Monterey History and Maritime Museum

Ideas for a waterfront museum had been around since 1931, and the Monterey History & Art Association became involved in 1966. When former Association president Allen Knight passed away, his widow donated her late husband's extensive maritime collection to the group, which led to the creation of the Allen Knight Maritime Museum in 1971. The museum was originally housed in the basement of the Monterey Museum of Art on Calle Principle.

Then, in 1992, the collection was moved to its current location at Stanton Center. It preserves more than 50,000 artifacts, costumes and textiles, photographs, and historic papers related to seafaring, Monterey Harbor, and all things nautical. Most recently, the museum has been renamed the Monterey History and Maritime Museum.

Exhibits here include the 580 glass prisms of the historic Fresnel lens from the Point Sur Light Station. They are used to illuminate the Museum and its exhibit areas. There are also displays showing Rumsien/Ohlone Indians and Spanish explorers, the shipwreck USS Macon, Monterey's period as the sardine capital of the world, and the Hotel Del Monte, a popular destination of early tourism.

The Monterey History and Maritime Museum closed for renovations in 2010, but it is expected to reopen in the late fall of 2011 with a new "Tall Ships" lobby exhibit. Operating hours are from 10am to 5pm on Tuesday through Sunday; closed on Mondays and holidays. The Stanton Center address is 5 Custom House Plaza, Monterey, California 93940.