Capitol Stairs Mosaic
Written by Dalia Vidor
The Capitol Stairs Mosaic is a sight to see. Located at the cul-de-sac at 602 Capitol Street and Sonoma Boulevard the recently mosaicked stairs connects the Heritage District above to Sonoma Boulevard and Vallejo’s Historic Downtown district. This project, the brain child of community member Sarah Nichols, was 8 years, three City Managers, and two Artists’ designs in the making.
Throughout Vallejo’s history the Capitol Stairs have been a focal point along the Sonoma Boulevard corridor. Built in 1911-12, the stairs are over 100 years old and in the early 1900’s Vallejo’s high society would parade down the stairs to shop and attend theaters in what is now Vallejo’s Historic Downtown. In the 1950s the car dealers along Sonoma Boulevard would encourage test drivers to go up and down the stairs to show off their car’s suspensions resulting in the City installing the rail down the center and the forward retaining wall. Former Mayor Osby Davis and other Vallejo dignitaries recall playing on the stairs when they were young and attending Lincoln Elementary a block and a half away. And the local Executive Lion’s Club has helped maintain the landscaping and clean up since the 1970’s.
The Stairs were damaged in the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake and fell into disrepair. The Stairs from this time often took on a seedy element making them dangerous to pedestrians and a threat to the neighborhood. Rather than fencing them off to the public, local resident Sarah Nichols thought a better solution would be to beautify them. This strategy to battle blight was implemented in San Francisco with the 16th Avenue Stairs Tiled Steps to great success. www.16thavenuetiledsteps.com. The Capitol Stairs Mosaic project was very fortunate to bring on board the very artists that created the 16th Avenue Tiled Steps, Aileen Barr and Collette Crutcher.
From across the street, on the West side of Sonoma Boulevard the stairs appear as a cascading waterfall, glinting off the evening light; the Compass Rose at the top, a wayfinding flower pointing the way, the mosaic on the front facing risers rushing down the two sets of stairs. It is impossible from this vantage to see the details of the mosaic and beckons you to come close and explore. As you approach the stairs the detail of the mosaics come into view. The wall, once blocking the view of the stairs, has been cut down revealing the stairs to all passersby. You can take a moment to sit and reflect at the benches that have been installed at the bottom of the stairs. As you begin your assent you will see the pieces of tile a myriad of colors and textures created by artists Collette Crutcher and Aileen Barr. The first historic image, the USS Tarpon, overhauled at Mare Island Ship Yard in 1942, begins on the second riser. As you ascend the stairs each iconic image is revealed; the ships built on Mare Island, images of our Mare Island Museum, Naval and Historic Museum, St Peter's Chapel, submarines and trains. The Carnegie library, once located Downtown but now long gone, starts the second set of stairs. The San Francisco Ferry which brings people to the big city across the bay, and more historical and charming images of Vallejo's past and present. Little surprises greet you as you come to the top ready to lead you into Vallejo's famed Heritage District where the Victorian homes remind us of times gone by and potential new beginnings.
From Blight to Beauty One Step at a Time!
Author of the blog post and one of the cornerstone participants who made this project a reality, Dalia Vidor.
