The 1806 romance of a young Spanish girl and a Russian explorer continues to captivate people. The love story of Maria de la Concepcion Marcela Arguello and Nikolai Petrovich Rezanov has inspired books, a poem, a rock opera, a mural, and art tiles on Benicia’s First Street. Their tragic relationship began at the Presidio of San Francisco, while it was still under Spanish rule. Its poignant end is commemorated by a monument at St. Dominic’s Cemetery in Benicia, California.
As the story goes, in April 1806, Nikolai Petrovich Rezanov, Chamberlain of Tsar Alexander I of Russia, brought the ship Juno to San Francisco from the struggling fur-trading settlement at Sitka, Alaska, where the Russians were in desperate need of supplies. Nikolai’s intention was to establish a barter system with the Spanish in order to secure provisions for Sitka. During his time at the Presidio, Nikolai met 15 year-old Maria de la Concepcion Marcela Arguello. Concepcion, as she is commonly known, was born on February 19, 1791, at the Presidio of San Francisco. She was one of eight children born to Don Jose Arguello, the Presidio's Comandante, and his wife, Maria Ygnacia Moraga. Nikolai was a 42 year-old widower from the Russian court who needed to establish good trading relations with potential partners in California. She was a catholic and he was a Russian orthodox.
Despite a language barrier, an age difference, and religious differences, they fell in love. One can only imagine the impression this Russian officer would have made. His stories of the Russian court would have seemed like a fairytale adventure to the young girl from California. They spent several weeks together before Nikolai proposed marriage. A betrothal ceremony was held. As a memento of her devotion, Concepcion gave Nikolai a locket. He promised to return from St Petersburg after he gained permission for their Russian Orthodox-Roman Catholic marriage. Then, they could begin their life together.
Concepcion waited and waited for Nikolai to return. Five years later, she learned of his death. He had contracted pneumonia and, in a weakened state, fell from his horse while riding across Siberia to reach St. Petersburg. An officer who had been with him returned to the Presidio. The officer told Concepcion that Nikolai’s last words were of her and returned the locket she had given Nikolai. After learning of his death, Concepcion refused all offers of marriage and began a life devoted to the service of others.
Concepcion cared for her parents and accompanied them to her father’s new post in Loreto, Baja California Sur. Traveling by clipper ship, they sailed down the coast of California to their new home. After her father’s service in Loreto, she accompanied her parents to Guadalajara, Mexico. Following their deaths, Concepcion became deeply involved in charity work there. Later, she returned to southern California at the invitation of family friends, where she continued her charitable efforts and became a member of the Franciscan Third Order. Eventually, she joined the Dominican nuns in the newly formed diocese of northern California, becoming the first native-born Californian to take religious vows.
For some, this story is more than a sad love affair—it is a link to their family ancestry. While researching his family tree, Don Holloway, the family historian, discovered a connection between his lineage and that of Concepcion. When Don’s family members learned of the love story and the importance of Concepcion in California’s early history, they decided they should come to Benicia to visit the site of her burial in St. Dominic’s Cemetery. In May of 1997, several family members came to Benicia to visit Concepcion’s grave and to more fully understand the significance of their relative to Benicia history and the Dominican order of nuns.
The genealogical history of the family has since been passed on to the current generation. Prior to his passing, Don spent many hours relaying the family history to his niece Ramona Mallonee of Yuba City. Ramona decided to celebrate her birthday in Benicia visiting the grave site along with her three cousins, Sam Abid of Modesto, Kathryn Shallcross of Antelope, and Phyllis Voorhees of Lincoln. Ramona shared, “My mother was insistent that I learn the family history from my Uncle Don, and now I am the family historian.” On April 14, 2025 this new generation of family members paid a visit to Concepcion’s–also known as Sister Dominica’s–grave site in St. Dominic’s Cemetery. They were welcomed by several members of the Benicia Historical Society and representatives of St. Dominic’s Church. Afterward, they visited St. Dominic’s Church and viewed the tile on the 900 block of First Street, created by artist Guillermo Wagner Granizo, commemorating the love story and Concepcion’s importance to the Dominican order. Concepcion’s relatives spent the rest of the afternoon in downtown Benicia enjoying their renewed connection with Benicia history.
Nikolai and Concepcion’s story was first made famous by Bret Harte in a beautiful poem titled, Concepcion de Arguello. In Russia, the love story inspired a 1979 rock opera entitled Juno and Avos, after the two Russian ships that brought Nikolai and his men to Sitka, Alaska. Over the years, visitors from Russia have come to visit Concepcion’s gravesite. In 2000, one Russian man was so moved by the story that he sought to bring the two lovers together by taking a little soil from Niokla’s grave to place on Concepcion’s, and taking a little soil from Concepcion’s grave back to Russia to place on Nikola’s grave.
We live in a town rich with history. It is always a pleasure to be able to help others experience the Past that is an every-day Present for us. We invite you to join the Benicia Historical Society to discover more about Benicia’s role in California history.
Belinda Smith
President
Benicia Historical Society
