Old Monterey Foundation continues to team up with noted Monterey Bay historian and author, Tim Thomas, to offer outstanding “Lower Presidio Historic Park Walking Tours” on the third Saturday of every month from 10:00 a.m. – Noon. Old Monterey Foundation recently installed a monument sign on Pacific Street to make it even easier to find the park.

The next walking tour will be held on Saturday, July 15, 2017:  “Lower Presidio Historic Park Walking Tour: The Buffalo Soldiers.

In 1901, the post was reopened by the Army as a cavalry and artillery garrison, and among its first units was the legendary 9th Cavalry, the “Buffalo Soldiers,” who were African-Americans. A little-known contribution of the Buffalo Soldiers involved eight troops of the 9th Cavalry Regiment and one company of the 24th Infantry Regiment who served in California’s Sierra Nevada as some of the first national park rangers. In 1899, Buffalo Soldiers from Company H, 24th Infantry Regiment briefly served in Yosemite National Park, Sequoia National Park, and General Grant (Kings Canyon) National Parks.

Tours meet in front of the City of Monterey’s Presidio of Monterey Museum, 113 Corporal Ewing, Building #113. From Monterey, take Pacific Street past the Monterey Conference Center and the First Theater to the end of Pacific where it forks, take the left fork;, turn left onto Artillery Road, turn right on Corporal Ewing Road and follow it a short way to the Presidio of Monterey Museum in the center of the Park against the hill; from Pacific Grove, take Lighthouse Avenue in New Monterey, bear right to go onto Pacific Street and then go to Artillery Road, turn right, and then turn right on Corporal Ewing Road and follow it to the Presidio of Monterey Museum.

Advance reservations are required by contacting Tim Thomas at (831) 521-3304 or via email.  The tour is for ages 10-adult only and the cost is $20 for adults and $15 for kids (10-15 years).  Group rates are also available.

About Tim Thomas

About The Lower Presidio Historic Park

Kick off your 4^th of July holiday weekend fun at this free family-friendly event! Old Monterey Foundation will hold a Picnic in the Park – Lower Presidio Historic Park on Saturday, July 1, 2017 from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Bring your friends and family to this “FUNdraiser” and enjoy great food, live entertainment, historic reenactments, walking tours, costume contests, scavenger hunt, prizes and much more. Enjoy spectacular views of the beautiful Monterey Bay, Old Fisherman’s Wharf and the Monterey Harbor at this park that is hidden in plain view.  See the “before”, which is now and what we envision the “after” to be! Old Monterey Foundation is raising funds to develop trails and interpretive sign for all the monuments to enhance and restore this park which is considered “The Most Historically Significant Site on the West Coast”.

“Picnic in the Park” at Lower Presidio Historic Park will feature:

• Delicious food for your picnic — from hamburgers to tacos, seafood to sweet treats – available from several visiting Food Trucks. This family friendly picnic features diverse ethnic and American cuisines from your favorite Monterey Bay vendors including: Taste of Mexico, Caesars Etc., Indian Gourmet, Poke Lab, and other sweet treats and brews, including wine and beer.
• Live Musical Entertainment with Derek Bodkin & the Hovering Breadcat Ensemble featuring folk, rock and seafaring music
• DeFranco Dance Project, a local youth dance troupe
• Ragamuffin Musical Theatre Company of Pacific Grove
• Argentinian Privateer Hippolyte Bouchard (regarded by his victims as a pirate) and his loyal crew will reenact the capture of the Presidio of Monterey (El Castillo) in 1818.
• Kids and adults are welcome to dress as pirates and be part of the reenactment
• Costume contests with prizes for best dressed pirate-both kids and adult- there will be lots of pirates booty!
• Photo Ops with pirates and historic reenactors
• Scavenger Hunt with Prizes
• Face painting for the kids
• Be sure to bring your lawn chairs and blankets to enjoy the day!
• Visit the Presidio of Monterey Museum, also located on the site and operated by the City of Monterey, an excellent place to view exhibits, artifacts, and videos that lead visitors through Monterey’s various stages of military development from the indigenous period which highlights the area’s native populations; through the Spanish and Mexican periods; and up to present day.
• Free Lower Presidio Historic Park Walking Tours with historian Tim Thomas at 12:30 pm, 1:30 pm and 2:30 pm. Tim will share why Lower Presidio Historic Park is considered by many professional historians as “The Most Historically Significant Site on the West Coast”.
• Walk the trails and see the planned interpretive historic signs and trails
• Visit the restored Saint Serra statue
• Learn more about Old Monterey’s Foundation’s (a 501(c)3 non-profit) Lower Presidio Historic Park Project – and how to get involved and become a Friend of the Lower Presidio.

Map and Directions

For more information call (831) 346-3030 or email piratesinthepark@gmail.com.

Thank you to our valued media sponsors:   KSBW 8 NBC, Central Coast ABC and Estrella TV Costa Central. Also, a big thank you to the City of Monterey, Monterey County Vintners & Growers Association and Peter B’s Brewpub.

Derek Bodkin and the Hovering Breadcat Folk Ensemble

Derek Bodkin and the “Hovering Breadcat Folk Ensemble” is a wonderful experience of folk rock grooves and deeply insightful lyrics. Derek Bodkin’s eclectic musical background and performance experience has made him a sought-after artist in venues, festivals and events across the western United States.

DiFranco Dance Project

The DiFranco DanceProject, a local youth group, presents a lively, colorful, culturally diverse dance programs by dancers ranging in age from 8 to 18 years, representing Americana, New Orleans Jazz, Afro–Samba of Bahia and Afro–Cuban Fusion and even a unique blend of Afro–Celtic Dance. The dancers of the DiFranco DanceProject, are students of Dianne Lyle’s Afro-Latin Jazz Dance classes, sponsored by the City Pacific Grove Recreation Department. Ragamuffin Musical Theatre Company of Pacific Grove will join the dancers, offering a medley of songs from our upcoming production of ‘Singin’ In The Rain, Jr.’.

Bouchard and His Merry Crew

To tell the fascinating story of Bouchard and his crew, there will be historic living history characters who will tell stories with audience participation.  Come learn more about Argentine Hippolyte Bouchard’s raid in 1818 when he attacked the City of Monterey, the only land and sea battle ever to occur on the West Coast of the United States. Maria Antoni Pico’s fascinating recollection about this event will be shared with attendees.

About Tim Thomas

About Lower Presidio Historic Park