For historical information on the Benicia Arsenal sandstone quarries,
visit the Solano County quarry section of our web site.

• Introduction to the Benicia Arsenal Photographic Tour:

  In July 2009, my husband Pat and I were given a tour of the sandstone quarries and sandstone structures, and other buildings located near and within the Benicia Arsenal grounds by Benicia historian James E. Lessenger, a volunteer at the Benicia Historical Museum. The following photographs were taken during that tour. Visit the Benicia Historical Museum (located the Benicia Arsenal and camel barn) and their web site for further information on the arsenal museum, history, and available tours.)

• Photographs of old sandstone quarry sites on the Benicia Arsenal Property

  Site of one of the sandstone quarries located on the Benicia Arsenal grounds used to construct buildings, etc.

  Site of old sandstone quarry (from a distance)

  Closeup of site of old sandstone quarry

  Closeup of site of old sandstone quarry

  Site of sandstone quarry located to the right of Benicia Arsenal Powder Magazine #10

  

  Site of old quarry next to Benicia Arsenal Powder Magazine #10

  Site of old large sandstone quarry once located on the Benicia Arsenal Grounds today seen across Interstate 680

  Site of quary at a distance

  Closeup of quarry site

  • Photographs of Benicia Arsenal buildings, most of which were built of sandstone quarried on the arsenal grounds: the Camel Barns, photographs of the interior of the camel barns including the Silas Casey Industrial Tool Exhibit, the Office, Spenger Memorial Garden, and Benicia Arsenal Powder Magazine #10:

    Benicia Camel Barn #9 Museum Sign

    Benicia Camel Barns Plaque

    (Below is a transcription of the Benicia Camel Barns descriptive plaque in the photograph on the right above.)

    Camel Barns

    Built in 1853 and 1854. Cost $10,000 and $12,000.

    These finely crafted sandstone Buildings were originally constructed for use as Warehouses. They gained their name and fame, however, during a brief period in 1863-64 when they were to stable a herd of camels imported by the U.S. Army for transportation in the American desert.

•  Benicia Camel Barn Museum and office constructed of sandstone quarried on the Benicia Arsenal Grounds (Visit the Benicia Historical Museum web site for more information on the history of the Benicia Arsenal.)

  Front Benicia Arsenal Camel Barn #9

  Benicia Arsenal Camel Barn #9

  Office between Camel Barns

  Back of Benicia Arsenal Camel Barn #9

  Back wall of Benicia Arsenal Camel Barn #9

  Back wall of Benicia Arsenal Camel Barn #9

  Closeup of base of back wall of Benicia Arsenal Camel Barn #9

  • Interior wall of the Benicia Camel Barn Museum
    

    Sandstone wall - interior of Camel Barn #9 Museum

    Sandstone block from Patrick Dillon’s house on display in the Benicia Historical Museum – “This is part of Patrick Dillon’s Sandstone House. 1856-1969. Benicia State Park.”

    

    Block of sandstone from Patrick Dillon's sandstone house.

• Spenger Memorial Garden, established in 2008, located behind the Benicia Historical Museum, Building #9 (Visit the Benicia Camel Barn Museum – Spenger Memorial Garden for further information and photographs of this garden.)

  Sign located in the Spenger Memorial Garden relating to the Benicia Camel Barn Museum Building

  

  Benicia Arsenal Information Card in the Spenger Memorial Garden

  Transcription from the card above located in the Spenger Memorial Garden regarding Building #9, the camel barn that houses the Benicia Historical Museum:

  “The Building to your right (Building #9) was constructed in 1854 and served as a storage unit for gun carriages, small arms and as living quarters until more permanent arrangements were made.

  “Currently the building houses the museum proper and the Captain Charles P. Stone Hall which is rented out….”

  

  Entrance to the Spenger
  Memorial Garden

  Spenger Memorial Garden Plaque

  Information cards spread throughout the Spenger Memorial Garden (Click on the images of the cards below to read them.)

• Cork tree located on the Benicia Arsenal grounds