Instructions for the "Vallejo Historical Landmarks GeoTrail"
1. Obtain a VHLGT Passport. You can pick one up in person at either the Vallejo Visitors Bureau, 289 Mare Island Way or the Vallejo Naval and Historical Museum, 734 Marin Street. Current hours of operation are listed on GC65Y05: VHLGT Trailhead.
2. When you find a VHLGT geocache, sign the log and record the code word specific for that Landmark(s) on your passport.
3. Share your experiences online when you get home. Log into your geocaching.com account and track all of the caches you’ve found. Let us know in your log if you’re a first time visitor to Vallejo.
Limited Edition Geocoin
• Find at least 16 Vallejo Historical Landmarks GeoTrail geocaches (passport with code word recorded) and receive a free Visit Vallejo geocoin. (Only one geocoin per household or team.)
To Obtain Geocoin
• After finding the caches, each team will be required to stop by either the Vallejo Visitors Bureau or the Vallejo Naval and Historical Museum to have their code words verified. Coins will not be mailed. Please consider hours of operation when planning your visit.
* Geocoins are available while supplies last.
About This Geocache
(Note: This cache was originally placed as a Traditional for the Event. It has since been converted to A Multi with a different "container..)
Use the plaque at the Listed Coordinates to get the coordinates to the actual cache location.
The cache can be found at
N 38 0A.BCD (checksum 30)
W 122 15.EFG (checksum 15)
A = Number of A's on the First line.
B = First number plus the Fourth number on the Second line.
C = Third number minus the Second number on the Third line.
D = First number on the Last line.
E = Third number on the Fifth line.
F= Fifth number plus the Seventh number on the Fifth line.
G = Last number on the Sixth line.
Happy caching! GeoTabG
About This Architectural Historical Landmark
With the onslaught of Americans participating in the California Gold Rush, General Vallejo saw that the territory was destined to pass from the hands of the Mexican government to become part of the United States. He made a strong attempt to become involved in the establishment of a state capital on his lands. With statehood in 1850, the new California State Legislature considered Vallejo's offer to move from San Jose. He offered to lay out a city, to be named "Eureka" or a name the Legislature might suggest, and to donate to the state 156 acres for the construction of a state capitol, university, botanical garden, state penitentiary, schools, hospitals, and asylums. In addition to the free land, General Vallejo also promised to give $370,000 to pay for construction of the buildings. A state-wide referendum on the matter was held in late 1850, and General Vallejo's proposal was accepted, with one change-the city would be called "Vallejo," after its founder.
In 1851, the State Senate appointed a commission to layout the new state capital. They reported back that they had placed the capitol, the governor's house, the university and several other public institutions on an elevated hill "immediately above the secure and commodious harbor of Napa Bay, from which, on a clear day might be seen the city and shipping of San Francisco." The lunatic asylum was to be placed nearby, and the penitentiary on the nearest prominent hill to the Carquinez Straits, to serve as a warning to "rascals" on their way to the goldfields. By late 1851, all was in readiness, and the California Legislature convened in 1852 in Vallejo.
Unfortunately for the legislators, the State Capitol promised by General Vallejo had not been built, and they were forced to meet in a leaking old structure, using barrels for seats and boxes for desks. Motions were immediately introduced to move the state capital out of Vallejo, and, after meeting for only eleven days, the Legislature moved to Sacramento for the remainder of the session. The following year, the Legislature again convened in Vallejo, for the purpose of moving the capital to Benicia, and on February 4, 1853, exactly two years after the seat of government came to Vallejo, it was moved to nearby Benicia – named for General Vallejo’s wife.
