The adobe Custom House in Monterey State Historic Park, with red aloe flowers in front

History · Downtown Monterey

Old Monterey and Monterey State Historic Park

Adobes, gardens, and the Custom House from the years when Monterey was the capital of Spanish and Mexican California.

Photo: Jsweida, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Monterey served as the capital of Alta California under Spanish and then Mexican rule, and much of that history survives downtown. Monterey State Historic Park preserves historic adobes and gardens, including the Custom House on Custom House Plaza next to Fisherman's Wharf.

The Path of History, a self-guided walking route, connects the historic buildings through downtown.

Good to know

Start at Custom House Plaza and follow the Path of History markers.
Check the park site for which buildings and gardens are open on the day you visit.
Pair it with lunch on the wharf or on Alvarado Street.

For current hours, tickets, and conditions, check the official source: California State Parks.