National Register #75000489
Sonoma Plaza
Center of Sonoma
Sonoma
Built in 1835 By Mexico

Sonoma Pueblo was the chief military base of the Mexican Government in Alta California.

In 1823, Misión San Francisco Solano de Sonoma was founded. It was the the last (northernmost) of the twenty-one Alta California missions and the only one established under Mexico rule.

In 1835, General Mariano Vallejo laid out the plaza as a parade ground for Mexican soldiers stationed at Sonoma Presidio. It is the largest central plaza in California.

On June 14, 1846, the raising of the Bear Flag in the Plaza marked the beginning of the American revolt against Mexican rule.

Source: NRHP nomination form submitted in 1975.

Sonoma Plaza has been a National Historic Landmark (NHL) since 1960 when the National Historic Landmark program was established. 92 properties were immediately designated as National Historic Landmarks including seven in California. Sonoma Plaza was the northernmost California landmark.

The district was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1975. The NRHP district is slightly larger than the NHL district.

All seven California landmarks were built during the rule of Spain or Mexico:

• El Presidio Real de San Diego
• Santa Barbara Mission
• Carmel Mission
• Royal Presidio Chapel (Monterey)
• Old Custom House (Monterey)
• Thomas Larkin House (Monterey)
• Sonoma Plaza

When the National Register of Historic Places was established in 1966, the National Historic Landmark program was encompassed within it.

The boundaries of the NRHP district were expanded in 1992 to include properties on Broadway and the north side of East Napa Street.