The park Monterey State Historic Park

1 park

1.1 custom house
1.2 cooper-molera adobe
1.3 larkin house
1.4 first brick house
1.5 colton hall
1.6 old whaling station
1.7 first theater
1.8 stevenson house
1.9 pacific house museum
1.10 casa soberanes
1.11 casa del oro
1.12 sherman quarters

the park
custom house

custom house, 1936

the custom house, built around 1821 mexican government, california s first historic landmark , oldest public building. first american flag raised on july 7, 1846, declaring california part of united states. national historic landmark (#66000217). california historical landmark (#1).

cooper-molera adobe

cooper-molera adobe

the cooper-molera adobe built john bautista rogers cooper, sailor, in 1823. became merchant , prominent landowner in monterey. cooper s daughter amelia married eusebio joseph molera in 1875. adobe house leading example of spanish building style combined new england architecture.

the cooper-molera adobe featured in bob vila s a&e network production guide historic homes of america. in 2015, exhibits , collections reassessed in order better illuminate lives of family lived there. through historical collections inventory, cooper-molera adobe s holdings identified , grouped in various categories. process illuminated 2 activities of particular interest family: animal husbandry , farming (specifically artichoke growing).

larkin house

larkin house, 1959

the larkin house, designated national historic landmark, combined spanish building methods new england architectural features. created pattern popular monterey colonial style of architecture. building california historical landmark (#106).

first brick house

california s first brick house

california s first brick house built in 1847 gallant dickenson. first person introduce american building techniques monterey s architectural mix. previously, spanish , mexican construction relied on unfired adobe blocks, required extremely thick walls support upper stories , plaster coatings repel water. in contrast brick make walls thinner yet far more durable. dickinson planned make house bigger, left california gold fields extant structure completed. later housed restaurant.

colton hall

colton hall

in 1849, california constitution drafted in both english , spanish in building. in 1850 california became thirty first state of america. san jose elected seat of california state government, ending monterey s years california s capital. (the state s capital changed several times, , became sacramento in 1854.) reenactments of state constitutional convention held every year in colton hall during history week. building california historical landmark (#126).

old whaling station

old whaling station

the old whaling station built private home in 1847, in 1855 became headquarters , employee housing old monterey whaling company. building used support shore whaling operations. unique feature of establishment front walkway, made of whale vertebrae, 1 of several buildings in area prominently feature whalebone. old whaling station reminder of economic activity in california s history.

first theater

california s first theater

this adobe, california s first theater, built english seaman jack swan in 1846-47 lodging house , tavern sailors. built wood portion of building in 1845. added adobe portion in 1847, actual theater. used theatre in 1850 when u.s. army officers stationed in monterey, i.e., lt. alfred sully, , others, produced plays under direction of actor/manager charles bingham, , named union theatre production of melodramas . swan built small stage , provided benches, whale-oil lamps, candles footlights , blankets curtains. in later years, first theatre used lodging house whalers, fell disrepair after swan s death in 1896. purchased in 1906 california historic landmarks league , donated state of california. in 1937 , until recently, troupers of gold coast staged first melodramas since 1850s. because of structural issues, building closed public except christmas in adobes event in december. building california historical landmark (#136).

stevenson house

stevenson house

in 1879, scottish novelist robert louis stevenson stayed @ french hotel @ 530 houston street, called stevenson house after him , dedicated memory. stevenson lived there while recovering health crossing united states court future wife fanny osbourne. while there, dined on cuff, said, @ nearby restaurant run frenchman jules simoneau stood @ simoneau plaza. several years later, stevenson sent simoneau inscribed copy of novel strange case of dr jekyll , mr hyde (1886), writing stranger case still if robert louis stevenson ever forgot jules simoneau. stevenson wrote articles local monterey newspaper, including 1 beautifully evoked old pacific capital.

the stevenson house features bas relief depicting sickly author writing in bed, , california historical landmark #352.

pacific house museum

pacific house

the pacific house constructed in 1847 during u.s. occupation of california. adobe used u.s. army storage, hotel, court house, tavern, , in later years offices. gardens outside used bullfights , bear fights. pacific house museum tells story of monterey when capital of spanish , mexican california, , contains monterey museum of american indian. building california historical landmark (#354).

casa soberanes

casa soberanes

rafael estrada constructed casa soberanes, adobe brick home on hillside overlooking bay, during 1840s. family lived there until sold soberanes family in 1860, lived there until 1922. serranos later purchased , restored house in 1920s , 1930s. house contains furnishings blend of new england , china trade pieces mixed in modern mexican folk art. casa soberanes received nickname—the house of blue gate—from blue gate @ garden entrance on pacific street. wine bottles, whale bones, , abalone shells border paths meandering through sheltered garden. building california historical landmark (#712).

casa del oro

casa del oro

the casa del oro—or house of gold in spanish—is in custom house plaza. built in 1849 army barracks, hospital sailors run thomas larkin. later building used general store run joseph boston in 1850s. origin of name attributed period of time when building used saloon , later gold dust exchange miners. building california historical landmark (#532).

sherman quarters

sherman quarters

the sherman quarters built in 1834 thomas larkin. small stone building quarters lieutenant william tecumseh sherman in 1847. sherman later became famous union general during american civil war. later artist percy gray, california impressionist, lived there new wife 1923 1939.