Each time we travel west towards the Bay Area, we see a sign about California Historical Landmark #534. Today, we decided to detour and learn some local history.
The Peña Adobe was erected in 1842. The simple adobe with its dirt floors and four windows still has the original hand-hewn redwood timbers which were cut in the hills near Napa. The walls are two feet thick and made of 23x10x3 adobe mud bricks. Twenty-five Mission-trained Indians sun dried the adobe bricks and built both Vaca and Peña's adobes (the Vaca Adobe was built to the east of the Peña Adobe. It was destroyed by the earthquake of 1892).The plaque reads, "This is the site of Rancho Los Putos of 10 square leagues, granted in 1845 by Governor Pío Pico to Juan Felipe Peña and Manuel Cabeza Vaca. The Peña Adobe, erected here in 1842, is still owned by descendants of the Peña-Vaca families. The town of Vacaville, nearby, was established in 1851 on land sold by Vaca to William McDaniel." [Plaque erected September 18, 1955, by Vacaville Parlor No. 293, Native Daughters of the Golden West, in cooperation with the California State Parks Commission].Throughout the 1½ acre historical park are informational markers. This orange tree, believed planted by the Peñas is the second oldest in California.When the families had satisfied various land grant requirements, the 44,384 acre site was officially granted to Vaca and Peña in 1845. The territory encompassed all of Lagoon Valley and stretched into Yolo County. Both families engaged in cattle ranching as hides and tallow were the principal source of trade and income. The last Peña remained here until 1957, eventually becoming a Vacaville City park in 1965.
“Life is a journey with almost limitless detours.”― Ken Poirot
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