Researching in Vallejo
Vallejo Naval and Historical Museum and
Genealogical Society of Vallejo-Benicia Library
734 Marin Street, Vallejo, CA 94590
Museum Hours: Tuesday - Friday Noon - 4 p.m.
Saturday 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Research Library Hours: Tuesday Noon - 4 p.m.
or by appointment
Phone: (707) 643-0077
Admission Fees: $5 adult; $3 seniors & students;
children under 12 free
There are two research opportunities in Vallejo and they are in the same building. The Genealogy Society of Vallejo-Benicia has a library that is open on Tuesdays from Noon to 4 p.m. or by appointment. The library has many genealogy resources and some local resources.
This library is housed in the Vallejo Naval and Historical Museum, which is the second research facility. Both are open on the same day and the same time, though you can also arrange for an appointment. The Museum has a lot of materials about maritime subjects, but there are also many documents concerning local history. For some of their resources, check out this website: http://vallejomuseum.net/research-and-collections/
The day I visited, I met with John Watson. Since I had previously emailed him with my research needs, he had some documents out for me to view. I was looking for a man who lived in Vallejo in the 1870s and 80s. I didn’t find out what happened to him, but was pleased to view books about deaths, marriages, cemeteries, directories, and more. A treasure was an apprenticeship book from Mare Island. It was full of names of young men, including their birthdates, birth places, and parents’ names.
And if you want more information about Mare Island, there is a museum there, too, open daily except Sundays.
