POINTS OF INTEREST

Vacaville’s Historic Downtown (Map it) is a testament to our city’s ancestry in the number of historic structures and landmarks that adorn the district along Main Street, adding to the warmth and charm of our city.

On the corner of Davis and Main Streets you’ll find the beautiful Opera House built by Sidney Walker in 1897. Today, it’s a perfect venue for meetings, special events and private parties.

Next to the Opera House is the Old Town Hall which was constructed in 1907 and served as Vacaville’s first fire station, jail and court house. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Across the street from the Opera House is the Ulatis Bridge, built in 1911 by F. A. Steiger, who also designed the Old Town Hall. Once a major city thoroughfare, it’s now a pedestrian bridge that leads to the CreekWalk and Andrews Park.

At the corner of the Triangle Building is a beautiful bronze statue entitled, “The Fruit Pickers”. Created by artist Lisa Reinertson to celebrate Vacaville’s 100th year since incorporation, it represents Vacaville’s fruit industry heritage which was instrumental for Vacaville’s early growth in the late 1800s and early 1900s. During that time, Vacaville was known as the Fresh Fruit Capital of California. We celebrate our orchard heritage by paying homage to Mariani Fruit Packing Co, a family-owned and-operated Vacaville business who this year is celebrating its 100th anniversary.

Visitors can see one of Downtown Vacaville’s most important landmarks - the Pony Express, which dates back to April 1860. It was the first “rapid transit” and the first “fast mail” line across the continent from the Missouri River to the Pacific Coast. Passage over the Sierra Nevada mountain range led to the overland route from Sacramento to Benicia which stopped in downtown Vacaville at Gillispie’s General Store. A marker at the corner of Merchant & Main in front of the Heritage Café denotes where the station once stood. By the time all Pony Express operations ceased in November 1861, this small group of hard-working men and horses proved that year-round overland travel was possible, setting the stage for the transcontinental railroad eight years later.

Vacaville’s rich history is also reflected in two buildings at the corner of Parker Street and Main Street. The Chamber of Commerce was originally the Carnegie Library which was constructed in 1914 and continued to serve the community until 1970. Across the street, the Old Post Office Seafood and Grill has been handsomely refurbished from its humble beginnings as Vacaville’s first permanent post office, built in 1938. Inside, you’ll find frescos depicting the city’s early years.

The downtown area began expanding westward along Buck Avenue due to the highly productive and profitable sprawling fruit orchards of the Vaca Valley. Stunning, stately homes were constructed, the most notable being the Buck Mansion which was built in 1891 for Senator Frank Henry Buck, Jr. who, along with his brother, managed their father’s fruit-growing business, The Buck Company. The Buck Mansion is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and currently serves as the offices for the Buck Foundation.

Enjoy the beauty of tree-lined Buck Avenue by taking a walking tour of this and other fine homes. But before you do, stop in the Vacaville Museum and pick up a free self-guided walking tour brochure.

Historic Route US 40 passes directly through the heart of the downtown district where today, historic markers can be found along Merchant and Main Streets. Also known as the Lincoln Highway, it was the first transcontinental highway in the United States.

For more information on Vacaville’s beautiful Historic Downtown District, visit www.downtownvacaville.com.