On Sunday, May 21 at 12:30 PM at the Benicia State Capitol, the State Capitol Park Aides, Rangers and Docents with help from the Benicia State Parks Association , First Tuesday Poets and the City of Benicia will present a birthday celebration for the City.

Cake. Music. Stories. Singing.

And the Fischer-Hanlon House has just gotten a brand new paint job in time for the occasion.

To add to the fun, if you would like, come in clothes from your favorite Benicia era.

Peppino Dâ’Agostino and Voena’s Annabelle Cruz plan to perform together. Also, Lloyd Christenson will fill the air with the sound of his bagpipes and Jim Kovalcik will perform on flute.

Special treats-true stories of Benicia provided by history professor Greg Tilles and former mayor Jerry Hayes.

As the Big Day approaches, it might be fun to take a look back a few years, at the City’s 100^th Birthday in 1947.

In 1947, Benicia’s birthday was a three-day event that rated its own stationary complete with photo of the Benicia Capitol.  The primary sponsors were the Native Sons and Daughters of the Golden West.  Organizations helping out included the City of Benicia, the Chamber of Commerce, the School Board, local churches, fraternal groups, the Girl and Boy Scouts, Veterans and the Solano Tribe.

Of particular interest were the Honorary Chairmen of the event. This list included the sitting Governor and later chief justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, Earl Warren, U.S. Senator William F. Knowland, State senator and newspaper publisher Luther E. Gibson, nationally syndicated Hearst columnist (and hometown girl) Elsie Robinson, two colonels and a rear admiral.

Oh, and if you wanted more info, the phone number to call was: 59.

For the City of Benicia’s 170^th Birthday

All are invited to this FREE event.

Hope to see you there!

Here is a image of the poster from the centennial birthday!