Pena Adobe Historical Society

Step Back in Time: Visiting the Historic Peña Adobe House

Welcome to the Peña Adobe Historical Area, home to the oldest fully intact structure in Solano County! Built in 1842 by the Peña family, this California Historical Landmark offers a captivating window into the state’s early Mexican-era history.

Maged entirely by the passionate volunteers of the Peña Adobe Historical Society, the site features the historic adobe home, the Mowers-Goheen Museum, a native plant garden, and a serene memorial rose garden. Whether you're a history buff, a family looking for a weekend outing, or a traveler exploring Northern California, the Adobe is a wonderful place to connect with the past.

When to Visit
The park grounds surrounding the Peña Adobe are located within Lagoon Valley Park and are open daily from sunrise to sunset. However, if you want to peek inside the historic structures and tour the museum exhibits, you’ll want to coordinate with the Historical Society's open hours:

Monthly Open Houses: The Peña Adobe Historical Society opens the doors to the Adobe and the Museum on the first Saturday of every month from April through November.

Special Cultural Events: These free open house days often feature lively cultural themes, family-friendly interactive activities (like making corn husk dolls), live music, and visiting historical educators.

How to Set Up a Tour
Planning a trip with a school group, a historical society, or a large family gathering? The volunteers love sharing Vacaville's rich heritage through guided tours!

1. Public Open House Tours (No Reservation Needed)
If you visit during one of the standard monthly open houses (first Saturday of the month), docent-led tours of both the Adobe and the Museum are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Best of all, admission to the open house events is completely free!

2. Private Group & School Field Trips (By Appointment)
The Historical Society accommodates school groups, private organizations, and special interest tours outside of their standard public hours. To coordinate a private tour, you will need to book in advance:
Contact Number: Call the Historical Society at (707) 447-0518.
Email: Reach out via email at penaadobe@gmail.com.

What to Include: When booking, make sure to specify your preferred date, time, the number of guests in your party, and any specific educational focuses you might have (such as 4th-grade California history curricula).

Quick Tips for Travelers

Parking Details: While entry to the open house event is free, the historical area sits inside Lagoon Valley Park, which requires a $5 vehicle entrance fee.

Make a Day of It: The Adobe grounds are surrounded by lush picnic areas and shade trees. Pack a lunch and enjoy a relaxing afternoon, or take a stroll along the adjacent walking trails surrounding the gorgeous 100-acre Lagoon Valley Lake!

Location: 1 Peña Adobe Road, Vacaville, CA (Conveniently located right off Interstate 80, making it an easy pit-stop between San Francisco and Sacramento).