Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
(the rest were founded by the Spanish). Five original rooms remain. The not-to-be-missed
chapel dates to 1841.
Sonoma Barracks
HISTORIC BUILDING
707-939-9420;
parks.ca.gov
; 20 E Spain St; adult/child $3/2;
10am-5pm)
The adobe Sonoma Barracks was built by Vallejo between 1836 and 1840 to house Mexic-
an troops. Today, interpretive displays describe life during the Mexican and American
periods. The Barracks became the capital of a rogue nation on June 14, 1846, when Amer-
ican settlers, of varying sobriety, surprised guards and declared an independent 'California
Republc' [sic] with a homemade flag featuring a blotchy bear.
The US took over a month later, but abandoned the barracks during the Gold Rush,
leaving Vallejo to turn them into (what else?) a winery, in 1860.
Toscano Hotel
HISTORIC BUILDING
Toscano Hotel opened as a store and library in the 1850s, then became a hotel in 1886.
Peek into the lobby from 10am to 5pm; except for the traffic outside, you'd swear you
were peering back in time. There are free tours 1pm through 4pm Saturdays and Sundays.
General Vallejo Home
HISTORIC BUILDING
A half-mile from the plaza, the lovely Vallejo Home, AKA Lachryma Montis (Latin for
'Tears of the Mountain'), was built between 1851 and 1852 for General Vallejo and named
for the on-site spring; the Vallejo family made good money piping water to town. The
property remained in the family until 1933, when the state of California purchased it,
along with its original furnishings. Docents lead tours Saturdays and Sundays at 1pm, 2pm
and 3pm. A bike path leads to the house from downtown.
La Haye Art Center
ARTS CENTER
707-996-9665; 148 E Napa St;
11am-5pm)
