Category: Juan Manuel Vaca

California, Juan Manuel Vaca, The Vacaville Musuem

The Vacaville Musuem

Hamilton Historical Records

Art Dietz, a Vacaville historian and collector, amassed a collection of various ironing devices. That collection of irons was the beginning of the historical collections that would become part of the history musuem for the town. On May 4, 1984, the Vacaville Musuem was established.

The musuem presently has an exhibit called “Collections” which includes Art Dietz’s ironing device collection.

The musuem hosts a multitude of “Cartes” which display historical information in artistic ways.

At the end of the musuem is the history of Vacaville, including the Pena Adobe where Juan Manuel Vaca, whom Vacaville was named after, and Juan Felipe Pena used to reside in.

California, Juan Manuel Vaca, Mexican-American War

The Founding Of Vacaville

Hamilton Historical Records
Photograph of Mexican landowner Juan Manuel Vaca.

In 1851, three years after the end of the Mexican-American War, William McDaniel purchased land from Juan Manuel Vaca, north of Fairfield within Solano County, California. William McDaniel agreed that a one square mile area would be used to create a township. On Dec. 13, 1851, a township called “Vacaville” was established. In 1892, Vacaville, California was incorporated as a city.