The city of Sonoma historically has been the terminus of the American Auto Trail known as El Camino Real. The Auto Trail since 1906 has terminated at Mission San Francisco Solano at the intersection of 1st Street East and Spain Street. Since August 1934, the city has been served by California State Route 12. California State Route 12 since being designated has always used Sonoma Highway, Napa Street and Broadway to traverse the downtown area. The California Highway Commission adopted a 13.8-mile-long freeway bypass in 1962 which had Kenwood and Schellville as terminus points. Ultimately the freeway adoption for California State Route 12 was rescinded by the California Transportation Commission 1977. This blog serves to explore the history of both El Camino Real and California State Route 12 in Sonoma. California State Route 12 can be seen passing through Sonoma along Sonoma Highway, Napa Street and Broadway on the 1951 United States Geological S...
Santa Fe County Road near Mendota in Fresno County is an approximately 4-mile rural roadway built on a repurposed railroad grade. Santa Fe Grade Road begins at Jefferson Avenue and continues northwest to San Benito Avenue. The grade was constructed by the San Francisco & San Joaquin Railroad during the 1880s but was found to be consistently flood prone. The grade was later sold to the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad in 1898 which later abandoned it to Fresno County. Part 1; the history of Santa Fe County Road The origin of Santa Fe Grade Road lies in the 1880s when San Francisco & San Joaquin Valley Railroad president Claus Spreckels was attempting to acquire right-of-way. Spreckels' line was in competition with the Southern Pacific Railroad to build a line in western San Joaquin Valley. Any prospective westside line would have to cross the properties owned by the so-called "Cattle King of California" Henry Miller. Miller held a s...