Doud House

Doud House was built by Francis Doud, an Irish-born American soldier who served in Florida during the Indian Campaigns, and in Mexico during the battles of Monterrey, Vera Cruz and Cerro Gordo. He was wounded there, and decorated for bravery with metal made from Mexican cannons. In 1849, Doud brought his wife, Anna Kenna Doud, and their son to San Francisco. In Monterey, he met up with his former commander, General Riley, who was then the military governor of California.

At Riley’s request, Doud took part in the arrangements for California’s Constitutional Convention in Monterey at Colton Hall then was entrusted with the safe conveyance of official convention documents to San Jose. He became a notable citizen of Monterey, a friend of wealthy property owner David Jacks, and of Robert Louis Stevenson during the writer’s brief stay in town. The two got along so well that Stevenson gave Doud a copy of his book on Edinburgh with a personal dedication.

Doud House is one of the best surviving examples of a local wooden house of the early American Period. (The original house on this site was probably pre-fabricated.) Doud began construction of the current house sometime in the 1850s, on land that he had owned since 1852. On October 10, 1868, the Doud House deed cleared title.  It has been recognized as a historic structure since 1917 when it appeared in “Historical Landmarks of Monterey California.” Monterey History & Art Association acquired the property in 1969; again, Maggie Downer stepped in to assist with its rehabilitation, on this occasion assisted by architect Francis Palms, AIA, and internationally known landscape architect Florence Yoch.

Doud House
177 Van Buren Street
Monterey, California
Latitude: 36.603794
Longitude: -121.896069
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