On January 2, 1854, the Fifth Session of the California State Legislature began at the State Capitol in Benicia. It was reported that at least 100 men had no place to stay except for saloons while they attended the session. Governor John Bigler proposed moving the capital of California to Sacramento on this day as well. The capitol building at Benicia could not meet the accommodations needed for the growing state government. The City of Sacramento soon offered, for free use, the Sacramento County Courthouse at 7th and I Streets as a capitol building. On February 25, 1854, Governor Bigler signed a bill to formally move California’s capital to Sacramento. The Benicia Capitol was later repurposed for a variety of different uses after the Legislature left. Through the years it served, at different times, as the Solano County Courthouse, housed church services, the Benicia Grammar School, headquarters for the city’s fire department, and also as a public library. The Benicia State Capito...