Old Custom House (Monterey, California)

Monterey ( ; Spanish: Monterrey) is a city located in Monterey County on the southern edge of Monterey Bay on the U.S. state of California's Central Coast. Founded on June 3, 1770, it functioned as the capital of Alta California under both Spain (1804–1821) and Mexico (1822–1846). During this period, Monterey hosted California's first theater, public building, public library, publicly funded school, printing-press, and newspaper. It was originally the only port of entry for all taxable goods in California. In 1846, during the Mexican–American War of 1846–1848, the United States Flag was raised over the Customs House. After Mexico ceded California to the U.S. at the end of the war, Monterey hosted California's first constitutional convention in 1849. The city occupies a land area of 8.466 sq mi (21.93 km2) and the city hall is at 26 feet (8 m) above sea level. The 2020 census recorded a population of 30,218. Monterey and the surrounding area have attracted artists since the late 19th-century, and many celebrated painters and writers have lived in the area. Until the 1950s there was an abundant fishery. Monterey's present-day attractions include the Monterey Bay Aquarium, Cannery Row, Fisherman's Wharf, California Roots Music and Arts Festival, and the annual Monterey Jazz Festival.

Fisherman's Wharf is a historic wharf in Monterey, California, United States. Used as an active wholesale fish market into the 1960s, the wharf eventually became a tourist attraction as commercial fishing tapered off in the area. Fisherman's Wharf is technically known as The Old Fisherman's Wharf, to distinguish it from the current commercial wharf (known as Municipal Wharf #2).

The First Theater also known as the First theater in California, is a historic adobe and wood building in Monterey, California, United States. It was built in 1846-1847 as a lodging house and tavern for sailors, by English seaman and pioneer Jack Swan. Swan's Saloon staged the inaugural theatrical presentations in California. On January 31, 1934, the building was officially designated a California Historical Landmark #136.

The Bruce Ariss Wharf Theater is a musical theater located in Monterey, California. It began its history after World War II when Bruce Ariss, an artist and friend of John Steinbeck, returned to the city of Monterey after working with his father's construction company.

The Doud House, also known as the Francis Doud House, represents one of the earliest and most well-preserved examples of an early wood frame Vernacular architecture residences in Monterey, California, USA. Its construction occurred soon after the American occupation that ensued following the Mexican–American War. The establishment of the Doud House in 1852 is credited to Francis Doud, a California pioneer from 1849.

Casa Soberanes is a historic adobe residence located in downtown Monterey, California. Designated California Historical Landmark No. 712, it is also included along Monterey's "Path of History," a walking route highlighting the city's significant historic sites. The property is currently operated as a historic house museum by Monterey State Historic Park. Built in 1842 by Custom House official Rafael Estrada, the two-story structure is an example of a Monterey Colonial style adobe. The building is noted for its symmetrical façade and a roof made of both clay tiles and shingles—an adaptation required because the second-floor balcony lacks posts to support heavy tiles beyond the thick adobe walls. Estrada sold the property in 1860 to his cousin Esequiel Soberanes, who used it as a town residence away from his Big Sur rancho. The Soberanes family lived in the home until 1922, hosting business meetings, social gatherings, and raising most of their thirteen children within its walls. Jean Booth and Reuben Serrano later purchased and restored the building during the 1920s and 1930s. It is during their tenure that the house became known as "The House of the Blue Gate" due to the vivid color of the front garden gate. In 1952, writer and local historian Mayo Hayes O'Donnell purchased the house from Jean Booth after leasing it for 11 years. Booth furnished the home with Monterey antiques, some of which remained with the building when she sold it to O'Donnell. A prominent advocate for preserving Monterey's historic adobes, O'Donnell gifted the property to the State of California in 1954, although she continued to live there until her death in January of 1978. Its garden is distinguished by decorative elements such as whale bones, wine bottles, and abalone shells bordering its pathways. Today, the adobe stands as a key example of Monterey's preserved architectural heritage. Along with the building, O'Donnell's art collection, which included gifts from local artists, is still on display and includes pieces by notable artists including Chiura Obata, Charles Bradford Hudson, Xavier Martinez, Lionel Barrymore, and Donald Teague. The gardens are free and open during daylight hours. The house is open during special events and can also be viewed via private tour.

Monterey station was a train station in Monterey, California located close to Fisherman's Wharf. Originally served by the Monterey & Salinas Valley Railroad, the line was purchased by Southern Pacific on September 29, 1879. Southern Pacific constructed a new station building in 1921. Train service ended with the cancellation of the Del Monte after April 30, 1971, when Amtrak took over passenger rail services in the United States. The depot was converted to retail space, and is occupied by a brewpub as of 2019. Restoration of service along the Monterey Branch Line was studied in the 1984-89 Caltrans passenger rail development plan. Later suggestions call for establishment of light rail service along the Monterey Branch Line, but the Monterey stop is planned to be located at the Custom House Plaza.

Achasta (also, Achiesta) is a former Ohlone settlement in Monterey County, California. It was located at the site of modern-day Monterey.

The El Castillo de Monterey, also known as El Castillo, was a Spanish Fort founded in 1792 in what is now Monterey, California. The fort was constructed to protect the Monterey port and the Presidio of Monterey from invaders. The site was officially listed on the National Register of Historic Places on November 23, 1971.

The Josiah Merritt Adobe, located at 386 Pacific St. in Monterey, California and also known as Merritt House, is a historic house that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It was built in 1830 and is architecturally significant as perhaps the only example of Greek Revival temple form architecture applied to an adobe building in Mexican California. The Benicia State Capitol Building (California State Landmark #153) included the Greek temple format but is made of stone or masonry. The building was documented by the Historic American Buildings Survey in 1936.It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1977. In 1979 the house was developed into a small hotel.

Monterey State Historic Park is a historic state park in Monterey, California. It includes part or all of the Monterey Old Town Historic District, a historic district that includes 17 contributing buildings and was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1970. The grounds include California's first theatre, and the Monterey Custom House, where the American flag was first raised over California. The park is a group of restored historic buildings: the Custom House, the Larkin House, California's First Brick House, Colton Hall (City Hall of Monterey), Old Whaling Company, the Stevenson House, the First Theater, the Pacific House Museum, the Interpretive House, Casa del Oro, and Casa Soberanes. These houses display the cultural diversity that guided California's transition from a remote Spanish outpost in Las Californias province, to an agricultural Mexican Alta California territory, to U.S. statehood. These influential adobe houses made up California's earliest capital and were the site of the state's first constitutional convention. Today the historic buildings retain their rich heritage, preserving an important part of Californian as well as Spanish, Mexican, and American history. Added to the adobe houses is the park's Interpretive Center and the Pacific House Museum. The park provides tours of the historic houses and museums for the general public. The 'Secret Gardens of Old Monterey' are part of the open-air museum for visitors. The Monterey State Historic Park Association (MSHPA) is the non-profit association that works to support the park.

The Golden State Theatre (also known as the State Theatre) in Monterey, California, opened on August 6, 1926.