Vaca-Peña Adobe (California Historical Landmark #534)

This is the site of the 10-square-league Rancho Los Putos that Governor Pío Pico granted to Juan Felipe Peña and Manuel Cabeza Vaca in 1845. The Peña Adobe, erected here in 1843, is still owned by the descendants of their families (1955). The nearby town of Vacaville was established in 1851 on land that Vaca sold to William McDaniel.

Making California history come alive! Located on Peña Adobe Road off Interstate 80 is Peña Adobe Park. The center of attraction at the 1½ acre historical park is the oldest structure built in Solano County, the Peña Adobe, California historical landmark #534, and the former home of the Peña family. 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 23"x10"x3" adobe mud bricks. 25 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 Peña Adobe Historical Society was established in 2004 and staffed by volunteers, this nonprofit organization is committed to preserving Adobe. The park now includes the Mowers-Goheen Museum, the Willis Linn Jepson Memorial Garden, Indian Council Ground, and picnic and recreation facilities. Today this gateway to Vacaville is open the first Saturday of the month February thru December and private tours upon request with interpretive programs provided by the Peña Adobe Historical Society.