At the beginning of the 20th century, Modesto became Stanislaus County’s cultural and economic center. From the construction of ornate residences to the addition of prominent businesses and landmarks, the village founded in 1870 by the Central Pacific Railroad grew into a busy inland city. No less than four major hotels located downtown. The intent to build the nation’s first municipal airport was incorporated into the city’s revised 1910 charter, and the town’s iconic arch was added to the landscape in 1912. Modesto left behind its Wild West roots to become a thriving center of commerce in the San Joaquin Valley.