Monterey State Historic Park

Park Hours

Custom House, Pacific House, & First Brick House-Tues-Sun from 10:00am-4:00pm

Casa Gutierrez- Stay turned for details on our next exhibit.

Guided Walks-Thursday-Sunday 11am, 1pm, & 3pm. Tours last approximately one hour and begin at the Custom House.

Gardens- Open Daily. Stevenson House Garden may close early Monday through Wednesday.

Contact Information

(831) 649-2907

Are dogs Allowed?

Yes: Dogs not allowed inside park buildings.

Reservation Availability

No Online Reservations at this time.

About Monterey State Historic Park

Monterey State Historic Park is a collection of significant historic houses and buildings interspersed throughout Old Monterey. Hour long guided history tours are led regularly; tour information and tour tickets may be obtained at the Custom House (adjacent to Old Fisherman's Wharf). Our history tours are a great way to start your discovery of Monterey. See Tour Information for the current schedule.

View the Park Accessibility Information

Maps and Park Directions

Monterey State Historic Park consists of over 10 historic structures and places within a half mile of the Custom House Plaza, in downtown Monterey, near Fisherman’s Wharf.
From San Francisco, Sacramento and points north: take the Pacific Grove/Del Monte Avenue exit off of southbound Highway 1. There are two other Del Monte exits prior to this one that are incorrect. Follow Del Monte for approximately one and a half miles. Turn right into the Fisherman's Wharf and the Historic Park parking lot.
From Carmel and points south: take the Munras Street exit off of northbound Highway 1. Continue south on Munras which eventually becomes Abrego Street. Continue on Abrego which eventually becomes Washington Street. Follow Washington Street until it ends at the Fisherman’s Wharf parking lot.
From Los Angeles and points east: take Highway 68 westbound from Salinas to Highway 1. Merge into the left lane to head toward Monterey. Take the Fremont Street exit and proceed to the third signal. Turn right onto Abrego Street which shortly becomes Washington Street. Follow Washington Street to the Fisherman’s Wharf parking lot.

Brochures

News and Events

Upcoming Events All Events for Monterey State Historic Park

Passes Information

This park accepts the following passes:

List of all California State Park Passes

Activities and Facilities

EV Information

E-Bike Locations
EV Charger Locations

Other Facilities

Drinking Water Available

Day-Use Activities & Facilities

Historical/Cultural Site

Picnic Areas

Env. Learning/Visitor Center

Exhibits and Programs

Guided Tours

Interpretive Exhibits

Museums

Family Programs

Winter Wanderers Day Camp 2026 is now available for booking!

"Winter Wanderers” is a day camp for students grades 3-5, located in the heart of Monterey. This unique winter program will have campers exploring the rich cultural history and the natural areas throughout Monterey State Historic Park and beyond. Campers will engage in seasonal crafts, activities and walking field trips throughout downtown Monterey. Thanks to support from the California State Parks Adventure Pass Program, this camp is FREE for 4th grade students and includes a low rate of $80 for 3rd and 5th graders.

3-day session: January 2-4

Time: 9:00am-4:00pm

LINK

Christmas in the Adobes

Monterey State Historic Park Association (MSHPA) and California State Parks present the 41st Annual Christmas in the Adobes. Return to the days of Alta California during Monterey’s premier holiday event. This evening event features over 20 of Monterey’s historic adobes adorned in holiday décor, featuring festive music, entertainment, and stories of Monterey’s earliest buildings.

This charitable annual fundraiser for Monterey State Historic Park raises funds for the State Park’s educational history programs for elementary students, as well as for the restoration of the historic First Theatre. The State Parks buildings are joined by over a dozen community partner buildings – some of which are only open to the public during this event.

Tickets are on sale now in the Pacific House Museum, Custom House Store, and at www.mshpa.org.

About Monterey State Historic Park

One of California's most historic cities, Monterey served as California's capital under Spanish, Mexican and U.S. military rule.
The U.S. flag was first officially raised in California here on July 7, 1846, bringing 600,000 square miles of land to the United States.

Monterey State Historic Park is a collection of significant historic houses and buildings interspersed throughout Old Monterey. Hour long guided history tours are led regularly; tour information and tour tickets may be obtained at the Custom House (adjacent to Old Fisherman's Wharf). Our history tours are a great way to start your discovery of Monterey. See Tour Information for the current schedule.

Step into the past on the “Monterey Walking Path of History” and view the site where Spanish explorers first landed in Monterey in 1602. See one of the nation’s last remaining whalebone sidewalks. Walk the same streets that famed author Robert Louis Stevenson walked in 1879. Explore this two-mile path and discover some of California’s most historic homes, buildings and beautiful gardens along the way. A self-guided mobile phone tour is available for this more "in-depth" experience. The tour is free, but does use phone minutes. Brochures are available at the Custom House or Pacific House museums.

/pages/575/images/Monterey State Historic Park - Pacific House Museum.jpg Monterey’s Path of History can be entered at any point. Just follow the yellow-tiled markers and discover Monterey State Historic Park, an area that preserves and interprets places and objects of statewide historic significance. Twelve buildings, including the Custom House, the oldest government building in California, and several residences, are all part of Monterey’s 55 Path of History sites.

For more information, call the Pacific House Museum at (831) 649-2907, located at 20 Custom House Plaza, adjacent to the Fisherman's Wharf.

Please visit our non-profit Cooperating Association's (Friends Group) Website: Monterey State Historic Park Association .
Your membership helps suppors educational programs and preservation efforts throughout the park. All profits from Cooperating Association Museum Stores stay in Monterey!

Historic House Tours Available

Tours take place Friday-Saturday at 10:00am and 3:30pm at the Stevenson House and 11:30am and 2:00pm at the Larkin House.

You can meet the Guide out front of each building shortly before the tour time. Each tour has a capacity of 10 guests on a first come first served basis.

The Stevenson House is an 1840s adobe where famous author Robert Louis Stevenson resided in late 1879. Today the house is filled with artifacts from the author's life as well as local artwork.

The Larkin House was the 1830s home of American businessman and diplomat, Thomas Oliver Larkin. The house doubled as the American Consulate in the 1840s. Today the house is furnished with Larkin family furniture and art much as it was during the residency of Thomas' granddaughter, Alice Larkin Toulmin.