We have a wealth of artistic beauty and historical information to share with our children here in Monterey County. The next time your family is looking for a cultural fix, pick one of these museums for an afternoon of fun.
Colton Hall • Pacific Street between Madison and Jefferson Streets, Monterey, CA 93940 • 831-646-5648
Built to serve as a public school and town meeting hall, Colton Hall now offers visitors a re-creation of the meeting room where California's first Constitution was drafted in October 1849. Colton Hall is small but interesting and a must for history buffs as well as children in grade school as they begin to learn the history of the state.
Dali 17 Museum • 5 Custom House Plaza, Monterey State Historic Park, Monterey, CA • 831-372-2608 • www.dali17.com
The Museum of Monterey underwent a complete change as the artwork originally housed in the museum was replaced with over 300 original works of Salvador Dali. The majority of the original collection went to San Francisco’s Maritime Museum.
Monterey was the only place in the US where Dali lived and painted. He spent summers in Carmel and had close ties to Monterey County as a result. Dali17 is a permanent exhibition of original etchings, mixed media, lithographs, and rare sculptures by one of the twentieth century’s most celebrated artists.
Monterey County Youth Museum • 425 Washington Street, Monterey, CA 93940 • 831-649-6444 • www.mymuseum.org/us/
The museum was developed in 1997 to provide an environment where both children and adults learn together through experience. The facility is surrounded by the Monterey Sports Center and Dennis the Menace Park. MY Museum is an 8,500 square foot museum with a variety of hands-on exhibits. A variety of special classes and activities are included with admission including Make-n-Take, Baby Jam, My Music Series, and more. $2 Tuesday offers reduced admission days on the first Tuesday of every month to all Monterey County residents.
Monterey Museum of Art • 559 Pacific St, Monterey, CA 93940 • 831-372-5477 • http://www.montereyart.org
The Monterey Museum of Art is a small museum with a helpful staff and a good collection of California artists. Keep an eye out for Family Days when the Museum offers free admission and activities that support current exhibits. Two-hour free street parking is available on Pacific Street.
Monterey Museum of Art–La Mirada • 720 Via Mirada, Monterey, CA 93940 • 831-372-3689 • http://www.montereyart.org
This historic estate features contemporary galleries and a beautiful rose garden. Located in one of Monterey’s oldest neighborhoods, MMA La Mirada is open only for special Museum events and programs.
National Steinbeck Center • One Main Street, Salinas, CA 93901 • 831-775-4721 • www.steinbeck.org
Dedicated to the work of Salinas native, John Steinbeck, the National Steinbeck Center has film clips, readings from books, plays, information and artifacts from his personal life and much more. Excellent docents are a wealth of information, and the museum store is a great place for gifts for the Steinbeck fan in your life. Information on special events at the museum as well as educational resources for parents and educators is available on the Center website.
Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History • 165 Forest Avenue, Pacific Grove, CA 39350 • 831-648-5716 •
The museum opened in 1883 making it one of the oldest natural history museums in the country. The museum showcases the birds and wildlife, plants, and geology of the California Central Coast. The website has a wealth of information about local nature activities for each season of the year including a large amount of information on monarch butterflies. The last Saturday of the month is Science Saturday with free admission and special activities for children.
Pacific House Museum • 10 Custom House Plaza, Monterey State Historic Park, Monterey, CA • 831-649-7118 • https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=961
The Pacific House was built in 1847 during the US occupation of California. The adobe has been used as storage for the US Army, a hotel, a courthouse, a tavern, and as offices. The museum tells the story of Monterey when it was the capital of Spanish and Mexican California. The Monterey Museum of the American Indian features beautiful baskets, pottery, and other Native American artifacts.
Presidio Museum of Monterey • Corporal Ewing Road, Building 113, Monterey, CA 93944 • 831-646-3456 • http://monterey.org/museums/City-Museums/Presidio-of-Monterey-Museum
The Presidio of Monterey Museum offers exhibits of Monterey's various stages of military development. The majority of the museum is dedicated to the history of the Presidio as a training base.