California’s induction into statehood in 1850 sparked off a competition among its cities for the prestige designation as the seat of the state government. A location for the state capital was not written into the Constitution which caused some upheaval. This omission was responsible for the “moveable capital” over the next 6 years. San Jose was designated the first state capital at the constitutional convention in Monterey. At the first legislative session in San Jose, representatives tried to promote their hometowns to be named the seat of the state government. General Mariano Vallejo offered both land and money for the building of a Capitol in his own town of Vallejo. When the legislators moved to Vallejo, they found the new Capitol unfinished and the city of Vallejo unprepared and lacking in amenities. The legislators decamped to Sacramento, which temporarily functioned as the seat of government, giving Vallejo another year to finish his Capitol building and complete the terms of his contract with the state. After a flood and fire in Sacramento, the legislators were ready to move back to Vallejo for another try. That city was still in the same lackluster condition and Vallejo’s contract was voided. Benicia had just completed their city hall and offered it to the state. That is how Benicia came to be the third official seat of the state government and remains the only remaining early California Capitol in existence.

The brick structure was completed in 1853. The foundation was locally quarried sandstone and the style was Greek Revival. February 4, 1853, the legislature convened in Benicia. Hotels, businesses and a wooden sidewalk sprung up around the new building. Benicia’s tenure as state capital was short. After only 13 months, the Legislature decamped, once again, to Sacramento declaring it the seat of the state government. Sacramento would remain the State capital. (State government functions were briefly relocated to San Francisco in the aftermath of California’s worst natural disaster, the great flood of 1862-63). Benicia enjoyed two additional days as the State capital during commemorative one-day legislature sessions held in the restored Benicia Capitol on March 15, 1958 and February 16, 2000.

Since 1854, the Benicia State Capitol building has served as a county seat, courthouse, school, firehouse, jail and more. The structure became part of the California State Parks and Recreation after its restoration in 1955-57. This mural shows the front view from West G Street. (Fun fact: A version of the Capitol is also reproduced above the transom, on the Johnson Building at 718 First Street. See if you can find it!)