Napa is the primary business and economic center for the Napa Valley. The bulk of the Napa Valley population lives in the City of Napa. Much of the light industry, banking, commercial and retail activity in the county also takes place here.
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Follow the links below to view panoramas and other pictures of the wineries and landscape around Napa. Use the blue column links, right side, to visit other areas in the wine country or to tour nearby San Francisco or other exciting destinations including New York, New Orleans, San Diego, Las Vegas and Yosemite National Park.
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Napa Valley Map
Napa Wineries &
Click images to enlarge
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A Brief History of the City of Napa
The City of Napa, with a population of about 70,000, is the largest city in the Napa Valley. It is also the county seat of Napa County. In 1848 Nathan Coombs laid out the City of Napa on property received from Nicolas Higuerra— the holder of the original Spanish Grant.
The City of Napa's location on the Napa river made it an appropriate place to consolidate lumber and other goods for shipment to Benicia and San Francisco. Steam boats came up the river as far as Third Street until the 1920s. Napa's historic downtown, along the Napa river, is where hotels, commercial and retail activity, banking and light industry began supporting '49er gold miners escaping winter cold and snow.
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Industry—including leather tanning—flourished in the City of Napa. In fact the term Nappa Leather (original spelling with two p's) is still used today.
Charles Krug made the first commercial wine in Napa County at Napa in 1858.
A number of historic buildings still stand in Napa including one, built in 1901, that now houses the city's historic architectural records.
 The Opera House was constructed in 1879. The original facade has been restored and the rest of the building renovated. An unreinforced building, the Opera House was undergoing renovation at the time of the 1906 earthquake which may have been a factor in it suffering very little damage.
The Napa Historical Society on 1st street resides in a two-story, renovated, stone-masonry building that was also built prior to the 1906 earthquake. The Pfeiffer building, built in 1875 is the oldest commercial building in the City of Napa.
Murals depicting Napa's history can be found in downtown Napa.
 The first mural to be painted—a depiction of the Napa River circa 1900—was dedicated September 10, 1994 on Napa's Main Street.
 Independence Day in Napa, dedicated on July 4, 1997, is a scene from the Napa American Independence Day parade held July 4, 1908.
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Copia Pictures
In addition to artwork on permanent display, Copia also hosts exhibits like the one that included this large glass and copper grape cluster sculpture by artist Mitch LaPlante which was hung in the garden.
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Copia: The American Center for Wine, Food & the Arts
 COPIA: The American Center for Wine, Food & the Arts, a major non-profit cultural institution devoted to exploring the interrelationships of food, wine and the arts, opened its doors to the public in November of 2001. There is no admission charge to enter and eat at the American Market Cafe, or Julia's Kitchen or to visit the gardens at Copia.
 Compare the Copia Garden panorama directly above with this one to see how much has changed between 2002 and 2005. In addition to the garden itself having filled in and grown up a double row of tall trees now flank the stair-stepped reflecting pools that lead from the street to the Copia entrance.
The fee for entry into Copia can also be defered by purchasing a Taste of Napa Downtown card. You'll get 10-cent wine tastings at 10 different tasting rooms and retail stores in Napa plus discounts on purchases.
Hakusan Sake Gardens has an example of a traditional Japanese dry garden. Check out the panorama in the left column above. You can also view a couple of panoramas shot at Monticello Vineyards run by the Corley Family.
Napa Valley Bed and Breakfast Victorians
Many Victorian style homes and mansions were built in the City of Napa. A few have been converted into Bed & Breakfasts.
The 1801 Inn, also known as the Hunter-Prouty House, is a stunning Queen Anne Victorian located in the heart of downtown Napa.
The Blue Violet Mansion, a graceful 1886 Queen Anne Victorian, is on a tree-lined street in Old Town Napa.
Another Queen Anne Victorian, Hennessey House, was built in 1889 and is conveniently located within walking distance of many City of Napa attractions.
La Belle Époque Bed & Breakfast is also located in the heart of historic Old Town Napa near the Napa Valley Wine Train and Napa's Riverfront.
Real Wine Tours in Napa
Take our small group Wine Country Tour, Wine Aficionado Napa Valley Wine Tour, Redwoods and Wine Tour or Wine Country Jeep Tour.
A 7 day California Wine Country Vacation begins and ends in San Francisco. You'll stay at the Westin St. Francis and tour the City-by-the-Bay before heading north to spend some time in Muir Woods National Monument walking among the redwoods then continuing on to Napa for lunch aboard the Napa Valley Wine Train. Free time in historic Sonoma Plaza rounds out your first day in wine country as you retire to Santa Rosa and the FountainGrove Inn.
Wine tours and tastings, champagne tour and tasting and a visit to Bodega Bay on the California coast are some of the highlights of this trip.
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