Skip to main content

Monterey History & Maritime Museum

Monterey History & Maritime Museum

The Maritime Museum tells the history of Monterey and the surrounding area, emphasizing its connection to the sea.

The Monterey History and Maritime Museum holds over 50,000 artifacts, costumes and textiles, photographs, and historic papers in the collection. The 580 glass prisms of the historic Fresnel lens from the Point Sur Light Station illuminate the Museum and its exhibit areas, from the Rumsien/Ohlone Indians and Spanish explorers, to the area shipwreck USS Macon and military presence, to Monterey’s era as the sardine capital of the world, and the Hotel Del Monte, fabled destination of tourism’s early days.

Help us tell the story of America.

For over 75 years, American Heritage has chronicled our nation's history like no other publication. Please support our trusted, non-partisan historical writing and the volunteers that sustain it by donating today. We rely on contributions from readers like you to survive.
Donate