Old Masonic Hall
Also known as: Benicia Masonic Hall
Why it's listed
Benicia's Masonic hall at 106 West J Street is a two-story frame building, 32 by 56 feet, with brick foundations and lap siding. Dedicated on December 27, 1850, about three months after California became a state, it is described as the first Masonic hall built in the state. Lumber was donated by Robert Semple, a founder of Benicia, and the lot by A. Riddell; the hall reportedly cost $18,000. Many of California's pioneers received Masonic degrees here, among them George Yount, an early settler in Napa County. While Benicia was the Solano County seat, the Court of Sessions used the lower floor for two years. The lodge outgrew the building by 1887, built a new temple dedicated in 1888, and sold the old hall for public use. Benicia Lodge #5 bought it back in 1950 and refurbished it to resemble the original. It remains in use and is a State Historical Landmark.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it the first Masonic hall built in California, and it is State Historical Landmark #174. Many prominent pioneers received their Masonic degrees there. Its lower floor also housed the Court of Sessions for two years when Benicia was the Solano County seat.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 72000259, listed March 16, 1972. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 106 W. J St., Benicia |
|---|---|
| County | Solano County |
| Listed | March 16, 1972 |
| Reference number | 72000259 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | Dec. 27, 1850 to present day (form lists 19th and 20th centuries) |
| Areas of significance | Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still in use as a lodge hall; in good condition, repaired and refurbished in 1950 to resemble the original. |
| Acreage | 2 |
| Coordinates | 38.05233, -122.15766 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary for a privately owned home: it does not by itself restrict what an owner may do with their own money, and it does not require public access. Restrictions come from local landmark or historic-district ordinances, which are separate (how they differ).
Owner-occupied houses are not eligible for the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit, which applies to income-producing buildings, but many states offer credits for homeowners. Listing also opens the door to preservation easements and to buying a plaque. Start with what listing means for homeowners, renovating a listed house and selling one.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 72000259.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7084485
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.