Exploring the Rich History of Sonoma, Sonoma, California

The charming wine-tasting region of Sonoma in Northern California is not only a lovely place to spend time but has a history that is interesting as well. My sister and I spent the day in its historic downtown to learn about its intriguing past.

Historic Sonoma Plaza was laid out adjacent to the Francisco Solano Mission in 1835 by the town’s founder Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo. The mission is small compared to some of the others in California but each is unique and has its own story.

It was constructed in 1823 by Padre Altimira and was the last mission built in Alta, California. It was also the only one built after Mexico gained independence from Spain in 1821. The Mexican government used it as an outpost because they believed the Russians were pushing to the south. Thankfully, they never got that far.

It was only in operation for 11 years. Once the Mexican Secularization Act was put into law in 1833, all of the missions closed and became privatized.

Its architecture is simple and not as ornate as the others. Illustrations of the California missions that were inked by Henry Chapman Ford in 1875 can be seen inside. He captured them in extreme decay and disrepair. It was an important collection because it drew attention to their decline and encouraged its restoration for posterity. ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).