Napa County Historical Landmarks -
California State
Landmarks
Napa County landmarks of
note include an historic grist mill, train depot, flour mill, stores,
cottages, cabins and even the location where author Robert Louis Stevenson
gathered notes for one of his works. The Napa County historic landmarks
reflect the wine country's roots as a diverse gathering of talented
individuals who formed what has become one of the wealthiest valleys in all
of California. Names such as Brannan, Yount and Beringer have been a part of
the Napa County landscape for over 150 years and can be recognized by the
landmarks and markers that commemorate great places and events in Napa
County history.
NO. 359 OLD BALE MILL -
This historic gristmill was erected by Dr. E. T. Bale, grantee of Carne
Humana Rancho, in 1846. The mill, with surrounding land, was deeded to the
Native Sons of the Golden West by Mrs. W. W. Lyman, and was restored through
the efforts of the Native Son Parlors of Napa County.
Location: Bale Grist Mill State Historic Park, Hwy 29 (P.M. 32.1), 3369 N
St. Helena Hwy, 3 mi NW of St. Helena
USGS Quadrangle Sheet Name: CALISTOGA
NO. 547 CHILES MILL - Joseph Ballinger Chiles, who first came to California
in 1841, erected the mill on Rancho Catacula 1845-56. The first American
flour mill in Northern California, it was still in use in the 1880s. Chiles
served as a vice president of the Society of California Pioneers, 1850-53.
Location: SW corner on hillside, Chiles and Pope Rd and Lower Chiles Valley
Rd, 3.6 mi N on Hwy 128, Chiles Valley
NO. 562 LA CHRISTIANITA - Near this spring, the first Christian baptism in
Alta California was performed by Padre Francisco Gómez, a member of the
Portolá Expedition, in 1769.
Location: Site and plaque in Camp Pendleton, Los Cristianitos Canyon, on
Cristianitos Rd, 0.4 mi N. of intersection of San Mateo Rd, 3 mi E of I-5 at
San Clemente, plaque in San Clemente Civic Center 100 Avenida Presidio, San
Clemente
USGS Quadrangle Sheet Name: CALISTOGA
NO. 563 CHARLES KRUG WINERY - Founded in 1861 by Charles Krug (1825-1892),
this is the oldest operating winery in Napa Valley. The pioneer winemaker of
this world-famous region, Krug made the first commercial wine in Napa County
at Napa in 1858.
Location: Krug Ranch, 2800 Main St, St. Helena
NO. 564 GEORGE YOUNT BLOCKHOUSE - In this vicinity stood the log block-house
constructed in 1836 by George Calvert Yount, pioneer settler in Napa County.
Nearby was his adobe house, built in 1837, and across the bridge were his
grist and saw mills, erected before 1845. Born in North Carolina in 1794,
Yount was a trapper, rancher, and miller, he became grantee of the Rancho
Caymus and La Jota. He died at Yountville in 1865.
Location: NE corner of Cook Rd and Yount Mill Rd, 1 mi N of Yountville
NO. 565 PETER LASSEN GRAVE - In memory of Peter Lassen, the pioneer who was
killed by the Indians April 27, 1859, at 66 years of age.
Location: 2550 Wingfield Rd via Richmond Rd, 5 mi SE of Susanville
NO. 682 SITE OF YORK'S CABIN, CALISTOGA - Among the first houses in this
area was John York's log cabin, constructed in October 1845. Rebuilt as part
of the home of the Kortum family, it was used as a residence until razed in
1930. Nearby was the cabin of David Hudson, also built in October 1845.
Calistoga was named by Samuel Brannan.
Location: SW corner Hwy 29 (Foothill Blvd) and Lincoln Ave, Calistoga
NO. 683 SITE OF HUDSON CABIN, CALISTOGA - David Hudson was one of the early
pioneers who helped develop the upper portion of Napa Valley by purchasing
land, clearing it, and planting crops and building homes. Hudson built his
cabin in October 1845.
Location: NE corner of Hwy 29 (Foothill Blvd) and Lincoln Ave, Calistoga
NO. 684 SAM BRANNAN STORE, CALISTOGA - Sam Brannan arrived in Napa Valley in
the late 1850s and purchased a square mile of land at the foot of Mount St.
Helena. This is the store he built, in which he made $50,000 in one year.
Location: NW corner of Wapoo Ave and Grant St, 203 Wapoo Ave, Calistoga
NO. 685 SAM BRANNAN COTTAGE, CALISTOGA - Sam Brannan arrived in Napa Valley
in the late 1850s with the dream of making it the 'Saratoga of California.'
In 1866 cottages were built and palm trees planted in preparation for the
grand opening of the resort. This is the only cottage still standing.
Location: 1311 Washington St, Calistoga
NO. 686 SITE OF KELSEY HOUSE, CALISTOGA - Nancy Kelsey arrived in California
in 1841 with the Bidwell-Bartleson party and settled with her family south
of present-day Calistoga. Now the hearthstone is all that can be seen of the
house. The property is owned by the Rockstrohs.
Location: 500 ft NW of intersection of State Hwy 29 and Diamond Mtn Rd, 1.1
mi S of Calistoga
NO. 687 NAPA VALLEY RAILROAD DEPOT, CALISTOGA - The Napa Valley Railroad
depot, now the Southern Pacific depot, was built in 1868. Its roundhouse
across Lincoln Avenue is gone. On its first trip, this railroad brought
people to Calistoga for the elaborate opening of Brannan's summer resort in
October 1868.
Location: 1458 Lincoln Ave, Calistoga
NO. 693 GRAVE OF GEORGE C. YOUNT - George Calvert Yount (1794-1865) was the
first United States citizen to be ceded a Spanish land grant in Napa Valley
(1836). Skilled hunter, frontiersman, craftsman, and farmer, he was the true
embodiment of all the finest qualities of an advancing civilization blending
with the existing primitive culture. Friend to all, this kindly host of
Caymus Rancho encouraged sturdy American pioneers to establish ranches in
this area, so it was well populated before the gold rush.
Location: George C. Yount Pioneer Cemetery, Lincoln and Jackson Sts,
Yountville
NO. 710 ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON STATE PARK - In the spring of 1880, Robert
Louis Stevenson brought his bride to Silverado. He and Fannie Osbourne
Stevenson lived here from May 19 until July, while he gathered the notes for
Silverado Squatters.
Location: Hwy 29 (P.M. 45.5), 75 mi NE of Calistoga
NO. 814 BERINGER BROTHERS WINERY - Built by Frederick and Jacob Beringer,
natives of Mainz, Germany, this winery has the unique distinction of never
having ceased operations since its founding in 1876. Here, in the European
tradition, were dug underground wine tunnels hundreds of feet in length.
These maintain a constant temperature of 58 degrees, a factor considered
necessary in the maturing and aging of fine wines.
Location: 2000 Main St, St. Helena
NO. 828 VETERANS HOME OF CALIFORNIA - This home for California's aged and
disabled veterans was established in 1884 by Mexican War veterans and
members of the Grand Army of the Republic. In January 1897 the Veterans Home
Association deeded the home and its 910 acres of land to the State, which
has since maintained it.
Location: SW corner of California Dr and Hwy 29, Yountville
NO. 878 FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH BUILDING - Designed by pioneer architects
R. H. Daley and Theodore Eisen, this church is an outstanding example of
late Victorian Gothic architectural styling. It is the best surviving
example in this region of the early works associated with Eisen, who later
became an important Southern California architect. The church has been in
continuous use since its construction in 1874, longest pastorates were those
of Richard Wylie and Erwin Bollinger.
Location: 1333-3rd St between Randolph and Franklin Sts, Napa
NO. 939 Twentieth Century Folk Art Environments (Thematic) -LITTO - This is
one of California's exceptional Twentieth Century Folk Art Environments.
Over a period of 30 years, Emanuele 'Litto' Damonte (1896-1985), with the
help of his neighbors, collected more than 2,000 hubcaps. All around Hubcap
Ranch are constructions and arrangements of hubcaps, bottles, and pulltops
which proclaim that 'Litto, the Pope Valley Hubcap King,' was here.
Location: 6654 Pope Valley Rd (P.M. 14.3), 2.1 mi NW of Pope Valley
