Monterey State Historic Park

United States historic place

Monterey Old Town Historic District

U.S. National Register of Historic Places

U.S. National Historic Landmark District

Fremont Adobe

Location in the Monterey Peninsula

Location| Monterey, California
Coordinates| 36°35′59″N 121°53′37″W﻿ / ﻿36.59972°N 121.89361°W﻿ / 36.59972; -121.89361
Area| 80.3 acres (32.5 ha)
Built| 1776
Architect| Thomas O. Larkin
Architectural style| Colonial
NRHP reference No.| 70000137
Significant dates
Added to NRHP| April 15, 1970[1]
Designated NHLD| April 15, 1970[2]

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.[1][2] 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 exhibited 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.[3] Added to the adobe houses is the park's Interpretive Center and the Pacific House Museum.

## The park

[edit]

### Custom House

[edit]

Custom House, 1936

Main article: Old Customhouse (Monterey, California)

The Custom House, built around 1821 by the Mexican government, is California's first historic landmark and its oldest public building. It is where the first American Flag was raised on July 7, 1846, declaring California part of the United States. It is a National Historic Landmark (#66000217). It is also a California Historical Landmark (#1).[4]

### Cooper-Molera Adobe

[edit]

Cooper-Molera Adobe

The Cooper-Molera is no longer a part of the Monterey State Historic Park. The property is owned and managed by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.[5]

The Cooper-Molera Adobe was built by John Bautista Rogers Cooper, a sailor, in 1823. He became a merchant and a prominent landowner in Monterey. Cooper's daughter Amelia married Eusebio Joseph Molera in 1875. The adobe house is a leading example of Spanish building style combined with New England architecture.[6]

The Cooper-Molera Adobe was featured in Bob Vila's A&E Network production Guide to Historic Homes of America.[7] In 2015, the exhibits and collections were reassessed in order to better illuminate the lives of the family who lived there. Through the historical collections inventory, the Cooper-Molera Adobe's holdings were identified and grouped in various categories. This process illuminated two activities that were of particular interest to the family: animal husbandry and farming (specifically artichoke growing).[8]

### Larkin House

[edit]

Larkin House, 1959

Main article: Larkin House

The Larkin House, itself designated a National Historic Landmark, combined Spanish building methods with New England architectural features. This created a pattern for the popular "Monterey Colonial" style of architecture.[9] This building is a California Historical Landmark (#106).[10]

### First Brick House

[edit]

California's first brick house

California's first brick house was built in 1847 by Gallant Dickenson. He was the first person to introduce American building techniques to Monterey's architectural mix. Previously, Spanish and Mexican construction relied on unfired adobe blocks, which required extremely thick walls to support upper stories and plaster coatings to repel water. In contrast brick could make walls that were much thinner yet far more durable. Dickinson planned to make the house bigger, but left for the California gold fields with only the extant structure completed. It later housed a restaurant.[11]

### Colton Hall

[edit]

Main article: Colton Hall

Colton Hall

In 1849, the California constitution was drafted in both English and Spanish in this building. In 1850 California became the thirty-first state of America. San Jose was then elected as the seat of California state government, ending Monterey's years as California's capital. (The state's capital changed several times, and Sacramento finally was chosen in 1854.) Reenactments of the state constitutional convention are held every year in Colton Hall during History Week. This building is a California Historical Landmark (#126).[12]

### Old Whaling Station

[edit]

Old Whaling Station

The Old Whaling Station was built as a private home in 1847, but in 1855 became the headquarters and employee housing for the Old Monterey Whaling Company. This building was used to support the shore whaling operations. The unique feature of this establishment is the front walkway, which is made up of whale vertebrae, one of several buildings in the area that prominently feature whalebone. The Old Whaling Station is a reminder of the economic activity in California's history.[13]

### First Theater

[edit]

Main article: First theater in California

California's First Theater

This adobe, California's First Theater, was built by English seaman Jack Swan in 1846-47 as a lodging house and tavern for sailors. He built the wood portion of the building in about 1845. He added the adobe portion in 1847, as the actual theater. It was used as a theatre in 1850 when U.S. Army officers stationed in Monterey, i.e., Lt. Alfred Sully, and others, produced plays under the direction of Actor/Manager Charles Bingham, and named it "The Union Theatre for the production of Melodramas". Swan built a small stage and provided benches, whale-oil lamps, candles for footlights and blankets as curtains. In later years, the First Theatre was used as a lodging house for whalers, but fell into disrepair after Swan's death in 1896. It was purchased in 1906 by California Historic Landmarks League and donated to the State of California. In 1937 and until recently, the Troupers of the Gold Coast staged the first melodramas since the 1850s. Because of structural issues, the building is closed to the public except for the Christmas in the Adobes event in December.[14] This building is a California Historical Landmark (#136).[15]

### Stevenson House

[edit]

Main article: Robert Louis Stevenson House

Stevenson House

In 1879, Scottish novelist Robert Louis Stevenson stayed at the French Hotel at 530 Houston Street, now called the Stevenson House after him and dedicated to his memory. Stevenson lived there while recovering his health as he was crossing the United States to court his future wife Fanny Osbourne. While there, he often dined "on the cuff," as he said, at a nearby restaurant run by Frenchman Jules Simoneau which stood at what is now Simoneau Plaza. Several years later, Stevenson sent Simoneau an inscribed copy of his novel Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde (1886), writing that it would be a stranger case still if Robert Louis Stevenson ever forgot Jules Simoneau. Stevenson wrote some articles for the local Monterey newspaper, including one that beautifully evoked "the Old Pacific Capital."

The Stevenson House features a bas relief depicting the sickly author writing in bed,[16] and is California Historical Landmark #352.[17]

### Pacific House Museum

[edit]

Pacific House

The Pacific House was constructed in 1847 during the U.S. occupation of California. This adobe was used by the U.S. Army as storage, a hotel, a court house, a tavern, and in later years as offices. The gardens outside were used for bullfights and bear fights. The Pacific House Museum tells the story of Monterey when it was the capital of Spanish and Mexican California, and also contains the Monterey Museum of the American Indian.[18] This building is a California Historical Landmark (#354).[19]

### Casa Soberanes

[edit]

Casa Soberanes

Rafael Estrada constructed the Casa Soberanes, an adobe brick home on a hillside overlooking the bay, during the 1840s. His family lived there until it was sold to the Soberanes family in 1860, who lived there until 1922. The Serranos later purchased and restored the house in the 1920s and 1930s. The house contains furnishings that are a blend of early New England and China trade pieces mixed in with modern Mexican folk art. Casa Soberanes received its nickname—The House of the Blue Gate—from the blue gate at its garden entrance on Pacific Street. Wine bottles, whale bones, and abalone shells border paths meandering through the sheltered garden.[20] This building is a California Historical Landmark (#712).[21]

### Casa del Oro

[edit]

Casa del Oro

The Casa del Oro—or "House of Gold" in Spanish—is in the Custom House Plaza. Built in 1849 as an army barracks, then as a hospital for sailors run by Thomas Larkin. Later the building was used as general store run by Joseph Boston in the 1850s. The origin of the name could be attributed to a period of time when the building was used as saloon and later as a gold dust exchange for miners.[22][failed verification] This building is a California Historical Landmark (#532).[23]

### Sherman Quarters

[edit]

Main article: Sherman Quarters

Sherman Quarters

The Sherman Quarters were built in 1834 by Thomas Larkin. This small stone building was the quarters for Lieutenant William Tecumseh Sherman in 1847. Sherman later became famous as a Union general during the American Civil War.[24] Later the artist Percy Gray, a California Impressionist, lived there with his new wife from 1923 to 1939.[25]

### Doud House

[edit]

Main article: Doud House

Doud House, one of the early American period wooded homes. Lived in for several generations of the Francis Doud family. Now restored by the Monterey History & Art Association.

During the 1850s, Francis Doud and his family relocated their initial residence to the rear of the land they owned and constructed the larger Doud House, situated at the present-day 117 Van Buren Street.[26] The Doud House stands as one of the best surviving examples of the first residences built following the American occupation,[27] and embodies the characteristics of an early American Period wooden dwelling. The credit for its construction goes to Francis Doud. Historical accounts suggest that Doud initiated the building process for the current residence on the land he had been residing on since 1852, during the latter part of the 1860s. The property's title was officially cleared on October 10, 1868. Its historical significance was officially acknowledged in 1917, when it was featured in the California Historical Landmarks in Monterey County.[28]

The gardens surrounding the house were dedicated as the Carmel Martin Memorial Garden in 1973.[29] The Monterey History & Art Association took possession of the property in 1969 and embarked on an extensive restoration effort.[28]

## See also

[edit]

* National Register of Historic Places listings in Monterey County, California
* List of the oldest buildings in the United States

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. April 15, 2008.
2. ^ a b "Monterey Old Town Historic District". National Historic Landmark summary listing. National Park Service. Archived from the original on August 2, 2013. Retrieved September 9, 2009.
3. ^ "Monterey SHP". Archived from the original on September 8, 2005. Retrieved September 10, 2005. Monterey SHP. accessed 8/20/2010
4. ^ "Custom House". Office of Historic Preservation, California State Parks.
5. ^ "Cooper-Molera Adobe". California Department of Parks and Recreation. Archived from the original on August 23, 2010. Retrieved January 1, 2020.
6. ^ "Cooper-Molera Adobe". California Department of Parks and Recreation. Archived from the original on August 23, 2010. Retrieved August 20, 2010.
7. ^ Bob Vila (1996). "Guide to Historic Homes of America". A&E Network.
8. ^ "It's In the Details: Discovering the Full Potential of a Historic Site's Museum Collections". Preservation Leadership Forum. August 31, 2015. Retrieved February 1, 2016.
9. ^ "Larkin House". Archived from the original on July 25, 2010. Retrieved August 23, 2010. Larkin House . accessed 8/20/2010
10. ^ "Larkin House". Office of Historic Preservation, California State Parks.
11. ^ "First Brick House". California Department of Parks and Recreation. Retrieved January 5, 2014.
12. ^ "Colton Hall". Office of Historic Preservation, California State Parks.
13. ^ "Old Whaling Station". California Department of Parks and Recreation. Retrieved January 4, 2014.
14. ^ "California's First Theatre". Archived from the original on July 25, 2010. Retrieved August 23, 2010. California's First Theater . accessed 8/20/2010
15. ^ "First Theater in California". Office of Historic Preservation, California State Parks.
16. ^ "Stevenson House". California Department of Parks and Recreation. Retrieved January 3, 2014.
17. ^ "Robert Louis Stevenson House". Office of Historic Preservation, California State Parks.
18. ^ "Pacific House". California Department of Parks and Recreation. Retrieved January 4, 2014.
19. ^ "Old Pacific House". Office of Historic Preservation, California State Parks.
20. ^ "Casa Soberanes". California Department of Parks and Recreation. Retrieved August 20, 2010.
21. ^ "Soberanes Adobe". Office of Historic Preservation, California State Parks.
22. ^ "Casa del Oro". California Department of Parks and Recreation. Retrieved August 20, 2010.
23. ^ "Casa del Oro". Office of Historic Preservation, California State Parks.
24. ^ "Sherman Quarters". California Department of Parks and Recreation. Retrieved January 3, 2014.
25. ^ "Percy Gray Biography and Paintings". William A. Karges Fine Art. Archived from the original on July 29, 2017. Retrieved January 23, 2014.
26. ^ "Finding aid of the Francis Doud Papers C058832". Online Archive California. Retrieved August 3, 2023.
27. ^ Andresen, Anna Geil (1917). Historic Landmarks of Monterey, California. Monterey, California: Salinas Index Press. Retrieved August 3, 2023.
28. ^ a b "Doud House". Monterey History & Art Association. Monterey, California. Retrieved August 3, 2023.
29. ^ Norkunas, Martha K. (July 1993). The Politics of Public Memory. State University of New York Press. ISBN 9781438414829. Retrieved August 3, 2023.

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Monterey State Historic Park.

* Monterey State Historic Park
* Monterey State Historic Park Association (MSHPA)

* v
* t
* e

Protected areas of California

National Park System

| Parks|

* Channel Islands
* Death Valley
* Joshua Tree
* Kings Canyon
* Lassen Volcanic
* Pinnacles
* Redwood
* Sequoia
* Yosemite

|

Preserves|

Mojave

Monuments|

* Cabrillo
* Castle Mountains
* César E. Chávez
* Devils Postpile
* Lava Beds
* Muir Woods
* Tule Lake

Seashores|

* Point Reyes

Historical Parks|

* Rosie the Riveter World War II Home Front
* San Francisco Maritime

Historic Sites|

* Eugene O'Neill
* Fort Point
* John Muir
* Manzanar

Memorials|

* Port Chicago Naval Magazine

Recreation Areas|

* Golden Gate
* Santa Monica Mountains
* Whiskeytown–Shasta–Trinity

California State Parks

| Parks|

* Ahjumawi Lava Springs
* Andrew Molera
* Angel Island
* Año Nuevo
* Anza-Borrego Desert
* Arthur B. Ripley Desert Woodland
* Bidwell–Sacramento River
* Big Basin Redwoods
* Border Field
* Bothe-Napa Valley
* Burton Creek
* Butano
* Calaveras Big Trees
* Castle Crags
* Castle Rock
* Caswell Memorial
* China Camp
* Chino Hills
* Clear Lake
* Coast Dairies
* Crystal Cove
* Cuyamaca Rancho
* D. L. Bliss
* Del Norte Coast Redwoods
* Donner Memorial
* Dos Rios
* Ed Z'berg Sugar Pine Point
* Emerald Bay
* The Forest of Nisene Marks
* Fort Ord Dunes
* Fremont Peak
* Garrapata
* Gaviota
* Great Valley Grasslands
* Grizzly Creek Redwoods
* Grover Hot Springs
* Hearst San Simeon
* Hendy Woods
* Henry Cowell Redwoods
* Henry W. Coe
* Humboldt Lagoons
* Humboldt Redwoods
* Jedediah Smith Redwoods
* Julia Pfeiffer Burns
* Leo Carrillo
* Limekiln
* MacKerricher
* Malibu Creek
* Manchester
* McArthur–Burney Falls Memorial
* McLaughlin Eastshore
* Mendocino Headlands
* Mendocino Woodlands
* Montaña de Oro
* Morro Bay
* Mount Diablo
* Mount San Jacinto
* Mount Tamalpais
* Navarro River Redwoods
* Pacheco
* Palomar Mountain
* Pfeiffer Big Sur
* Placerita Canyon
* Plumas-Eureka
* Point Mugu
* Portola Redwoods
* Prairie Creek Redwoods
* Red Rock Canyon
* Richardson Grove
* Rio de Los Angeles
* Robert Louis Stevenson
* Russian Gulch
* Saddleback Butte
* Salt Point
* Samuel P. Taylor
* San Bruno Mountain
* Sinkyone Wilderness
* South Yuba River
* Sue-meg
* Sugarloaf Ridge
* Sutter Buttes
* Tolowa Dunes
* Tomales Bay
* Topanga
* Trione-Annadel
* Van Damme
* Washoe Meadows
* Wilder Ranch

|

Natural Reserves|

* Antelope Valley California Poppy
* Armstrong Redwoods
* Azalea
* Caspar Headlands
* John B. Dewitt Redwoods
* John Little
* Jug Handle
* Kruse Rhododendron
* Los Osos Oaks
* Mailliard Redwoods
* Mono Lake Tufa
* Montgomery Woods
* Point Lobos
* Smithe Redwoods
* Torrey Pines
* Tule Elk

Marine Reserves|

* Albany
* Anacapa Island SMR
* Asilomar
* Begg Rock
* Big Creek
* Bodega Head
* Cabrillo
* Carmel Pinnacles
* Carrington Point
* Del Mar Landing
* Elkhorn Slough
* Emeryville Crescent
* Estero de Limantour and Drakes Estero
* Fitzgerald
* Gerstle Cove
* Gull Island
* Harris Point
* Judith Rock
* Laguna Beach
* Long Point
* Lovers Point
* Montara and Pillar Point
* Moro Cojo Slough
* Morro Bay
* Natural Bridges
* Piedras Blancas
* Point Arena
* Point Buchon
* Point Cabrillo
* Point Dume
* Point Lobos
* Point Reyes
* Point Sur
* Richardson Rock
* Russian River
* Santa Barbara Island
* Scorpion
* Sea Lion Gulch
* Skunk Point
* South Cape Mendocino
* Stewarts Point
* Vandenberg

Historic Parks|

* Anderson Marsh
* Antelope Valley Indian Museum
* Bale Grist Mill
* Benicia Capitol
* Bidwell Mansion
* Bodie
* California Citrus
* California State Indian Museum
* Chumash Painted Cave
* Colonel Allensworth
* Columbia
* El Presidio de Santa Barbara
* Empire Mine
* Folsom Powerhouse
* Fort Humboldt
* Fort Ross
* Fort Tejon
* Governor's Mansion
* Hearst Castle
* Indian Grinding Rock
* Jack London
* La Purísima Mission
* Leland Stanford Mansion
* Los Angeles
* Los Encinos
* Malakoff Diggins
* Marconi Conference Center
* Marsh Creek
* Marshall Gold Discovery
* Monterey
* Old Sacramento
* Old Town San Diego
* Olompali
* Pigeon Point Light Station
* Pío Pico
* Point Sur
* Railtown 1897
* Rancho Petaluma Adobe
* San Juan Bautista
* San Pasqual Battlefield
* Santa Cruz Mission
* Santa Susana Pass
* Shasta
* Sonoma
* Sutter's Fort
* Tomo-Kahni
* Wassama Round House
* Watts Towers
* Weaverville Joss House
* Will Rogers
* William B. Ide Adobe
* Woodland Opera House

Beaches|

* Asilomar
* Bean Hollow
* Bolsa Chica
* Cardiff
* Carlsbad
* Carmel River
* Carpinteria
* Caspar Headlands
* Cayucos
* Corona del Mar
* Crown Memorial
* Dockweiler
* Doheny
* El Capitán
* Emma Wood
* Gray Whale Cove
* Greenwood
* Half Moon Bay
* Huntington
* Leucadia
* Lighthouse Field
* Little River
* Malibu Lagoon
* Mandalay
* Manresa
* Marina
* McGrath
* Montara
* Monterey
* Moonlight
* Morro Strand
* Moss Landing
* Natural Bridges
* New Brighton
* Pacifica
* Pelican
* Pescadero
* Pismo
* Point Dume
* Point Sal
* Pomponio
* Refugio
* Robert H. Meyer Memorial
* Salinas River
* San Buenaventura
* San Clemente
* San Elijo
* San Gregorio
* San Onofre
* Santa Monica
* Schooner Gulch
* Seacliff
* Silver Strand
* Sonoma Coast
* South Carlsbad
* Sunset
* Thornton
* Torrey Pines
* Trinidad
* Twin Lakes
* Westport-Union Landing
* Will Rogers
* William Randolph Hearst Memorial
* Zmudowski

Recreation Areas|

* Admiral William Standley
* Auburn
* Austin Creek
* Benbow
* Benicia
* Bethany Reservoir
* Brannan Island
* Candlestick Point
* Castaic Lake
* Colusa-Sacramento River
* Folsom Lake
* Franks Tract
* George J. Hatfield
* Harry A. Merlo
* Kenneth Hahn
* Kings Beach
* Lake Del Valle
* Lake Oroville
* Lake Perris
* Lake Valley
* Martial Cottle
* McConnell
* Millerton Lake
* Picacho
* Providence Mountains
* Salton Sea
* San Luis Reservoir
* Silverwood Lake
* Standish-Hickey
* Tahoe
* Turlock Lake
* Woodson Bridge

Vehicular
Recreation Areas|

* Carnegie
* Clay Pit
* Heber Dunes
* Hollister Hills
* Hungry Valley
* Oceano Dunes
* Ocotillo Wells
* Prairie City

Other|

* Burleigh H. Murray Ranch
* California State Capitol Museum
* California State Mining and Mineral Museum
* California State Railroad Museum
* Castro Adobe
* Delta Meadows
* Estero Bay
* Hatton Canyon
* Indio Hills Palms
* Point Cabrillo Light
* Ishxenta State Park
* Point Montara Light
* Reynolds Wayside Campground
* San Timoteo Canyon
* Stone Lake
* Verdugo Mountains
* Ward Creek
* Wildwood Canyon

National Forests and Grasslands

| National Forests
and Grasslands|

* Angeles
* Butte Valley NG
* Cleveland
* Eldorado
* Humboldt–Toiyabe
* Inyo
* Klamath
* Lake Tahoe Basin
* Lassen
* Los Padres
* Mendocino
* Modoc
* Plumas
* Rogue River–Siskiyou
* San Bernardino
* Sequoia
* Shasta–Trinity
* Sierra
* Six Rivers
* Stanislaus
* Tahoe

|

National Wilderness
Preservation System|

* Agua Tibia
* Ansel Adams
* Bucks Lake
* Caribou
* Carson–Iceberg
* Castle Crags
* Cucamonga
* Desolation
* Dick Smith
* Dinkey Lakes
* Emigrant
* Golden Trout
* Hoover
* Inyo Mountains
* Ishi
* Jennie Lakes
* John Muir
* Kaiser
* Marble Mountain
* Mokelumne
* Mount Lassic
* Mount Shasta
* North Fork
* Pine Creek
* San Gabriel
* San Jacinto
* San Rafael
* Sanhedrin
* Sespe
* Siskiyou
* Snow Mountain
* South Fork Eel River
* South Sierra
* South Warner
* Thousand Lakes
* Trinity Alps
* Ventana
* Yolla Bolly–Middle Eel
* Yuki

National Monuments
and Recreation Areas|

* Giant Sequoia National Monument
* San Gabriel Mountains National Monument
* Sand to Snow National Monument
* Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument
* Smith River National Recreation Area
* Whiskeytown–Shasta–Trinity National Recreation Area

State Forests

* Boggs Mountain Demonstration
* Ellen Pickett
* Jackson Demonstration
* Las Posadas
* LaTour Demonstration
* Mount Zion Demonstration
* Mountain Home Demonstration
* Soquel Demonstration

National Wildlife Refuges

* Antioch Dunes
* Bitter Creek
* Blue Ridge
* Butte Sink
* Castle Rock
* Clear Lake
* Coachella Valley
* Colusa
* Delevan
* Don Edwards San Francisco Bay
* Ellicott Slough
* Farallon
* Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes
* Hopper Mountain
* Humboldt Bay
* Imperial
* Kern
* Lower Klamath
* Marin Islands
* Merced
* Modoc
* Pixley
* Sacramento
* Sacramento River
* Salinas River
* San Diego Bay
* San Diego
* San Joaquin River
* San Luis
* San Pablo Bay
* Seal Beach
* Sonny Bono Salton Sea
* Stone Lakes
* Sutter
* Tijuana Slough
* Tule Lake

State Wildlife Areas

| Wildlife
Areas|

* Antelope Valley
* Ash Creek
* Bass Hill
* Battle Creek
* Big Lagoon
* Big Sandy
* Biscar
* Butte Valley
* Buttermilk Country
* Cache Creek
* Camp Cady
* Cantara/Ney Springs
* Cedar Roughs
* Cinder Flats
* Collins Eddy
* Colusa Bypass
* Coon Hollow
* Cottonwood Creek
* Crescent City Marsh
* Crocker Meadows
* Daugherty Hill
* Decker Island
* Doyle
* Dutch Flat
* Eastlker River
* Eel River
* Elk Creek Wetlands
* Elk River
* Fay Slough
* Feather River
* Fitzhugh Creek
* Fremont Weir
* Grass Lake
* Gray Lodge
* Green Creek
* Grizzly Island
* Hallelujah Junction
* Heenan Lake
* Hill Slough
* Hollenbeck Canyon
* Honey Lake
* Hope Valley
* Horseshoe Ranch
* Imperial
* Indian Valley
* Kelso Peak and Old Dad Mountains
* Kinsman Flat
* Knoxville
* Laguna
* Lake Berryessa
* Lake Earl
* Lake Sonoma
* Little Panoche Reservoir
* Los Banos
* Lower Sherman Island
* Mad River Slough
* Marble Mountains
* Mendota
* Merrill's Landing
* Miner Slough
* Monache Meadows
* Morro Bay
* Moss Landing
* Mouth of Cottonwood Creek
* Napa-Sonoma Marshes
* North Grasslands
* O'Neill Forebay
* Oroville
* Petaluma Marsh
* Pickel Meadow
* Pine Creek
* Point Edith
* Putah Creek
* Rector Reservoir
* Red Lake
* Rhode Island
* Sacramento River
* San Felipe Valley
* San Jacinto
* San Luis Obispo
* San Luis Reservoir
* San Pablo Bay
* Santa Rosa
* Shasta Valley
* Silver Creek
* Slinkard/Little Antelope
* Smithneck Creek
* South Fork
* Spenceville
* Surprise Valley
* Sutter Bypass
* Tehama
* Truckee River
* Upper Butte Basin
* Volta
* Warner Valley
* Waukell Creek
* West Hilmar
* Westlker River
* White Slough
* Willow Creek
* Yolo Bypass

|

Ecological
Reserves|

* Albany Mudflats
* Alkali Sink
* Allensworth
* Atascadero Creek Marsh
* Bair Island
* Baldwin Lake
* Batiquitos Lagoon
* Blue Sky
* Boden Canyon
* Boggs Lake
* Bolsa Chica
* Bonny Doon
* Buena Vista Lagoon
* Butler Slough
* Butte Creek Canyon
* Butte Creek House
* Buttonwillow
* By Day Creek
* Calhoun Cut
* Canebrake
* Carlsbad Highlands
* Carmel Bay
* Carrizo Canyon
* Carrizo Plains
* China Point
* Clover Creek
* Coachella Valley
* Coal Canyon
* Corte Madera Marsh
* Crestridge
* Dairy Mart Ponds
* Dales Lake
* Del Mar Landing
* Eden Landing
* Elkhorn Slough
* Estelle Mountain
* Fall River Mills
* Fish Slough
* Fremont Valley
* Goleta Slough
* Indian Joe Spring
* Kaweah
* Kerman
* King Clone
* Laguna Laurel
* Loch Lomond Vernal Pool
* Lokern
* Magnesia Spring
* Marin Islands
* Mattole River
* McGinty Mountain
* Morro Dunes
* Morro Rock
* Napa River
* North Table Mountain
* Oasis Spring
* Panoche Hills
* Peytonia Slough
* Phoenix Vernal Pools
* Pine Hill
* Piute Creek
* Pleasant Valley
* Rancho Jamul
* Redwood Shores
* River Springs Lakes
* Saline Valley
* San Dieguito Lagoon
* San Elijo Lagoon
* San Felipe Creek
* San Joaquin River
* Santa Rosa Plateau
* Springville
* Stone Corral
* Sycamore Canyon
* Sycuan Peak
* Thomes Creek
* Tomales Bay
* Upper Newport Bay
* Watsonville Slough
* West Mojave Desert
* Woodbridge
* Yaudanchi

Marine
Protected
Areas|

* Abalone Cove and Point Vicente
* Anacapa Island SMCA
* Año Nuevo
* Arrow Point to Lion Head Point
* Batiquitos Lagoon
* Big Creek
* Bodega Head
* Bolsa Chica
* Cambria
* Campus Point
* Carmel Bay
* Cat Harbor
* Crystal Cove
* Dana Point
* Duxbury Reef
* Edward F. Ricketts
* Elkhorn Slough
* Estero Americano
* Estero de Limantour and Drakes Estero
* Estero de San Antonio
* Fagan Marsh
* Famosa Slough
* Farnsworth Onshore and Offshore
* Goleta Slough
* Greyhound Rock
* Lovers Cove and Casino Point
* MacKerricher
* Marin Islands
* Morro Bay
* Naples
* Pacific Grove Marine Gardens
* Painted Cave
* Piedras Blancas
* Point Arena
* Point Buchon
* Point Dume
* Point Reyes
* Point Sur
* Portuguese Ledge
* Pyramid Point
* Robert E. Badham
* Robert W. Crown
* Russian Gulch
* Russian River
* Salt Point
* San Diego-Scripps
* San Dieguito Lagoon
* San Elijo Lagoon
* Saunders Reef
* Sea Lion Cove
* Sonoma Coast
* Soquel Canyon
* South La Jolla
* South Point
* Southeast Farallon Island
* Stewarts Point
* Swami's
* Tijuana River Mouth
* Upper Newport Bay
* Van Damme
* Vandenberg
* White Rock (Cambria)

Bureau of Land Management National Conservation Lands

| National Monuments|

* Berryessa Snow Mountain
* California Coastal
* Carrizo Plain
* Cascade–Siskiyou
* Fort Ord
* Mojave Trails
* Sand to Snow
* Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains

|

National
Conservation Areas|

* California Desert
* King Range

Wilderness Areas|

* Argus Range
* Big Maria Mountains
* Bigelow Cholla Garden
* Bighorn Mountain
* Black Mountain
* Bright Star
* Bristol Mountains
* Cadiz Dunes
* Carrizo Gorge
* Chanchelulla
* Chemehuevi Mountains
* Chimney Peak
* Chuckwalla Mountains
* Chumash
* Cleghorn Lakes
* Clipper Mountain
* Coso Range
* Coyote Mountains
* Darwin Falls
* Dead Mountains
* Dick Smith
* El Paso Mountains
* Fish Creek Mountains
* Funeral Mountains
* Garcia
* Golden Valley
* Grass Valley
* Headwaters Forest Reserve
* Hollow Hills
* Ibex
* Indian Pass
* Inyo Mountains
* Jacumba
* Kelso Dunes
* Kiavah
* Kingston Range
* Little Chuckwalla Mountains
* Little Picacho
* Machesna Mountain
* Malpais Mesa
* Manly Peak
* Matilija
* Mecca Hills
* Mesquite
* Newberry Mountains
* Nopah Range
* North Algodones Dunes
* North Mesquite Mountains
* Old Woman Mountains
* Orocopia Mountains
* Otay Mountain
* Owens Peak
* Pahrump Valley
* Palen/McCoy
* Palo Verde Mountains
* Picacho Peak
* Piper Mountain
* Piute Mountains
* Red Buttes
* Resting Spring Range
* Rice Valley
* Riverside Mountains
* Rodman Mountains
* Sacatar Trail
* Saddle Peak Hills
* San Gorgonio
* Santa Lucia
* Santa Rosa
* Sawtooth Mountains
* Sespe
* Sheephole Valley
* South Nopah Range
* Stateline
* Stepladder Mountains
* Surprise Canyon
* Sylvania Mountains
* Trilobite
* Turtle Mountains
* Whipple Mountains

National Marine Sanctuaries

* Channel Islands
* Chumash Heritage
* Cordell Bank
* Greater Farallones
* Monterey Bay

National Estuarine Research Reserves

* Elkhorn Slough
* San Francisco Bay
* Tijuana River

University of California Natural Reserve System

* Angelo Coast Range
* Año Nuevo Island
* Blue Oak Ranch
* Bodega Marine
* Box Springs
* Burns Piñon Ridge
* Carpinteria Salt Marsh
* Chickering American River
* Coal Oil Point
* Dawson Los Monos Canyon
* Eagle Lake Field Station
* Elliott Chaparral
* Emerson Oaks
* Fort Ord
* Hans Jenny Pygmy Forest
* Hastings
* James San Jacinto Mountains
* Jepson Prairie
* Kendall-Frost Mission Bay Marsh
* Landels-Hill Big Creek
* Lassen Field Station
* McLaughlin
* Merced Vernal Pools and Grassland
* Motte Rimrock
* Philip L. Boyd Deep Canyon Desert
* Point Reyes Field Station
* Quail Ridge
* Rancho Marino
* Sagehen Creek Field Station
* San Joaquin Marsh
* Santa Cruz Island
* Scripps Coastal
* Sedgwick
* Stebbins Cold Canyon
* Steele Burnand Anza-Borrego Desert
* Stunt Ranch Santa Monica Mountains
* Sweeney Granite Mountains Desert
* Valentine Eastern Sierra
* White Mountain
* Younger Lagoon

Private Conservation Land Trusts

* Agua Hedionda Lagoon
* Arastradero Preserve
* Arroyo Conejo Open Space
* Audubon Canyon Ranch
* Bear Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve
* Blue Ridge Berryessa Natural Area
* Bluff Lake
* Big Sur Land Trust
* California Rangeland Trust
* Catalina Island Conservancy
* Claremont Canyon Conservancy
* Cosumnes River Preserve
* Fairfield Osborn Preserve
* Land Conservancy of San Luis Obispo County
* Pacific Forest Trust
* Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy
* Peninsula Open Space Trust
* Pepperwood Preserve
* Sanctuary Forest
* Santa Cruz Island
* Santa Lucia Preserve
* Sempervirens Fund
* Sierra Nevada Alliance
* Sogorea Te Land Trust
* The Nature Conservancy
* Trust for Public Land
* The Wildlands Conservancy

Heritage registers
National Natural Landmarks

* v
* t
* e

Monterey County tourist attractions

Historic sites|

| Historic buildings|

* Asilomar Conference Grounds
* Colton Hall
* Ecualyptus Tree Row
* First theater in California
* Gosby House Inn
* House of the Four Winds
* Larkin House
* Monterey State Historic Park
* Point Pinos Lighthouse
* Point Sur Lighthouse
* Samuel M. Black House
* Sherman Quarters
* Vásquez House
* Whalers Cabin

|

Historic
mission churches|

* Mission Nuestra Señora de la Soledad
* Mission San Antonio de Padua
* Mission San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo

Literary sites|

* Cannery Row
* John Steinbeck House (Salinas, California)
* National Steinbeck Center
* Robert Louis Stevenson House
* Tor House and Hawk Tower

Museums|

| Art|

* Monterey Museum of Art

|

History|

* Boronda History Center
* Camp Roberts Historical Museum
* Museum of Monterey
* Presidio of Monerey Museum

Science|

* Hopkins Marine Station
* Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History

Arboretums and gardens|

* Casa del Oro Sensory and Herb Garden
* Casa Soberanes Garden
* Custom House Cactus Garden
* First Theater in California Garden
* Memory Garden
* Pacific Grove Marine Gardens State Marine Conservation Area

Golf courses|

* Bayonet and Black Horse Golf Course
* Pacific Grove Municipal Golf Links
* Pebble Beach Golf Links
* Poppy Hills Golf Course
* Spyglass Hill Golf Course

Cultural|

| Performing arts
centers and venues|

* Forest Theater
* Golden State Theatre
* Monterey County Fairgrounds
* Sunset Center

|

Annual events
and festivals|

* California Rodeo Salinas
* California Roots Music and Arts Festival
* Carmel Bach Festival
* Kiddie Kapers Parade
* Monterey Car Week
* Monterey Jazz Festival
* Monterey Motorsports Reunion
* Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance

Sports venues|

* Laguna Seca

Outdoors|

| Regions|

* Big Sur
* Monterey Bay
* Monterey Canyon
* Monterey Peninsula
* Salinas Valley

|

Trails|

* Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail
* Monterey Bay Coastal Recreational Trail

Regional parks
and lakes|

* Garland Ranch Regional Park
* Jacks Peak Park
* Lake El Estero
* Palo Corona Regional Park

Reserves, preserves,
and refuges|

* Asilomar State Marine Reserve
* Big Creek State Marine Reserve and Marine Conservation Area
* Carmel Bay State Marine Conservation Area
* Carmel Pinnacles State Marine Reserve
* Edward F. Ricketts State Marine Conservation Area
* John Little State Reserve
* Lovers Point State Marine Reserve
* Mill Creek Redwood Preserve
* Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary
* Pacific Grove Marine Gardens State Marine Conservation Area
* Point Lobos State Marine Reserve
* Salinas River National Wildlife Refuge

State parks|

* Andrew Molera State Park
* Asilomar State Beach
* Carmel River State Beach
* Fort Ord Dunes State Park
* Garrapata State Park
* Hatton Canyon
* Ishxenta State Park
* Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park
* Marina State Beach
* Monterey State Beach
* Moss Landing State Beach
* Pacific Grove Marine Gardens State Park
* Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park
* Salinas River State Beach
* Zmudowski State Beach

National parks|

* Pinnacles National Park

National forests|

* Los Padres National Forest

Scenic drives|

* 17 Mile Drive
* Big Sur Coast Highway
* Highway 1
* Nacimiento-Fergusson Road
* Point Pinos Lighthouse Drive
* River Road Wine Trail

* v
* t
* e

National Register of Historic Places in California

Lists
by county|

* Alameda
* Alpine
* Amador
* Butte
* Calaveras
* Colusa
* Contra Costa
* Del Norte
* El Dorado
* Fresno
* Glenn
* Humboldt
* Imperial
* Inyo
* Kern
* Kings
* Lake
* Lassen
* Los Angeles County
* Madera
* Marin
* Mariposa
* Mendocino
* Merced
* Modoc
* Mono
* Monterey
* Napa
* Nevada
* Orange
* Placer
* Plumas
* Riverside
* Sacramento
* San Benito
* San Bernardino
* San Diego
* San Francisco
* San Joaquin
* San Luis Obispo
* San Mateo
* Santa Barbara
* Santa Clara
* Santa Cruz
* Shasta
* Sierra
* Siskiyou
* Solano
* Sonoma
* Stanislaus
* Sutter
* Tehama
* Trinity
* Tulare
* Tuolumne
* Ventura
* Yolo
* Yuba

Lists by city|

* Los Angeles
* Pasadena
* San Francisco

Other lists|

* Bridges
* California Historical Landmarks
* National Historic Landmarks
* National Natural Landmarks

* Keeper of the Register
* History of the National Register of Historic Places
* Property types
* Historic district
* Contributing property

*[No.]: number
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template