Elk Grove House was built in 1850 by the founder of Elk Grove, James Hall. Built on the historic Monterey Trail, Elk Grove House was reputed to be one of the finest stage stops between Sacramento and Stockton.
James Hall, credited with founding Elk Grove, settled in Sacramento County in 1850. County histories state he built a hotel along the Upper Stockton Highway, also known as the Monterey Trail between Sacramento and Stockton in the same year. He painted on its sign an elk head, thereby establishing the Elk Grove Hotel. According to county documents, James Hall sold the property and "the tavern stand known as Elk Grove House" in 1855 and moved to Sacramento.
When the original Elk Grove House was town down in the name of progress in 1957, drawings were made and pictures taken with plans to reconstruct this symbol of our past. the bicentennial committee reoraganized and formed the Elk Grove Historical society. the reconstructed Elk Grove Hotel & Stage Stop Museum is the main feature of the Elk Grove heritage Park and was opened again to the public.
We are located in Elk Grove, California where the fight for California's independence from Mexico started in Murphy’s Corral on the Cosumnes River at dawn on 10 June 1846 when Ezekial Merritt and his small band of Americans surprised Lt. Francisco Arce and his men and took their horses.
