718 FIRST STREET

One of the numerous English sea captains who settled in Benicia, Captain Samuel Blyther, operated a small freighting business between Benicia and other Bay Area ports. His home was on the west side of First Street on the parcels of property known as Semple slips. Built in the late of the 1870s and later used as a rooming house called the Alamo Rooms, this site was famous or infamous as a popular bordello. It now serves as a seafood restaurant.

This project was made possible by the Benicia Public Library, the Benicia Historical Museum, and the Benicia Historical Society through a NorthNet Library System Grant.