Monterey Public Library & Museums Host Events to Honor State History
This fall marks 175 years since California became a state, and Colton Hall—the birthplace of California’s Constitution—is at the heart of the celebration. Monterey Public Library and Museums invite the public to a series of special events honoring the state’s history and Monterey’s central role in it.
Live Constitutional Convention Reenactments – October 5
Step back to 1849 when 48 delegates gathered inside Colton Hall to draft California’s first Constitution. Two live reenactments of the historic debates will take place on Sunday, October 5 at 12:00 p.m. and 2:30 p.m.
Seats for the 12:00 p.m. program are still available and free to the public. Attendees will experience the reenactments surrounded by original documents and artifacts, and even walk on the same floors where the delegates once stood.
Registration required: Monterey Public Library Events Calendar
Supreme Court Special Session – October 8
For the first time since 1959, the Supreme Court of California will return to Colton Hall to hold a Special Session on Wednesday, October 8, beginning at 9:00 a.m.
Priority seating will be reserved for student groups, but the public can watch a livestream at three locations:
- Monterey Public Library
- Monterey City Council Chambers
- Irvine Auditorium at Middlebury Institute of International Studies
Case details and schedules are available on the California Supreme Court website.
Evening Walking Tour – October 29
Explore Colton Hall and the Old Jail by lantern light on Wednesday, October 29 at 6:00 p.m. Join Library & Museums Director Brian Edwards for an evening tour that uncovers Monterey’s layered history—from notorious Old Jail cases to the many roles Colton Hall has played since its construction in 1849.
Registration required: Monterey Public Library Events Calendar
About Colton Hall & Old Jail
Built in 1849, Colton Hall served as a town hall, courthouse, police station, library, YMCA, and even a quarantine hospital during the Spanish Flu, before becoming a museum in 1949 to celebrate California’s centennial. The Old Jail, built in 1854, remained active until 1959 and was added to the Colton Hall museum site in 1960.
“California is a land of multiple stories and histories, and Monterey is at the center of our California story,” said Brian Edwards, Library and Museums Director for the City of Monterey. “Colton Hall is proud to celebrate 175 years of the state of California.”
As the oldest public library in California, Monterey Public Library continues to share stories and support community connection through diverse programs and resources.
Colton Hall Museum
570 Pacific Street, Monterey
More information: monterey.gov/museums
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