Properties of Monterey History & Art Association

Monterey History & Art Association owns six historic buildings in Monterey. By following the links below, you can learn more about each of them.

The Maritime Museum of Monterey can trace its origins as far back as 1931, when Amelie Elkinton, then curator of the Custom House, dreamed of a waterfront maritime museum. Now it is one of the most popular attractions in Old Monterey, overlooking Custom House Plaza opposite Pacific House, the museum of Monterey State Historic Park.

Casa Serrano is classic Monterey, in its story and its design. It was the home of Monterey’s second alcade (mayor) under American rule, Don Florencio Serrano, who emigrated from Spain via Mexico City in the 1830s. He found employment in the town as a teacher and a clerk in various offices, and built the house named for him in 1846, using it to open Monterey’s first school.

The Perry-Downer House is named for two important Monterey residents. One of Monterey’s great historic homes, it was built in 1860 by a whaling captain, Manuel Perry, and his wife, Mary de Mello Silva of Boston. It was rescued from threatened destruction during urban renewal projects in the 1970s by Maggie and Webster Downer, who subsequently arranged for MHAA to house its fascinating Costume Gallery in its spacious rooms.

Adjacent to the Perry-Downer House, the Carriage House was once a lowly garage. The Downers converted it to a garden shop and added a breathtaking stained-glass ceiling; MHAA has added a catering-quality kitchen, and now rents it for private and public events. Its gardens are a gentle reminder of the leisurely days of the past.

The Mayo Hayes O’Donnell Library, home to a wonderful collection of books concerning California history, was originally the Saint James Episcopal Church, built by the Reverend McGowan in 1876. It originally stood at the corner of Franklin and High Streets, but it was moved to its location on Van Buren Street in 1970 to avoid demolition during urban renewal.

The Doud House, built by Francis Doud, an Irish-born American soldier, is a special reminder of its era. When he arrived in California, Doud met up with his old commanding officer, who was the acting governor of Alta California; Doud was soon hired to help in the arrangements for California’s Constitutional Convention, held at Colton Hall in Monterey in 1849.

The Fremont House, a simple two-story adobe, is typical of the Mexican period. It is associated with John C. Fremont, “The Pathfinder.” Its historic links to Fremont and his band of topographers who came to Monterey in July of 1846 are now doubted, but its age and construction place it firmly within the realm of Monterey’s most important buildings.