For a brief 2-year window Vallejo was state capital, but lost it due to poor conditions (like today?)
Capitols of California:
San Jose: 13 Nov 1849 -1 May 1851
San Jose had the first state capitol, a two story adobe hotel just 60 by 40 feet in size. The top floor was for the Assembly and the bottom floor was for the Senate. The 1st and 2nd sessions of the legislature were held here. The legislative members were not happy with their accommodations. Many wanted to remove the capital from San Jose. There were many offers of land for the state buildings along with funding for construction. The most promising offer was from General Vallejo. An act for a new location was approved in an election 7 Oct 1850.

Vallejo: 5 Jan 1852 - 4 Feb 1853
(temporarily Sacramento 16 Jan 1852 - 4 May 1852)
When the third session of the legislature convened, the capital was not ready. Workmen were still working on the buildings. Most furniture, fixtures, etc. were not in place. The site is marked today by a bronze plaque on the corner of York and Sacramento Streets. Most other buildings in town were unfinished as well. The steamer, Empire, housed around 250 people, 50 were legislators. Legislators felt the contract with General Vallejo had been broken. A compromise was settled upon to help keep the peace. The state capital would remain in Vallejo, but the legislature would move to Sacramento to complete the session.
On 3 Jan 1853, the Fourth session began. Conditions had improved, but with roads difficult to navigate due to bad weather, an offer by Benicia for free use of their city hall and river port was accepted.

Benicia: 4 Feb 1853 - 25 Feb 1854
With the addition of an ordinance depot and a military post, Benicia, named for the second name of the wife of General Vallejo, had grown rapidly. The Capitol was a 2-story brick building with 2 legislative chambers and smaller rooms for the many committees. The session ended 19 May 1853. When the 5th session began on 2 Jan 1854, over 100 men had no place to sleep except in saloons. The city of Sacramento offered the spacious County courthouse, additional rooms, a fireproof vault and free moving for all legislators and belongings as well as the furnishings, and a building site for a new capitol. On 25 Feb 1854, Governor Bigler signed the bill for the new capital to be at Sacramento.
columbiagazette.com/capitolsCa.html
library.ca.gov/california-history/previous-ca-capitals

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Location: Vallejo, Solano County, California, United States

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