My Visit to the Lawler House in Suisun’s Waterfront District

Life has a way of working out when you fully embrace it. It’s the same way with where you live. We live in the beautiful state of California! There are a lot of complaints about our state, but I think it’s a pretty amazing place to live. Not only do we live in a great state, but we live in Northern California – home of our state capitol, beautiful and culture rich cities by the bay, and amazing mountains, beaches, lakes and so much more. Nestled among all of the beauty we have Solano County. Solano County has a rich history, but where can we go to discover it? The Lawler House in Suisun!

A couple of weeks ago I was enjoying the Suisun waterfront with my boyfriend, Eric (yes, I’m no longer single for those keeping tabs J ) and we noticed that an art show was taking place in the Lawler House located at 718 Main Street. We decided to check it out and was impressed with the variety of art and craftsmanship we saw. We entered the front and exited through the back. As we walked around the outside I saw that we missed the museum part of the house so we went back in and I’m so glad that we did! The museum part of the Lawler House is directly to the right when you enter the house and is called the Solano History Exploration Center (SHEC). We met a very nice woman named Barbara who was clearly passionate about the history of Solano County. She welcomed us with a warm smile and greeting.

We enjoyed old black and white photos, unique artifacts from around the county, interesting nuggets of Solano County history and we even learned how to play two games that Native American Indians played in Solano County. I was doing well at the first game and Barbara told me the gods were with me. When I began to lose she informed me that the gods had left me. At least she still had that warm smile when she declared my lost favor!

Eric and I decided to continue our stroll around the waterfront and we went into a brand new coffee shop, Eco-Delight Coffee located at 700 Main Street, Suite 110. The reason I mention this great little coffee shop when this article is about the Lawler House is because I am not a fan of coffee, but when we met the owner, Guillermo Moran, and he shared about their coffee and why theirs is different, Eric and I became big fans. Guillermo was kind enough to indulge this non-coffee drinker and he suggested that I try some of the Costa Rica Medium Roast. He gave me a sample of black coffee and… I liked it! Because of Guillermo and his coffee I now own a coffee pot!

Last week I was watching my friend’s daughter, Jessica, and we returned to the Lawler House so she could learn how to play the Indian games too. This time Dave Marianno, a docent at the SHEC, greeted us with a warm smile. Another very passionate and kind Solano County resident. He was kind enough to allow me to show Jessica how to play the games. There was another young girl that joined us. We all had a great time playing two simple games that transported us back in time. Both girls played very well – they beat me!

After their victory we took some time to enjoy the photos depicting specific aspects of Solano County’s history. One photo really stood out to me because President John F. Kennedy was in it. Yes, JFK was in Suisun on September 8, 1960, but at that time he was still Senator John F. Kennedy, the Democratic nominee for President. In the photo below, from left to right you see Robert Legget, Congressman, Edmond G. Brown, Governor (Governor Jerry Brown’s father), Julian Morrison, Mayor of Suisun, Senator John F. Kennedy, and Luther Gibson, State Assemblyman and publisher of the Vallejo-Times Herald.

That’s a lot of history in just one photo and there are many more at the SHEC. Their vision statement is “To provide an interactive learning environment to promote, encourage, and increase an understanding and appreciation of history, arts, and cultures among the citizens of Solano County through the use of cutting-edge technologies and traditional exhibits.” The SHEC has a variety of art and artifacts as well as a DVD that plays throughout the day. You can visit the Lawler House 2pm-5pm Thursdays-Sundays. Admission is free and donations are gladly accepted. April marks the one year anniversary of the Solano History Exploration Center at the Lawler House so it’s a great time to visit. If you have younger children, they can learn a new game while you explore the history of the great county of Solano.

…And guess where Jessica and I stopped after we left the SHEC at the Lawler House? Yep, you guessed it! Eco-Delight Coffee. I needed to pick up a couple of bags of Costa Rica Medium Roast for Eric and I. When you’re planning your weekend or looking for something to do on the spur of the moment, head on over to the Suisun waterfront to the Lawler House and Eco-Delight Coffee. It’s a great combination!

Lawler House
718 Main Street, Suisun City
Phone: 707-425-2740  Email: SHECFriends@yahoo.com
Hours: Thursday – Sunday: 2pm-5pm

Eco-Delight Coffee
700 Main Street, Suite 110, Suisun City
Phone: 707-419-4318
Hours: Mon-Fri: 6:30am-5:30 pm, Sat: 7am-6 pm, Sun: 8am-4pm
Eco-Delight Coffee on Facebook