Presidio of Monterey Museum, Monterey

The Museum of Monterey - Stanton Center, also known as the Monterey History & Maritime Museum, offers a fascinating glimpse into the history of Monterey and its surroundings, with a particular focus on its maritime connections. Admission is free, and the museum boasts an extensive collection of artifacts. Its permanent exhibitions cover various topics, including the tragic 1935 USS Macon disaster off Point Sur, the indigenous Ohlone and Rumsien tribes that once inhabited the region, the Spanish exploration of the California coast, and the thriving sardine industry in Monterey.

The museum's origins date back to 1971 when it was established as the Allen Knight Maritime Museum. Initially located in the basement of the Monterey Museum of Art, it primarily showcased the maritime-related collection of Allen Knight, who had a brief stint as a sailor in 1916 and had been collecting maritime artifacts and memorabilia throughout his life.

The idea for a new maritime museum was approved in 1982, but it took until 1991 to secure full funding. Construction on the current Maritime and History Museum, situated in Custom House Plaza, commenced on July 15, 1991, and the museum officially opened its doors on October 31, 1992. In 2016, the San Francisco Maritime National Park Association acquired the Allen Knight collection, adding to the museum's holdings.

The museum's exhibits guide visitors through Monterey's diverse military history, spanning from the indigenous era, which highlights the native populations in the region, to the Spanish and Mexican periods, and up to the present day. Given the significant role of the military in Monterey from 1902 to the present, the majority of the displays focus on the development of the Presidio as an army training base.