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| Landmark #897 | Lake County | Visited: July 13, 2014 | Plaque? YES! 🙂 |
| What is it? | A museum built into the first courthouse of Lake County! |
| What makes it historical? | THE GUIDE SAYS: This brick courthouse, constructed by A. P. Pettit in 1870-71, was one of the few buildings in the vicinity to survive the 1906 earthquake with only minor damage. It served Lake County as a seat of government from 1871 until 1968. Precedent-setting trials on water rights were held here, along with the “White Cap” murder trial in 1890.
OTHER TIDBITS: The county seat bounced back and forth between Lakeport and Lower Lake over the course of 9 years and 4 elections! As for the famous cases, in this courthouse, the first Pomo Indian was granted voting rights, setting the standard for Native American sufferage across the state! As for the “White Cap” murder, it didn’t really have much to do with the White Caps, who were midwestern vigilantes. What happened was a bartender named Fred Bennett had really irked a bunch of guys, who decided to take matters into their own hands! So, they stormed into the “Camper’s Retreat,” where he was working, intending to tar and feather him and run him out of the county, but they hadn’t expected Mrs. Richie, the proprietor’s wife, to run at them and unmask two of them! She, unfortunately, was the victim in this whole sad event! This landmark is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places! |
| How can I Help the Helpers? | HERE’S HOW:
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| Where is this place? | LISTED DIRECTIONS: 255 North Main Street Lakeport, California 95453 ANNOTATIONS: From Los Angeles: ~492mi (792km) — 8.2hrs |
| When should I go? | The museum is open from 10:00 AM until 4:00 PM, Wednesday through Saturday, and from noon to 4:00 PM on Sunday! |