Welcome To Martinez!

Wecome to our beautiful City of Martinez, the county seat of Contra Costa... originally an old fishing village turned into a town in 1876. Martinez is a waterfront berg located alongside the banks of the Carquinez Straits surrounded by colorful hills and lies in the shadows of majestic Mount Diablo, the "devil's mountain!"

Consider Martinez a virtual history book with several pages. The naturalist John Muir and his family lived here for over 25 years. Baseball legend Joe DiMaggio was born here and his family is still prominent in Martinez. Our town is the bocce ball capital of the United States, along with being the "Home of the Martini", concocted here in 1824.

Points Of Interest

John Muir National Historic Site... Muir was a pioneer, an author and responsible for turning Yosemite into a National Park. John Muir's burial site is in the Alhambra Valley of Martinez. Visit the home, grounds and Plantation house located near Highway 4 at 4202 Alhambra Avenue. (925) 228-8860 or www.nps.gov/jomu

Joe DiMaggio, one of the greatest baseball players of all time was born in Martinez. Joe's father was a fisherman and since Joe didn't care to fish, he played baseball instead! When he retired, the New York Yankees presented him with a new fishing boat, "The Joltin' Joe", on display at the Martinez Marina located at the foot of Ferry Street in Downtown Martinez. Photo By Marcella Hughes.

The Martini, as legend goes, was concocted when a gold miner, in celebration of striking gold, wandered into a local tavern exclaiming to the bartender, "Can I have some Champagne please?" The bartender said he didn't have Champagne, but he could make the miner a special drink called a "Martinez Cocktail." The miner agreed and drank a couple of the special concoctions. Upon finishing, he couldn't say the "z" in Martinez -- he simply said "Martini!"

The Martinez Marina is the gateway to the Delta with its beautiful yacht club, a bait shop and more than 400 boats docked. Be sure to see the monument dedicated to the Italian immigrant fisherman who worked fishing in our waters of the Carquinez Straits.

Martinez Regional Shoreline is made up of large open meadows, picnic areas and natural marshlands, including hiking trails, softball fields, bocce ball courts and a soccer field.

Viano Winery is Martinez' only winery, established in 1920 by Conrad Viano, with vineyards dating back to 1888. Visit the tasting room located at 150 Morello Avenue, just north of Highway 4. (925) 228-6465

The Martinez Museum was the original home of the Borland family built in 1890. The museum opened in 1976 and is located at the end of Court Street in Downtown Martinez.

Alhambra Cemetery is "home" to a host of interesting folks, including Captain Joseph Walker who was the first white man to see Yosemite Valley; Eliza Nottingham, who at the age of nine, saved Abraham Lincoln, then four, from drowning in a creek; and "Hardy The Faithful", a slave who was

freed upon coming to California, but who continued to serve the family with whom he moved here, thus earning the nickname "Faithful." Be sure to include Potters Field on your visit located along Carquinez Regional Shoreline. Photo Courtesy Of Marcella Hughes. Thanks Marcella!

From our

Martinez Amtrak Station located in Downtown Martinez one can travel almost anywhere in the United States. The new station replaced the original station built in 1876. Nearly 40 trains travel through Martinez daily.