I was in town for a dance weekend and decided to hang around for part of Monday for a spontaneous round of sights in Monterey. Did some research and found some WPA mosaics and a former Carnegie library! Monterey is chock full of history; this is a very small sample.
Before the Spanish arrived, various Ohlone tribes lived in the area, from Monterey to Carmel. Monterey was founded in the early 1700’s by the Spanish. When Mexico achieved independence in 1821, they took over. Later, it was the interim state capital before California became a US state. This prominence lead it to be home to the first printing press, public library and theater in California.
Documents to apply for statehood were composed at Colton Hall (named after the first mayor), which also was a school (museum was closed when I visited). This Great Seal of California was designed at this time as well. I haven’t looked at it in a long time. I forgot that the main figure is Minerva, a goddess born as an adult, symbolizing California’s achievement of statehood without having been a territory! Who knew? I also forgot that our state motto is Eureka!
In the park in front of the hall stands the Moon Tree. Its seed was taken on the Apollo 14 mission to the moon by an astronaut who was formerly a U.S. Forest Service smoke jumper. Looks like a normal tree, so apparently the cosmic rays didn’t damage the seed.
Around the back is the old jail. Made of granite, it replaced the adobe jail that prisoners often escaped from since adobe is easy to break out of just using a spoon!
I peeked briefly at the unprepossessing main post office, but then doubled back when I discovered there were WPA mosaics there, created in 1933. Their style is different from most WPA art I’ve seen. Sort of art nouveau but with crazy clouds.
The Mission style Carnegie library was built in 1911 and was a library till 1952. It’s now the Monterey Institute of International Studies. I went inside briefly but it’s been remodeled into offices. Outside, it has the hallmark front steps but no light at the door (I don’t see it in older photos). Also, very large windows, like other Carnegie libraries. Let the light of wisdom shine in!
I stopped at the Cooper Molera adobe with its cool adobe wall. The museum was closed (gotta stop doing Monday expeditions!) so I took this photo through the window. The aged wooden door is on another adobe across the street.
The Golden State Theater, in the California Churrigeresque style, opened in 1926 as a movie palace that now hosts live music and comedy. I couldn’t find more info about this other ornate building except that it’s the Professional Building of Monterey with some nice Mission style details in the lobby.
The Sloat Monument, on top of a hill in the Presidio of Monterey, commemorates Commodore Sloat, who took California for the US in 1846. The monument was partly financed with donations from individuals, groups and counties as shown on the base. A typically angry looking eagle guards from the top. Not much else to see since the museum was closed. Grr.
I capped off my expedition with a visit to the Coast Guard Pier to see some sea lions. I already knew they were there because I could hear them barking from the Presidio! They were lounging just a few feet below the wall. Too dark to get myself in the photo with them. Look at that cute face!