Washoe House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Washoe House |
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Washoe House in 2007, viewed from the south
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| General information | |
| Town or city | Stony Point, California |
| Country | United States |
| Coordinates | 38°18′51″N 122°44′09″W / 38.3143°N 122.7358°W |
| Completed | 1859 |
The Washoe House is a very old and important building in Sonoma County, California. It's known as a historic roadhouse, which was like a rest stop for travelers a long time ago. You can find it west of Cotati, California, where two roads, Stony Point Road and Roblar Road, meet. This special building is a key part of the small community of Stony Point. It has been officially named a Sonoma County Historic Landmark.
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History of Washoe House
Building a Landmark: 1859
Robert Ayres built the Washoe House in 1859. Back then, it quickly became a popular stop for stagecoaches. These were like horse-drawn buses that carried people and mail between towns. The stagecoaches traveled routes connecting places like Petaluma, Santa Rosa, and Bodega.
The "Battle" of Washoe House
In 1865, a sad event happened: President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated. After this, a group of people called the Emmett Rifles rode towards Santa Rosa. They were very upset and wanted to confront others who had different political ideas. However, they stopped at the Washoe House and decided to turn back. This event is sometimes called The Battle of Washoe House, even though no actual fighting happened there.
Famous Visitors and Filming
Local stories say that a famous president, Ulysses S. Grant, once gave a speech from the balcony of the Washoe House. But there is no clear proof that this story is true.
Later, in 1999, a part of the movie True Crime was filmed at the Washoe House.
What Was Washoe House Used For?
Over the years, the Washoe House has had many different jobs. It was once a hotel where people could stay overnight. It also served as a butcher shop, a post office, and a community hall for local gatherings. Of course, it was always a busy stagecoach stop too.
As of September 2018, the Washoe House was still open and working as a restaurant and bar.
