Pacific House Museum — Attraction in Monterey

One of the many buildings in historic, downtown Monterey that are part of the state park. The free museum explores the history of Monterey and the founding of California as a state. I found the first half the museum pretty interesting (on the west side) even though it could use an update. Don't miss the language activity where you can hear the local Indigenous language.

The east side of the building has an overview of the many houses in the park, a small exhibit about Californios, too. Upstairs is a Native American museum, however, while the basketry is stellar the majority of the objects on display are not from California.

Seems someone with a fondness of romantic Plains Indians collected most of the objects. Would be nice to see that updated, but, funding rules and there...

The Pacific House Museum is a hidden gem that offers a fascinating glimpse into California’s history. The well preserved adobe structure transported me back to the early days of Monterey’s development.

What I loved most about the museum was its well-curated exhibits, which showcase everything from the Native American cultures that first inhabited the region to Monterey’s role as California’s first capital. The displays are well organized, making it easy to follow the timeline of events and understand their...

The Pacific House museum does a credible job of telling the story of early Monterey, from the time before Spanish settlement through the time of heavy trading. The very best part of the museum, in my opinion, is the vast collection of Native tools, textiles and baskets on the second floor. I was the only one there, but the first floor wasn't terribly crowded either. If you're looking for something more to do than shop and eat, this place is worth a look. And it's...