The Benicia State Capitol Building is pictured here in 1853, caputred on a postcard by Frank Stumm. (Photo courtesy of Benicia Historical Museum/Herald archives)

Benicia is nearing 170 years old, but the city still has the energy to throw a good party.

May 19 will mark 170 years since Robert Semple and Thomas O. Larkin purchased land from General Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo to found the city of Benicia. On Sunday, the Benicia State Capitol— in conjunction with the Benicia State Parks Association, the Benicia First Tuesday Poetry Group and the city of Benicia— will be hosting a celebration at the Capitol with cake, music, stories and more.

As part of the occasion, Benicia Historical Society director and former Mayor Jerry Hayes as well as Diablo Valley College history professor Greg Tilles will share stories about Benicia’s past. There will also be music performed by renowned acoustic guitarist Peppino D’Agostino and VOENA Director Annabelle Marie, with Lloyd Christiansen and Jim Covalcik performing on bagpipes and flute respectively. Attendees can also get a good look at the Fischer-Hanlon House, which recently received its first new paint job in nearly 40 years.

This is not the first time Benicia has celebrated one of its historical milestones. Residents may remember the 150th anniversary in 1997, where the city clock donated by Benicia Foundry & Iron Works was unveiled in the Library Park and members of the Benicia Old Town Theatre Group portrayed historical figures. However, an even bigger party was held when the city celebrated its centennial in 1947.

In honor of its 100th birthday, Benicia held a three-day celebration, which according to articles in the Herald New-Era, featured a 300-pound cake, a carnival on the grounds of the Grammar School, a horse cart race on First Street and a dedication of the new pool that later became known as the James Lemos Swim Center. The event also featured a board of “honorary chairmen” that included then-governor and future Supreme Court Chief Justice Earl Warren, then-Secretary of State Frank Jordan, syndicated Hearst columnist and Benicia native Elsie Robinson, then-Mayor Thomas Wright and future State Senator Luther Gibson, who owned several newspapers including the Benicia Herald.

The primary sponsor of the centennial event was the Native Sons and Daughters of the Golden West, with additional assistance from the city, Chamber of Commerce, school board, Girl and Boy Scouts, Solano Tribe, and various churches and fraternal groups. To get more information on the event, citizens had to dial the number 59.

The 170th anniversary celebration will be held at 12:30 p.m., Sunday, May 21 at the Benicia State Capitol Historic Park, located at 115 West J St. This event is free and open to the public, and attendees are encouraged to come donned in clothes from their favorite Benicia era. For more information, contact the Benicia State Parks Association at 745-3385 or visit ProtectBeniciaStateParks.com.

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