Life in Benicia

About an hour from San Francisco lies a well-hidden community that 28,000 people call home-this eclectic city is Benicia. Natural beauty, wonderful shopping, thriving marina, fine dining, award winning schools, art and culture await you in our historic city that has been dubbed the "jewel" of the Bay Area.

Benicia offers friendliness as a way of life for both visitors and locals alike. With quaint shops in the downtown, extensive marina services as well as numerous parks and charming accommodations for visitors, it is understandable that many people who come to visit, decide to stay!

Being a waterfront community adds to the unique charm of this community. The Benicia Marina, located at East B and Second Street, offers public docking facilities for boaters who can easily make the trip in one day literally from any of the Bay Area ports. It also offers easy access to the Sacramento Delta and its many miles of inland waterways. The Benicia Yacht Club is a private club, but offers guests privileges to visiting yacht club members.

The mild year-round climate keeps residents happy and tourists jealous. An average mean temperature of 69 degrees and an average annual rainfall of 16 inches: Benicia is definitely a city that draws newcomers. During the summer when neighboring communities are experiencing heat spells, the cool breeze of the Carquinez Strait keeps residents comfortable.

The City of Benicia offers a wide variety of amenities and activities to keep the community and family spirit alive. The Annual Peddler's Fair, Annual Handicraft Fair, Opening Day on the Straits, Glass Blowers Open House, Heritage Home Tour, Arts in the Park, Christmas at the Clocktower, Benicia Historical Museum at the Camel Barns, Downtown Farmer's Market along with numerous other events all contribute to an extensive calendar of events.

Please visit www.beniciahistoricalmuseum.org to see exhibits on all the subjects noted.

A bedroom community is how Benicia has been described. The description fits in the sense that it does have a great asset: location, location, location! Benicia is accessible from Interstates 680 and 780, with Interstate 80 connecting to both of these freeways. Benicia is 11 miles from BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit). Benicia Transit serves the City of Benicia with connections to Pleasant Hill BART, Vallejo Transit Transfer Center, Vallejo Ferry Terminal, and Vallejo BART Link. Geographically Benicia is located 35 miles from San Francisco and 58 miles from Sacramento with the city covering 13.8 miles.

There is something for everyone to discover and enjoy in the charming city of Benicia. Read on to discover the various attributes Benicia has to offer and you too can see why Benicia is definitely the "jewel" of the Bay Area!

Historical Outlook

History abounds in Benicia unlike any other city or town in California. Conceived in 1846, founded in 1847, and settled in 1848, Benicia has the unique distinction of being the first American city founded in the Golden State by Anglo-Americans as compared to earlier Spanish settlements of missions, forts, or trading centers which later developed into California cities. Among its landmarks, the restored State Capitol is the most notable followed by the buildings of the Benicia Arsenal complex. Politics and the military are not the only key elements in the parade of historical heritage. Finance, industry and education also share the limelight in Benicia's early development.

Mention is made in the San Francisco newspapers of the first issue of a privately minted gold coin in May of 1849. Private or territorial gold coins were minted due to the lack of regular coinage, and states and territories were not allowed to issue their own coins. The newspaper account described a five-dollar gold coin, struck at Benicia City, though with the imprint of San Francisco, and from the firm of Norris, Gregg & Norris. This piece has been considered the fist of the California private gold coins.

In the world of commerce, one of the earliest companies in California was the Pacific Mail Steamship Company, a transportation company that literally moved the lion's share of the great migration of people from the eastern United States to the far west outposts by way of the Isthmus of Panama. Pacific Mail selected Benicia as the site of their northern repair, refuel and cleaning facility.

All the necessities of operating a ship repair yard were secured and built, starting in 1849 and continuing through 1850. These included offices, storerooms, drafting rooms, pattern and boiler shops, machine shops, finishing room, blacksmith shop, foundry, cove ovens, cranes and wharves. These shops became the first large industrial enterprise in California and Pacific Mail maintained its Benicia operations from 1850 to 1869.

Railroads were also a part of Benicia's historic past. The fist railroad was surveyed by Frederick Catherwood, the artist-surveyor who captured with pen and ink the ruins and remnants of the Mayan Indians in Central America. This railroad, between Benicia and Marysville, never materialized. The second railroad was a narrow gauge line (also never built, but surveyed and graded) in the mid 1870's. Finally, the Southern Pacific built their transcontinental route to the water's edge at Benicia and ferried trains across to the opposite shore for the final journey to San Francisco. This operation lasted from 1879 to 1930, a fifty-year episode when Benicia was on the window of the world. It has been estimated that over 3 million people passed by Benicia annually traveling in all four directions.

Education has been an integral part of Benicia's early development. The Young Ladies Seminary opened in 1852 and had an extensive part in the development of Mills College in Oakland. Two years later, St. Catherine's Academy, a Catholic school, opened and was joined by Blake's Collegiate Institute. This school later was the genesis of St. Augustine's Military School. St. Mary's of the Pacific, an Episcopalian school for girls, was the last school to open its doors. With the record of accomplishments of the above four schools, Benicia truly deserved the title of "Athens of the West."

History touches every aspect of the human experience and Benicia shares its heritage openly. Whether it be sports (John C. Heenan, the Benicia Boy), literature (Jack London, Stephen Vincent Benet), or unique personalities (Addison & Wilson Mizner), Benicia's history will have encountered it.

Historical facts compiled by local historian, Michael Hayes

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A California Main Street City

Benicia was selected in 1987 to participate in the California Main Street Program. The Main Street Program is a grass roots downtown revitalization program. The Program is part of the state national network of downtown revitalization projects coordinated by the State of California Department of Commerce and the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

The Benicia Main Street Program is now in its twelfth year and can boast many accomplishments. Benicia has received praise and many awards from both the State and National Main Street Centers for having one of the top programs in the state. Benicia and its Director were selected to represent the National Main Street Program in 1990 and were featured on the NBC Today Show. In 1994 the Benicia Main Street Program received the Governor's Main Street Award for Best Promotions.

In 1998, Benicia hosted the quarterly California Main Street conference, providing an opportunity to showcase our downtown to other downtown managers and city officials from all over the state.

Each year, Main Street sponsors many community events and retail promotions to bring thousands of visitors to Benicia's downtown. Annual Main Street sponsored events include: July 3-4 Celebration, Christmas Open House/Parade & Holiday Market, Waterfront Celebration, Wedding Showcase, Halloween Parade & Activities, and the very popular weekly Certified Farmer's Market now in its seventh year held every April-October. Three years ago the See's Candy Corporation selected the Benicia Main Street Program to participate along with two other California Main Street cities, to set up a See's Candy Fundraising Store. This is a pilot program to provide a marketing opportunity for the Candy Company as well as provide fundraising benefits to downtown programs. Benicia main Street opens its See's Candy Fundraising Store from Thanksgiving through Christmas, February for Valentine's Day, April for Easter and May for Mother's Day.

Main Street also assists property owners and businesses interested in refurbishing their buildings or expanding their business. Main Street works closely with City Officials to encourage public improvements including: new water and sewer lines, street paving, new directional freeway entrance signs, new street lights, trees and sidewalks. Most recently the completed Waterfront Promenade provides a comfortable, attractive and inviting view to the water.

Main Street will continue to play an active role in bringing people to the downtown, providing a safe, attractive atmosphere for visitors and residents. The small town charm of Benicia will continue with the efforts of the Benicia Main Street Program. The continued success of the program relies on the support of a volunteer Board of Directors, professional full-time staff, and hundreds of individuals and businesses who volunteer their time and contribute to Main Street. For more information about the Benicia Main Street Program, contact Executive Director, Patti Baron at 426 First Street, 707-745-9791.

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The Arts

Benicia's eclectic art community is one of its valuable assets. Artists and Benicia have become synonymous, or so it has been said.

Tourists and locals alike come to this waterfront community to experience the artistry of the internationally acclaimed glass studios to the local dinner theater that Benicia Old Town Theatre Group provides. Local art organizations, as well as many arts-related businesses work together to provide cultural and economic resources to the community.

The historic neighborhoods and the water view of Benicia have attracted artists with international reputations. The famous author Jack London visited Benicia on many occasions and the late Robert Arneson built his home and studio on First Street, near the waterfront where he played as a child. The site is distinguished by the famous Arneson Bricks embedded in the sidewalk. Many other artists and people who love art have their homes, businesses, and studios tucked away all over town. All contribute to the richness and variety of cultural life in Benicia.

There are two broad based, non-profit community arts organizations in Benicia supporting culture and the arts. Benicia Community Arts (BCA) was established in 1980 to increase community participation in arts of all disciplines. Through a program that ranges from scholarships and cash grants to sponsorship of exhibits and events, BCA provides services to build economic opportunity, educational options, and cultural understanding. Ongoing forums for cultural interchange that are produced annually by BCA include the Festival of Arts in the Park, a day of hands-on participation in the creative process; and Christmas at the Clocktower, the Pride of Place Craft Fair, involving Benicia history with visual and performing arts. BCA is also a sponsor of Benicia Ballet Theater. For more information on this membership, volunteer opportunities, events or programs, please call 745-ARTS. ARTS Benicia was established in 1989 and designated as the official arts body for the City of Benicia to coordinate, administrate, fund, and publicize all areas of the arts to benefit the public. Some programs that ARTS Benicia has implemented are Art in City Hall, Poets in the Schools, and Art in Public Places. An affiliate Board of Directors consisting of high school students is currently developing their own cultural arts youth program under the guidance and sponsorship of ARTS Benicia. The ARTS Benicia Center Gallery at 991 Tyler Street, Suite 114, a 2400 square foot converted warehouse space in the historic Arsenal area, opened in 1993 and has become the nucleus of a greatly expanded community of studio artists. A multifaceted exhibition schedule features the work of dozens of local and Northern California artists in a professional setting.

The Center hosts numerous events; poetry readings, slide talks, lecture and workshop series, children's art activities, dramatic and musical performances, open mike night for students, previews and receptions, an annual Art Auction and gala dance in the Fall, and Benicia Artists Open Studios in the first weekend in May. The gallery is open during exhibits Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, 12:00-4:00, or by appointment. For a calendar of events, membership, and general information, call 747-0131.

There are four site specific public art pieces that have been installed in Benicia under the Art in Public Places Program: "The Benicia Bench" by Robert Arneson on the east side of the Marina shore; "Mandala for Modern Med" by Lee Roy Champagne at the Rose Drive Medical Arts Center; and two pieces at the Benicia Public Library: "Dicta" by Sandra Shannonhouse, and "Untitled, 1993" by Gregg Renfrow. There is an art gallery at the library, featuring eight diverse exhibits per year. The library hosts literary events throughout the year, as do local bookstores. Many restaurants, real estate offices, and retail establishments exhibit the work of local artists. Along the sidewalks on First Street are the colorful ceramic tile depicting Benicia's history, created by the late muralist Guillermo Granizo.

Studios in the Arsenal area, as well as in the smaller converted historic Yuba Manufacturing Complex on the 600 block of East H Street, are open occasionally and house artists creating painting, sculpture, forged iron furniture, fused and slumped glass, fiber, stained glass, paper, cast bronze and clay. Also in the Yuba Complex are the renowned glass studios, recognized for their distinctive style of contemporary hand blown glass; all creating work collected internationally as well as being commissioned for dignitaries worldwide. Visitors are welcome to view glass-blowing techniques, similar to those used centuries ago. Show room hours are Monday-Saturday, 10:00-4:00, glass blowing can be seen Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, 10:00-2:00. The studios host two open houses the first weekends in May and December.

In addition to the dozens of artists' private working studios in the Arsenal area (Tyler, Jackson, Polk and Grant Streets), there are a few studios and several art businesses that grant access to the public at designated times.

Since 1964, Benicia Old Town Theater Group (BOTTG) has been providing high quality theatrical entertainment, promoting training in the dramatic arts, and providing scholarships to promising high school students. The group presents talent shows for young people as well as its popular dinner theater performance at the BDES Hall at 140 West J Street. Call 746-1269 for more information or reservations.

Benicia is home to the Benicia Ballet Theater, a company of young dancers who present a full-length production of "The Nutcracker" each holiday season.

Contact any of the mentioned art organizations & cultural establishments for more information regarding events, dates and times.

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Parks & Recreation

Benicia is an outdoor lover's dream come true. Our city offers numerous recreational opportunities, boating, fishing hiking, skateboarding, basketball, tennis, volleyball, soccer, baseball, or softball.

The Benicia Marina and Public Boat Launch at 9th Street Park offers access to the Carquinez Straight, the Bay Area Waterways and the Delta. You don't need a boat to enjoy the water in Benicia. The City Waterfront Pathway system is a great way to enjoy Benicia's water views and sunsets. This system connects over a dozen parks and rest areas via city streets and improved pathways-bring your bike or walking shoes.

In all, our city boasts over 30 parks and recreational areas throughout the community, including the popular Benicia State Recreation Area and the amazing Playground of Dreams. Many of these offer picnic facilities, playground equipment, grassy areas for kite flying or Frisbee tossing as well as exceptional scenic views. Opened in the spring of 1995 is the 50-acre Benicia Community Park, off Rose Drive, above Matthew Turner School. For swimmers, the James Lemos Pool is open to the public at East J and Second Streets. The James Lemos, or "City" pool offers a standard pool for recreational swimming, an Olympic-size pool for laps and racing, a wading pool for toddlers and water slide. The Southampton Swim Club, at Chelsea Hills and Warwick Drive, offers a private recreational pool with dressing rooms.

Benicia - happy to be Bay Area's backwater

Some cities are born great; others have greatness thrust upon them. Benicia had greatness snatched away. In Gold Rush-era California, many observers thought the town on the Carquinez Straight was destined to be one of the West's largest metropolises. That destiny seemed assured in 1853, when the 3-year-old California state legislature named Benicia the new state capital.

Alas, it was not to be. The legislature stayed for only one session before departing for Sacramento. And today, far from being a metropolis, Benicia is home to just 27,000 people. But Benicia's fate has had its happy side. Deprived of wheeler-dealer politicos, Benicia has remained an unusually appealing small town, with an equally interesting arts community. Benicia residents observing the legislative antics up in Sacramento are probably quite happy things went the way they did. Pay a visit and you'll probably be happy, too.