718 FIRST STREET

Built by Simon Johnston in 1909, this building was first a grocery store, but later and for most of its history it was the home of the Royal Bakery. The building materials included sandstone blocks quarried from a gravel pit near the corner of East 4th and H Streets. More impressively, it was put together from a Sears/Roebuck catalog kit! The Greek Revival detail of the facade above the main entrance is a copy of the old State Capitol across the street.

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.