Colton Hall Museum Monterey

The Colton Hall Museum located on Pacific Street in Monterey, CA, was initially built as a place to hold town meetings and public school; a jail was later was added to the building. Originally built in the 1840's by the Reverend Walter Colton, it served as the capital of Alta California and has been in continual use since completion. In addition to its initial uses, Colton Hall has also been used as the county court house, sheriff's office, and city police headquarters.

The museum is open daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., except for Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day; admission is free. The museum offers visitors a re-creation of the meeting room where California's fist constitution was drafted as well as other historical Monterey exhibits.

The City of Monterey restored the building 100 years later. Part of the restoration included preserving the meeting room to look as it did during the six week long California Constitutional Convention. The assembly hall on the second floor was where 48 delegates deliberated and finally agreed on California joining the Union as the 31st state in 1849.

Walking distance from several other museums, tours, restaurants and hotels, the museum is a drive from Cannery Row and the well known Monterrey Bay National Marine Sanctuary.