The Camelcast Museum of History, Benicia

Season 2 of the Camelcast resumes with the final episode examining the history of Rancho Suscol. The area of this 84,000 acre land grant, given in 1843, spans present-day Napa and Solano counties, and includes the cities of Vallejo and Benicia. Join us as new host Museum Administration Manager Maureen Williams and Museum Research Historian Dr. Jim Lessenger finish the discussion of Rancho Suscol: Its Religious, Revolutionary, and Homestead History.Support the Show.

Season 2 of the COVID Quarantine Camelcast kicks of with the first of several episodes examining the history of Rancho Suscol. The area of this 84,000 acre land grant, given in 1843, spans present-day Napa and Solano counties, and includes the cities of Vallejo and Benicia. Join us as Executive Director Elizabeth d'Huart and Museum Research Historian Dr. Jim Lessenger discuss the history, people, and politics intertwined with the land.Support the Show.

In the final Camelcast episode of 2020, Executive Director Elizabeth d'Huart is joined once again by Museum Research Historian Dr. Jim Lessenger for a brief discussion touching on President Lincoln's connections to Benicia. This brief episode, Lincoln's Last Read and the Benicia Connection, explores the three things tying our 16th President to the city and buildings our Museum calls home. Support the Show.

In Digging Archaeology: It's Not About Dinosaurs!, Executive Director Elizabeth d'Huart and Museum Volunteer Randi Scott talk about the field of archaeology, the varying disciplines within the field, and the vital role archaeology plays in the discovery and preservation of history. Support the Show.

In the ninth episode of the COVID Quarantine Camelcast, Executive Director Elizabeth d'Huart and Museum Research Historian Dr. Jim Lessenger discuss Benicia's brief time as the state capital, the reasons why the seat of government moved to Sacramento, and the capitol building they left behind. Jim Lessenger is a physician by profession and an historian by hobby. The author of The Benicia State Capitol, published in 2019 by Arcadia Publishing, Jim has long been fascinated by California h...

In this episode, Executive Director Elizabeth d’Huart and Museum volunteer Allan Gandy talk about The Sandstone Powder Magazine – Benicia's Little-Known Gem. Learn about the construction and history of this beautiful building – originally Benicia Arsenal Building #10, and now just one of the four sandstone buildings in the Camel Barns complex. Support the Show.