You’re standing by what is-on most days-a pretty unremarkable bank parking lot. But a century and a half ago, this very spot crackled with more action than any ATM could handle. The Union Hotel, built in 1850, was the place to be in Sonoma. Imagine a one-story adobe thrown up by three veterans from the Mexican-American War, looking both sturdy and a little bit out of place. Next door, Union Hall buzzed with soldiers, socialites, and performers-picture the likes of General Sherman or Hooker, tossing back a drink, maybe criticizing the punch.
Disaster struck in 1866: a fire swept through, wiping out both buildings. Folks didn’t waste time-they rebuilt, this time stacking stone for a two-story upgrade. The second floor was lodging; the first, a theater and event space. If you were anybody (or hoping to be), chances are you showed up here. Eventually, the glamor faded, and by 1955, Bank of America scooped up the land-paying for it in ways that would’ve bought a lot of whiskey in 1850, and still quite a few lattes today.
Alright, ready to keep going
