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Showcases exhibits that revolve around Monterey's history as a port, and the history of both seafaring and commercial fishing, from the whaling era to the present day.
Stanton Center, which houses the Monterey History and Art Museum, is a fine arts and history museum operated and managed by the Monterey History and Art Association (MHA), located on the Custom House Plaza, adjacent to the Old Customhouse Museum and the Pacific House Museum in Monterey, California. It sits directly on top of the eastern end of the Lighthouse Tunnel. From 1992 to 2016, it functioned as the Maritime Museum of Monterey, and from 2016 to 2022 it was the Salvador Dali Museum. Those expositions have been removed, but some of their works remain. Current permanent exhibits feature works by renowned local artists Jo Mora, Ferdinand Burgdorff, E. Charlton Fortune, Paul Whitman, and Carmel Art Institute cofounder and Carmel Art Association president Armin Hansen. Other exhibits explore facets of local history, i.e. the Rumsen people, the fishing industry and author John Steinbeck.
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Offers detailed displays on local history and Native American life.
Oldest government building in California and first designated California Historical Landmark. First floor is a small museum and gift shop.
Don't miss the whalebone sidewalk. Whalebone was once a common material for sidewalks in seaside towns; it is very likely this is the last one of its kind.
Bruce Ariss Wharf Theater
Shows often include local interpretations of hit musicals.
This park is the historic downtown area known as Old Monterey, containing a number of historic buildings and gardens. Most of the buildings are from the first half of the 19th century, and most of the historic gardens are about a century old. Start at Custom House Plaza, in downtown Monterey, near the Old Fisherman's Wharf, and look for the yellow plaques that mark the Monterey Walking Path of History to take in some of the town's most intriguing buildings. Informational signs are posted at each stop. Maps and tour information are available at the Pacific House and the Cooper Molera store. Wheelchair-accessible restrooms are available near the Central Plaza in the Casa del Oro Garden and in the Cooper Molera courtyard.
This refurbished theatre offers diverse, family-friendly shows centering around the themes of classic cinema and musical theater. It's worth a trip just to see the ornate interior of the theater.