Monterey State Historic Park
The Park is currently OPEN.
Please check the hours of operation.Fall Camp Registration Now Open
"Autumn Explorers” is a day camp for students grades 3-5, located in the heart of Monterey. This unique autumn 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.
DATES: October 7-11
Contact us at (831) 717-8125 or mshpschools@parks.ca.gov for more information.
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 musems.
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 Now Available
We are happy to announce that guided tours of the Larkin House and Robert Louis Stevenson House are now 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.
Tickets are $10 per adult and free for those under 18. Tickets will be available at the Stevenson and Larkin houses 15 minutes prior to the start of the tour. Each tour has a capacity of 8 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.
Professional Photography
Professional photographers wishing to use park settings for publication for either film or still photographs must obtain a permit from the California Film Commission at www.film.ca.gov.
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