Sonoma Plaza

In 1823, Padre Jose Altimira of Spain established The Mission San Francisco Solano de Sonoma (Sonoma Mission) on land  situated at the northeast corner of today’s Plaza. Sonoma Mission was the northern most Mission on the Camino Real,  and was established to deter Russian incursions from the north.

In 1836, Mexico’s territorial governor for the area, General Mariano Guadelupe Vallejo,  laid-out  The Plaza’s eight acres and the surrounding street grid, turning Sonoma from a mission outpost to a Mexican style pueblo. He built the Barracks for Mexican army troops across the street from the Sonoma Mission, and he built his family’s first Sonoma home, La Casa Grande, on the west side. For a short time, Sonoma Plaza was the center of trade north of San Francisco.

In 1908, Sonoma’s City Hall was built in the center of the Plaza – it was designed with four identical facades so that merchants from any side of the square could say the City Hall faced their businesses. Made of basalt stone from local quarries, the City of Sonoma government offices still remain in this central landmark of the valley.

Free parking around the Sonoma Plaza just got a little more leisurely.  The free parking time limit around and near the historic Sonoma Plaza was increased from 2-hours to 3-hours.  This may not seem like significant news, unless you consider that many cities have added parking fees or meters rather than extending time limits in order to generate revenues.

There are also several parking lots near the Sonoma Plaza that offer visitors, patrons and locals free all-day parking.  The Casa Grande Parking lot behind the Historic Mexican Army Barracks at 98 E Spain Street is the largest. The Casa Grande Parking lot has approximately 135 free parking spaces for passenger vehicles, those with disabled placards, and for school and tour busses. Vehicles can park from 6am-11pm.  See a map of the lot here.