Benicia Historical Museum at the Camel Barns

Benicia's rich history--as a former state capitol, a busy seaport, the first Army post on the Pacific Coast and as an inspiration for some of Jack London's literary works--is a treasure trove not just for history buffs, but anyone with a sense of adventure or humor.

One of the primary sites at which you can see Benicia's rich military, commercial and cultural past recounted in beautiful detail is the Benicia Historical Museum, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary with a year-long schedule of events, including an open house for the public on May 15.

The museum will host a free open house from 1 to 5 p.m. All museum exhibits will be open and special activities and attractions will include a live camel, an ice cream social, dedication of a new Native American exhibit, and possible display of military vehicles. The camel is a nod to the Camel Barns Complex, part of the Benicia Historical Museum.

The name, Camel Barns Complex, comes from one of Benicia's many contributions to U.S military history. In the 1850s and 1860s, the U.S. Army experimented with using camels as pack animals. After the advent of the Civil War, the experiment was abandoned and the remaining camels were shipped to the Benicia Arsenal, where they were auctioned to the public. It's just one of the quirky chapters in Benicia's past that makes it so intriguing.

The Museum complex includes four buildings, dating back to the 1850s, that were once part of a military reservation called the "Benicia Arsenal." The Arsenal served as the first depot on the West Coast, supplying equipment and munitions for conflicts from the Civil War through the Korean War.

Parking for the open house on May 15 will be available at the Amports Benicia Terminal, 1997 Elm Road, and a shuttle will be provided from there to the museum. For more information, contact the Benicia Historical Museum at (707) 745-5435.

Here are some other sites at which visitors can experience Benicia's robust past:

Benicia Capitol State Historic Park

Benicia Capitol State Historic Park, 115 West G Street: Benicia was the site of California's third seat of government and served as the state capitol for thirteen months during 1853 and 1854. Its classically designed capitol building was built in just three months from bricks and architectural materials salvaged from abandoned ships in San Francisco Bay. The park is open Thursday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., for self-guided tours. When staffing permits, guided tours are also available. Tickets are $3.00 for adults and $2.00 for youth ages 6-17 years; ages 5 years and under are free. For more information call (707) 745-3385.

Fischer-Hanlon House, 115 West G Street (part of the Benicia Capitol State Historic Park): The house was originally a hotel on another site in town, and after extensive fire damage, Joseph and Catherine Fischer moved and remodeled the building for their home in 1856. It has been restored as a completely furnished home representative of middle-class living in the late 1800s in Benicia.Tours are by appointment. For more information, call (707) 745-3385.

Benicia Fire Museum, 900 East Second Street: The museum houses many treasures of fire service equipment and hundreds of related items, including the "Phoenix," an 1820s double decker hand-pumper requiring 45 men to operate--one of the first fire engines to arrive in California in 1847. The museum is open the first three Sundays of the month, from 1 to 4 p.m. Guided tours are available by appointment for groups, schools, and individuals. Admission is free, but donations are accepted. Call (707) 745-1688 for more information.

Benicia's past is filled with fascinating and off-beat characters, but also is marked by people and places of local, state and national significance. It is well worth a day trip to Benicia to see the sites at which the city's colorful heritage is preserved.

For information about Benicia's other events and attractions, please visit www.visitbenicia.org. For other breaking news and insider tips about Benicia, go to Benicia's Facebook page at www.facebook.com/visitbenicia.

Journalists interested in information about attractions in Benicia can call Jack Wolf, Wolf Communications at (707) 575-4415 or e-mail him at jack{at}prwolf.com.