative origin, to attempt to bring about a ntereytemporary San removal Jose of theVallejo Capital of the BeniciaLegislature to SanSacramento Francisco, but we doSan F not apprehend that such an attempt will be countenanced by sensible men in Montereyeither branch.” San 14 Jose Vallejo Benicia Sacramento nterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia Sacramento San F On January 10, 1862, Sacramento was again awash with flood waters rising 20 Montereyinches higher Santhan the Jose crest the Vallejoprevious month. Benicia Governor LelandSacramento Stanford supposedly arrived for his inauguration in a rowboat. nterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia Sacramento San F The question of removal was not only considered, it was pursued to the extent Montereythat one legislator San feared Jose they wouldVallejo become knownBenicia as “the changing, Sacramento mudscow, steamboat moving, forever uncertain legislature of California.” On January 24, nterey1862, San the Legislature Jose tookVallejo up temporary Benicia residence in SanSacramento Francisco. San F

MontereyThe business ofSan the state Jose resumed Vallejo in the Merchants Benicia Exchange Building,Sacramento which stood on the northeast corner of Battery and Washington Streets. Erected in nterey1854 Sanfor the HongJose Kong Vallejotrading house ofBenicia Jardine and Matheson,Sacramento this imposing, San F three-story structure, capped with a central dome, was done in the palladian Montereystyle of architecture. San StatuaryJose ofVallejo an allegorical natureBenicia embellished Sacramento the cornice. ntereyThe siteSan is now Jose occupied Vallejo in part by theBenicia forecourt of theSacramento Richard Henry Dana San F Building at 550 Battery Street. Monterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia Sacramento Any efforts, public or private, to foster another permanent move of the capital ntereymust Sanhave been Jose rebuffed, Vallejo for the sessionBenicia convened Sacramentoin Sacramento. San F Monterey San Jose Vallejo8 Benicia Sacramento t S J Vllj B ii S t S F Franc sco Monterey San Jose Vallejo Benca Sacr San Francisco Monterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia Francisco Monterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia Sacr San Francisco Monterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia Francisco Monterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia Sacr San Francisco Monterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia Francisco Monterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia Sacr San Francisco Monterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia Francisco Monterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia Sacr

San FranciscoCapitol at SacramentoMonterey 1874-present San Jose Vallejo Benicia Francisco Monterey San Jose CapitolVallejo under construction—1860-74 Benicia Sacr SACRAMENTO San TheFrancisco Capital ComesMonterey to Rest in a GloriousSan New Jose Building Vallejo Benicia FranciscoWhile the LegislatureMonterey had beenSan away, Jose work proceededVallejo on a magnificentBenicia new Sacr capitol building designed by M.F. . Ground had been broken on September San 24,Francisco 1860, and the cornerstoneMonterey had been laidSan on May Jose 15, 1861. Vallejo Details and workingBenicia drawings were prepared by Reuben Clark, the first of the superintending Franciscoarchitects, asMonterey problems arose. San Jose Vallejo Benicia Sacr

San ConstructionFrancisco of the MontereyCapitol covered a periodSan of 14Jose years, andVallejo special taxes hadBenicia to be levied to sustain the project. “Until the roof was built in 1868, work stopped Franciscoin the winter, Monterey both because wetSan weather Jose set in andVallejo because theBenicia year’s funds, Sacr San derivedFrancisco from annual Monterey taxes, were exhausted San by fall.Jose Supplies Vallejo contracted forBenicia did not always arrive at the stipulated time; during the Civil War many construction Franciscoitems that mightMonterey previously haveSan been Jose ordered fromVallejo the East wereBenicia made in San Sacr Francisco, where facilities were limited.” 15 Flooding, cost overruns, and delays San inFrancisco construction reinvigoratedMonterey Bay Area Sancities’ attempts Jose to moveVallejo the state capitalBenicia to their locales. In 1868, serious removal efforts were waged to move the capital Franciscoto Santa Cruz,Monterey San Jose, Oakland, San Benicia, Jose and SanVallejo Francisco. Benicia16 None of the Sacr San removalFrancisco bills passed Monterey the Legislature. San Jose Vallejo Benicia On November 26, 1869, the offices of the Governor and Secretary of State were Franciscooccupied, andMonterey on December 6thSan of that Jose year the LegislatureVallejo convened Benicia in the new Sacr chambers. Work on the Capitol continued until 1874, when it was declared San completed.Francisco Monterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia

FranciscoFive years Montereylater, the Constitutional San ConventionJose ofVallejo 1879 incorporated Benicia into the Sacr San ConstitutionFrancisco a section Monterey declaring Sacramento San to Josebe the seat Vallejoof government Beniciaof the state. 17 Removal could be obtained only by an extraordinary vote of the FranciscoLegislature Monterey and a majority voteSan of the Jose people. Vallejo Benicia Sacr San OnFrancisco foundations patternedMonterey after the ancientSan Spanish Jose fortressVallejo at Panama Benicia and cemented by the state’s new Constitution, California’s Capitol finally came to Franciscorest. Monterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia Sacr San Francisco Monterey 9San Jose Vallejo Benicia F i Mt S J Vllj B ii S nterey San Jose Vallejo Benca Sacramento San F Monterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia Sacramento nterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia Sacramento San F Monterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia Sacramento nterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia Sacramento San F Monterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia Sacramento nterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia Sacramento San F Monterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia Sacramento nterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia Sacramento San F Monterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia Sacramento Restored Benicia Capitol Building nterey San JoseSite of theVallejo Sesquicentennial Benicia Commemorative Sacramento Session San F MontereyCelebrating San California’s Jose Past:Vallejo Benicia Sacramento ntereyThe LegislatureSan Jose Returns Vallejo to Benicia (MarchBenicia 15, 1958 andSacramento February 16, 2000) San F The capitol structures in San Jose and Vallejo, as well as the two original buildings Montereyin Sacramento, San were destroyedJose longVallejo ago. After a Beniciahundred years, theSacramento only edifice ntereyleft standingSan Josewas the two-storyVallejo building Beniciain Benicia. OverSacramento the years, the building San F was used as the city hall, a school, church, fire department, county courthouse Montereyand library. InSan the 1950’s, Jose efforts Vallejo were made toBenicia refurbish the agingSacramento structure. The City of Benicia, the Benicia Capitol Restoration Committee, and the State of ntereyCalifornia San cooperated Jose in Vallejothe restoration Beniciaproject. The buildingSacramento was restored to itsSan F original condition, in authentic detail, and in 1958 was rededicated as a State MontereyHistoric Park. San To honor Jose the occasion, Vallejo the Legislature Benicia passed SCRSacramento 2, moving the capital to Benicia for one day. For three days, Benicia celebrated with parades, ntereyparties, San a Governor’s Jose Ball,Vallejo and a one-day Benicia commemorative Sacramento legislative session heldSan F Montereyon March 15, 1958.San Jose Vallejo Benicia Sacramento But the recognition of Benicia’s place in state history did not end in 1958. To ntereycelebrate San the Jose150th anniversary Vallejo of California Benicia statehood, theSacramento 1999-2000 Legislature San F adopted SCR 54. The measure called for the Legislature to convene once again Montereyin Benicia on FebruarySan Jose 16, 2000 toVallejo pay homage toBenicia California’s richSacramento past. Benicia ntereyagain San reclaimed Jose its status Vallejo as the state capital,Benicia if only for Sacramentoa day. San F Monterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia Sacramento nterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia Sacramento San F Monterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia Sacramento nterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia Sacramento San F Monterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia Sacramento nterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia Sacramento San F Monterey San Jose Vallejo10 Benicia Sacramento t S J Vllj B ii S t S F Franc sco Monterey San Jose Vallejo Benca Sacr San Francisco Monterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia FranciscoFootnotes: Monterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia Sacr San Francisco1 California’s State Monterey Capitol, Northern CaliforniaSan Jose Writers’ Program,Vallejo Works Benicia Project Administration. Office of State Printing, Sacramento, California, Francisco1942, p.Monterey 28. “The first sessionSan of theJose Legislature Vallejo shall be heldBenicia at the Pueblo Sacr San Franciscode San Jose, whichMonterey place shall be theSan permanent Jose seat ofVallejo government untilBenicia removed by law.” Constitution of 1849, Article XI, Section 1. Francisco2 William Monterey Kelly, Esq., A StrollSan Through Jose the Diggings Vallejo of California ,Benicia Simms and Sacr McIntyre, London, 1852, pp. 190-191. San Francisco3 California’s StateMonterey Capitol, p. 31. San Jose Vallejo Benicia Francisco4“History Monterey of the Seat of StateSan Government,” Jose GovernmentalVallejo Roster,Benicia 1889: State Sacr and County Governments of California, compiled by W.C. Hendricks, San FranciscoSecretary of State,Monterey Office of State Printing,San Jose Sacramento, Vallejo 1889, p. 199.Benicia 5Id., pp. 199-200. Francisco6 Sacramento Monterey Daily Union, JanuarySan 5,Jose 1852. Vallejo Benicia Sacr San Francisco7 Bancroft, HubertMonterey Howe. ,San Jose 1848-1859 Vallejo, The History Co.,Benicia San Francisco, 1888. Francisco8 Sacramento Monterey Daily Union , JanuarySan 5,Jose 1852. Vallejo Benicia Sacr 9 California’s State Capitol, p. 37. San Francisco10 Sacramento Daily Monterey Union, December 16,San 1851. Jose Vallejo Benicia Francisco11 Quoted inMonterey California’s State CapitolSan, pp.Jose 39-40. Vallejo Benicia Sacr 12 California Blue Book, 1907. San Francisco13 A Documentary HistoryMonterey of California’s StateSan Capitol, Jose Lucinda Vallejo Woodward, Benicia FranciscoCalifornia Monterey State Capitol RestorationSan Jose Project, VallejoOctober 1981, Beniciap. 2. Sacr 14 Sacramento Daily Union, January 6, 1862, p. 2. San Francisco15 California’s StateMonterey Capitol, p. 47. San Jose Vallejo Benicia 16 A Documentary History of California’s State Capitol, pp. 61-62 Francisco17 Constitution, Monterey Article III, SectionSan 2. Jose Vallejo Benicia Sacr San Francisco Monterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia Francisco Monterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia Sacr San Francisco Monterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia Francisco Monterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia Sacr San Francisco Monterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia Francisco Monterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia Sacr San Francisco Monterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia Francisco Monterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia Sacr San Francisco Monterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia Francisco Monterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia Sacr San Francisco Monterey 11San Jose Vallejo Benicia F i Mt S J Vllj B ii S nterey San Jose Vallejo Benca Sacramento San F Monterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia Sacramento nterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia Sacramento San F Monterey SanMembers Jose of the VallejoCalifornia StateBenicia LegislatureSacramento 1999-2000 Session nterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia Sacramento San F Monterey San Jose VallejoSenators Benicia Sacramento Dist. Dist. Senator Dist. Senator nterey 1.San Leslie, Jose Tim Vallejo15. McPherson,Benicia Bruce 29.Sacramento Mountjoy, Richard San F 2. Chesbro, Wesley 16. Costa, Jim 30. Escutia, Martha M. Monterey3. Burton, San John L. Jose 17. Knight,Vallejo William J. Benicia31. Brulte, JamesSacramento 4. Johannessen, Maurice 18. O’Connell, Jack 32. Soto, Nell nterey 5.San Johnston, Jose Patrick Vallejo19. Wright, BeniciaCathie 33.Sacramento Lewis, John R. San F 6. Ortiz, Debra V. 20. Alarcon, Richard 34. Dunn, Joe Monterey7. Rainey, San Richard JoseK. 21. Schiff,Vallejo Adam Benicia35. Johnson,Sacramento Ross 8. Speier, Jackie 22. Polanco, Richard 36. Haynes, Ray N. nterey 9.San Perata, Jose Don Vallejo23. Hayden,Benicia Tom 37.Sacramento Kelley, David G. San F 10. Figueroa, Liz 24. Solis, Hilda L. 38. Morrow, Bill 11. Sher, Byron 25. Hughes, Teresa 39. Alpert, Dede Monterey12. Monteith, San Dick Jose26. Murray,Vallejo Kevin Benicia40. Peace, SteveSacramento 13. Vasconcellos, John 27. Karnette, Betty nterey 14.San Poochigian, Jose CharlesVallejo S. 28. Bowen, DebraBenicia Sacramento San F Monterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia Sacramento Assembly Members nterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia Sacramento San F Dist. Member Dist. Member Dist. Member Monterey1. Strom-Martin, San VirginiaJose 28. Frusetta,Vallejo Peter Benicia55. Floyd, DickSacramento 2. Dickerson, Richard 29. Briggs, Mike 56. Havice, Sally nterey 3.San Aanestad, Jose Sam Vallejo30. Florez, DeanBenicia 57.Sacramento Gallegos, Martin San F 4. Oller, Rico 31. Reyes, Sarah 58. Calderon, Thomas Monterey5. Cox, DaveSan Jose32. Ashburn,Vallejo Roy Benicia59. Margett,Sacramento Bob 6. Mazzoni, Kerry 33. Maldonado, Abel 60. Pacheco, Robert 7. Wiggins, Patricia 34. Olberg, Keith 61. VACANT nterey 8.San Thomson, Jose Helen Vallejo35. Jackson,Benicia Hannah-Beth 62.Sacramento Longville, John San F 9. Steinberg, Darrell 36. Runner, George 63. Leonard, Bill Monterey10. Pescetti, San Anthony Jose 37. Strickland,Vallejo Tony Benicia64. Pacheco,Sacramento Rod 11. Torlakson, Tom 38. McClintock, Tom 65. Granlund, Brett nterey 12.San Shelley, Jose Kevin Vallejo39. Cardenas,Benicia Tony 66.Sacramento Thompson, Bruce San F 13. Migden, Carole 40. Hertzberg, Robert M. 67. Baugh, Scott Monterey14. Aroner, San Dion Jose41. Kuehl,Vallejo Sheila JamesBenicia 68. Maddox,Sacramento Ken 15. Leach, Lynne 42. Knox, Wally 69. Correa, Lou nterey 16.San Bock, Jose Audie E. Vallejo43. Wildman,Benicia Scott 70.Sacramento Brewer, Marilyn San F 17. Machado, Mike 44. Scott, Jack 71. Campbell, Bill Monterey18. Corbett, San Ellen Jose45. Villaraigosa,Vallejo AntonioBenicia R. 72. Ackerman,Sacramento Dick 19. Papan, Louis 46. Cedillo, Gil 73. Bates, Patricia 20. Dutra, John 47. Wesson, Herb 74. Kaloogian, Howard nterey 21.San Lempert, Jose Ted Vallejo48. Wright, BeniciaRod 75.Sacramento Zettel, Charlene San F 22. Alquist, Elaine 49. Romero, Gloria 76. Davis, Susan Monterey23. , San Mike Jose50. Firebaugh,Vallejo Marco Benicia77. Baldwin,Sacramento Steve 24. Cunneen, Jim 51. Vincent, Edward 78. Wayne, Howard nterey 25.San House, Jose George Vallejo52. Washington,Benicia Carl 79.Sacramento Ducheny, Denise Moreno San F 26. Cardoza, Dennis 53. Nakano, George 80. Battin, Jim Monterey27. Keeley, San Fred Jose54. Lowenthal,Vallejo Alan Benicia Sacramento nterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia Sacramento San F Monterey San Jose Vallejo12 Benicia Sacramento t S J Vllj B ii S t S F Franc sco Monterey San Jose Vallejo Benca Sacr San Francisco Monterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia Francisco Monterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia Sacr San Francisco Monterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia Francisco Monterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia Sacr San Francisco Monterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia Francisco Monterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia Sacr San Francisco Monterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia Francisco Monterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia Sacr San Francisco Monterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia Francisco Monterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia Sacr San Francisco MontereyMariano GuadalupeSan VallejoJose Vallejo Benicia 1808-1890 Francisco Monterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia Sacr General Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo was a central figure in early California his- San Franciscotory. The Vallejo familyMonterey first came to CaliforniaSan Jose in 1774, whenVallejo Ignacio VicenteBenicia Ferrer Vallejo of Jalisco, , served on an expedition to the region. The FranciscoVallejo familyMonterey was soon well establishedSan Jose in ,Vallejo with familyBenicia members Sacr owning vast ranchos and holding important military titles. When the Mexican San Franciscogovernment’s ineffectual Monterey control over theSan province Jose weakened Vallejo further in the 1840’s,Benicia FranciscoGeneral VallejoMonterey actively sought San annexation Jose by theVallejo : Benicia Sacr San FranciscoWhy then should we hesitate still toSan assert ourJose independence? We have Benicia indeed takenMonterey the first step, by electing our own governor,Vallejo but another Francisco remainsMonterey to be taken . . . Sanannexation Jose to the UnitedVallejo States. In Beniciacontem- Sacr plating this consummation of our destiny, I feel nothing but pleasure, San Franciscoand I ask youMonterey to share it . . . When weSan join our Jose fortunes toVallejo hers, we shall Benicia not become subjects, but fellow-citizens, possessing all the rights of the Francisco UnitedMonterey States and choosing San our ownJose federal andVallejo local rulers. WeBenicia shall Sacr have a stable government and just laws. California will grow strong San Franciscoand flourishing, Monterey and her people willSan be prosperous, Jose happy, Vallejo and free. Benicia Francisco —GeneralMonterey M.G. Vallejo, San April 1846Jose Vallejo Benicia Sacr As the region transitioned from a Mexican province to a State, Mariano Vallejo’s San Franciscoreputation as a military Monterey leader and great San landowner Jose earned Vallejo him a place asBenicia a del- egate to the Constitutional Convention of 1849. He was thereafter elected to Franciscoserve as SenatorMonterey in the First LegislatureSan Jose at San VallejoJose. As a legislator,Benicia he con - Sacr San Franciscovinced the Members to move the state capitalSan to Josehis property in Solano CountyBenicia in 1852. The towns ofMonterey Vallejo and Benicia (named after GeneralVallejo Vallejo’s wife FranciscoFrancisca BeniciaMonterey Carrillo) eachSan served Jose briefly as Vallejothe seat of state Benicia government in Sacr the 1850’s, until bustling Sacramento won the honor as permanent state capital San Franciscoin 1854. General VallejoMonterey spent his later yearsSan as Josea patriarchal Vallejo figure in NorthernBenicia California, and is widely regarded as one of California’s most important states- Franciscomen. Monterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia Sacr San Francisco Monterey San Jose Vallejo Benicia F i Mt S J Vllj B ii S The Great Seal of the State of California “Around the bevel of the ring are represented thirty-one stars being the number of states of which the union will consist upon the admis- sion of California. The foreground figure represents the Goddess Minerva having sprung full grown from the brain of Jupiter. She is introduced as a type of the political birth of the State of California without having gone through the probation of a Territory. At her feet crouches a grizzly bear feeding upon clusters from a grape vine emblematic of the peculiar characteristics of the country. A miner is engaged with a rocker and bowl at his side, illustrating the golden wealth of the Sacramento upon whose waters are seen shipping typi- cal of commercial greatness and the Snow-clad peaks of the Sierra make up the background while above the Greek motto ‘’ (I have found it) applying either to the principle involved in the admission of the State, or the success of the miner at work.” —Constitutional Convention, Monterey, October 2, 1849.

Honorable Robert M. Hertzberg, Speaker of the Assembly Honorable Dennis A. Cardoza, Chair, Assembly Rules Committee

Published by The Office of the Assembly Chief Clerk 2nd. Edition, May 2000

Designed and printed by Assembly Reprographics

Illustrations courtesy of , California State Archives, and California State Parks