About Us

The Vacaville Heritage Council is a non-profit organization established in 1968, dedicated to preserving Solano County history. Our office is located on the main floor of the historic Old Town Hall at 618 East Main Street in Vacaville, and we're open to the public on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM, Third Saturday of the month from 9am - 1pm, or by appointment for research and tours.

We are staffed by a team of volunteers who are passionate about preserving Solano County's past, with a particular focus on Vacaville's history. We work extensively with historical documents, maps, and photographs, which we carefully photograph and archive for non-commercial public use.

Our vast collection includes thousands of photographs and negatives, some dating back to the 1850s, and a wide selection of research books. We can refer you to other organizations or individuals if you're searching for specific information. We work closely with Solano County museums and the Solano County Genealogy Society, which occupies the upper floor of the Old Town Hall, a registered historical place built in 1907 by Solano County and Vacaville to replace the old jail.

Our History

Bert Hughes and Robert Allen - Founding Members of the Vacaville Heritage Council

Since 1968, a group of dedicated volunteers has collected various media types, including documents, artifacts, files, maps, and film media, such as glass negatives, movie films, vinyl records, VHS tapes, camera cards, CDs, and DVDs.  With the goal of preserving these items and making the information readily available for both personal and public research purposes.

In 1969, the first officers of the Heritage Council were elected, including President Arthur Dietz, Vice-President Bert Hughes, Betty Lorenzo, and Treasurer Frank Pritchett. On June 18th of the same year, the by-laws were adopted, officially creating the Vacaville Heritage Council.


In 1977, Melodee Beelard, a history enthusiast and member of the Vacaville Heritage Council, started conducting extensive research with the intention of proposing the Vacaville Town Hall as a national landmark to the State Historical Resource Commission. The following year, in 1978, the State Historical Commission nominated the Town Hall as a national landmark.

Over the years, the Council has achieved several notable accomplishments, such as the nomination of the Vacaville Town Hall as a national landmark and the renovation of the historic building.  The Solano County Genealogical Society also uses the upstairs of the Town Hall for their work.

Many historians and volunteers, including Rod Rulofson, Robert Allen, Clyde Low, Carol Noske, and Jerry Bowen, have contributed their time and expertise to the Council's efforts. All volunteers, past and present, are unpaid and share a passion for preserving local Solano County history for future generations.