Vacaville Becomes a City
In 1851, William McDaniel purchased land from Manuel Vaca with the agreement that a square mile would be dedicated to creating a township called Vacaville. The area was incorporated as a city in 1892. The relatively small city is rich in historical landmarks, some of which are featured below.
Peña Adobe
Peña Adobe is the oldest building in Solano County that has undergone a full restoration. It is one of California’s Historic Landmarks and is the main attraction at Peña Adobe Park. The building was once home to the Peña Family, who accompanied the city’s founder, Juan Manuel Vaca, on his travels to the area from the New Mexico Territory in 1841. The Peñas and the Vacas settled in Solano County and petitioned for land grants. Both families built adobe homes in what is now Vacaville. Unfortunately, the Vaca Adobe was destroyed in 1892 when an earthquake struck the region.
Main Street and Buck Avenue
Buck Avenue is tree-lined and full of history. Pick up a copy of the Historic Homes Walking Tour, available at the Vacaville Museum, and meander along the avenue. The guide contains a full history of the homes of Buck Avenue. The Bank of Vacaville was built in 1920 at 500 Main Street. It later became the Bank of Italy, and then the Bank of America. The site is now home to law offices. The original bank safe remains on the premises. At 225 Buck Avenue stands the Buck Mansion, which was built by George Sharpe in 1892 for $5,000. The mansion underwent a complete renovation in 2003.
Town Hall
Vacaville’s Town Hall was constructed in 1907 as one of the first reinforced concrete buildings in the West. The structure originally functioned as the Town Jail. It later became the headquarters of the Vacaville Fire Department and the Town Court. Today, the Town Hall building is occupied by the Solano County Genealogy Society and the Vacaville Heritage Council.
The Vacaville Museum
This may be the place to start your historical Vacaville tour in order to gather insights into the city’s history and heritage. The museum features rotating exhibits and puts out publications on subjects such as the history of the Nut Tree, Peña Adobe, and Solano County’s indigenous people. Docent-led tours of the museum can be reserved in advance at (707) 447-4513
The Nut Tree
Every Northern California road traveler knows the Nut Tree. The landmark is visible from Interstate 80 on the heavily traveled route between Sacramento and San Francisco.
The Nut Tree began as a modest roadside fruit stand and evolved into an iconic California road stop. It is the landmark for which Vacaville is arguably best known. The Nut Tree closed for ten years, from 1996 to 2006, during which time many of the original structures were leveled. Two original buildings remain – the red and white ticket booth that stands in the center of the plaza was once the center’s original ice cream parlor. The other remaining original building is the Harbison House, which is located behind the shopping center and is currently not open to the public. The original (refurbished) train also still exists, running in a circle around the play and picnic areas. Many old photographs from the Nut Trees history can be found at various locations throughout the property.
Past visitors to the Nut Tree include Queen Elizabeth II, Present Ronald Reagan, Bing Crosby, and President Richard Nixon.
Nostalgic for the Nut Tree of old? Below is a video that includes some vintage footage:
Vacaville Personal Injury Lawyer
I’m Ed Smith, a personal injury lawyer in Vacaville, California. Northern California commuters have been known to get injured in accidents caused by negligent drivers, and I have over 38 years of experience helping them out. If you or a family member were injured due to a negligent driver, call my office for free, friendly advice. For local residents, the number is (707) 564-1900. If you are out of the area, I can be reached toll-free at (800) 404-5400.
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