Blue Wing Inn, Adobe hotel building in Sonoma Plaza, US
The Blue Wing Inn is a two-story adobe building located on Sonoma Plaza with original adobe walls on the ground floor and wooden balconies on the second level. The structure reflects early California architecture with thick earthen walls and a layout that opens onto the public plaza.
The building began as a residence in 1840 and was converted into a hotel in 1848, making it one of the first such establishments north of San Francisco. This conversion coincided with the discovery of gold and the resulting surge in population through the region.
The establishment became a gathering place during the Gold Rush for miners, soldiers, and travelers crossing Northern California. It served as a social hub where people from different backgrounds mixed and exchanged stories.
The property is currently managed by California State Parks as part of the Sonoma State Historic Park system. The building is typically open during daylight hours, and visitors can check the park website for current opening times and ongoing restoration updates.
The building functioned as a gambling hall and later as a winery during different periods of its history. Local records include reports of a visit by Ulysses S. Grant, though the details of this encounter remain part of Sonoma's lesser-known past.
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