Old Monterey Foundation continues to team up with noted Monterey Bay historian and author, Tim Thomas, who offers outstanding “Lower Presidio Historic Park Walking Tours” on the third Saturday of every month from 10:00 AM – Noon.

The next walking tour will be held on Saturday, August 18, 2018: “Lower Presidio Historic Park Walking Tour: Focus on Saint Junipero Serra”.

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 kids are $15 (10-15 years). Group rates are also available.

About Tim Thomas

About the Lower Presidio Historic Park

Old Monterey Foundation continues its popular season of free lecture events as part of its 2018 Lecture Series sponsored by The Marcia F. Devoe Fund of the Community Foundation for Monterey County with its third event.

This lecture by Christine Fernández will focus on Angustias de la Guerra Ord (1815-1890), a prominent Californio woman who is considered by scholars today as the first woman historian of Hispanic California. Born as a subject of Spain to two of the most affluent and powerful Californio families, she lived through California’s transition from Spanish-Mexican rule, and statehood. Her testimonio, Occurrences in Hispanic California (1878) reveals the complexities of Californio life and is critical to our current understanding of the local history of Monterey and Santa Barbara, signaling her close ties to notable military leaders of the Mexican Army and the U.S. Army, and in particular, the Ord family. She was witness to the Battle of Monterey and the role of Californios in defending Monterey from Bouchard’s invasion.  Moreover, her testimonio and journal present shifting narrative discourses regarding the politics of language, culture, and race/ethnicity during California’s transition to statehood.

Bill Wojtkowski, President of the Old Monterey Foundation Board of Directors, will present a short overview of recent improvements accomplished and planned for the Lower Presidio Historic Park.

Thursday, August 23, 2018
6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Irvine Auditorium, McCone Building, MIIS; 499 Pierce Street, Monterey
Free Admission – Reception to follow.

For more information about Old Monterey Foundation, call (831) 346-3030 .

The lectures are very popular so attendees are urged to come early to secure a seat.

This lecture is suitable for ages 9 and up.

About Christine Fernández

Christine Fernández is an Assistant Professor of Spanish language and Latin American Literature and Culture at CSU Monterey Bay, where she teaches in the School of World Languages and Cultures. Her teaching and research interests include: Latin American / U.S. Latino literature and film, women writers, gender studies, and digital humanities. She earned her Ph.D. in Hispanic Languages & Literature from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and her past teaching appointments include Hamilton College, and the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York.

Old Monterey Foundation is pleased to continue its season of free events as part of the 2018 Lecture Series sponsored by The Marcia F. Devoe Fund of the Community Foundation for Monterey County.

Join National Park Service Ranger Alejandra Iraheta for an engaging lecture about the African American Buffalo Soldiers and their connection to both the Presidio of Monterey and Presidio of San Francisco, as well as their extraordinary contributions to our nation in a time of overt racism and segregation. Participants will learn about some of the more prominent Buffalo Soldiers including Charles Young and William H. Thompkins. In addition, we will discuss how the actions of the Buffalo Soldiers here in the West Coast helped facilitate many freedoms we enjoy today, including taking a hike in your national park!

Bill Wojtkowski, President of the Old Monterey Foundation Board of Directors, will present a short overview of improvements accomplished and planned for the Lower Presidio Historic Park.

Thursday, July 19, 2018
6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Irvine Auditorium, McCone Building, MIIS; 499 Pierce Street, Monterey
Free Admission – Reception to follow.

For more information about Old Monterey Foundation, call (831) 346-3030.

The lectures are very popular so attendees are urged to come early to secure a seat.

This lecture is suitable for ages 9 and up.

About Alejandra Iraheta

Alejandra Iraheta works as an Interpretive Park Ranger/Volunteer Coordinator for the National Park Service at the Presidio of San Francisco in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. She has been with the National Park Service since 2011 and has been leading Buffalo Soldier programs for the public since 2012. Alejandra holds a Bachelors’ degree in Ethnic Studies from Mills College and a Masters of Science in Resource Interpretation degree from Stephen F. Austin University. It was her passion for Ethnic Studies that led her to research and present interpretive programming on the Buffalo Soldiers. As a woman of color, Alejandra is an avid supporter for the advancement of communities of color and believes that stories like that of the Buffalo Soldiers are important as they illustrate the power of perseverance and hard work to inspire future generations.

With the weather warming, Old Monterey Foundation is resuming monthly Lower Presidio Historic Park Walking tours with noted Monterey Bay historian and author, Tim Thomas on the third Saturday of every month from 10:00am – Noon.

Old Monterey Foundation recently installed a monument sign on Pacific Street to make it even easier to find the park.

The next tour will be held Saturday, June 16, 2018 at 10:00am and will focus on the American/California period beginning in 1846. The American/California period includes the enactment of the first California Constitution in 1849 through the period when Fort Mervine was a coastal defense and cavalry post.

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 kids are $15 (10-15 years).  Group rates are also available.

About Tim Thomas

About the Lower Presidio Historic Park

The Battle of Monterey of 1818, a living-history re-enactment, will be held in Custom House Plaza Saturday, November 18 from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. Costumed early Spanish soldiers will defend the Custom House. The revolutionary Captain Bouchard will lead the charge as with cannons firing, his Tall Ship recreates the only land/sea battle on the West Coast, ever! The Argentinian privateer Bouchard’s attack is a revolutionary marker for the opening of California’s land and trade policies to the world with Mexico’s independence from the King of Spain.

Also featured in this year’s event will be the wise defense by Spanish Royal Governor Sola of his provincial capital of Alta California. Visitors will view the Spanish Empire’s flag taken down and the invaders hoisting the Argentine national flag. But Sola was able to return in a week and take back Monterey with no loss of local lives, The 1794 Royal Presidio Chapel, later to be known as San Carlos Cathedral, and its Heritage Center will both be open for visitors just one year short of the bicentennial of its survival of the burning of the Royal Presidio.

Mayor Clyde Roberson will open the day’s celebration at the Custom House. In 2016 he issued an official proclamation for the City Council declaring the year 2018 as the celebration of Bicentennial of the Battle of Monterey. It established Monterey’s Museum and Cultural Arts Commission as initiators of the celebration.

The Old Monterey Foundation is a partner for 2017 and other partnerships are being developed for the 2018 observances. November 18, 2017 will truly be a “pre-enactment” of the bicentennial celebration in 2018. The Tall Ship, “the Lady Washington” will be in the Monterey harbor as part of this year’s 2017 festivities. Educational events and re-enactments are being planned for 2018 exploring the 200th anniversary of this important event in local and U.S. history. Monterey has a unique set of historical buildings from the Spanish and the Mexican eras. The Battle of Monterey is the only battle in the war of independence of Spanish colonies from Spain to take place on the territory of what is now the United States of America. Monterey can be proud of its role as recorded in “The Burning of Monterey” by Peter Uhrowiczk and the “Patriot Pirate “ by Michael Melzer both available at the Monterey Public Library. Let’s celebrate!

For more information on how you may get involved, contact battleofmonterey@gmail.com.

Old Monterey Foundation continues to team up with noted Monterey Bay historian and author, Tim Thomas, who offers outstanding “Lower Presidio Historic Park Walking Tours” on the third Saturday of every month from 10:00 AM – Noon.

The next walking tour will be held on Saturday, October 21, 2017:   “Lower Presidio Historic Park Walking Tour: Focus on Saint Junipero Serra”.  Learn more about the history of Father Serra in Monterey County as well as the Serra statue at the park.

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 calling Tim Thomas at (831) 521-3304 or via email timsardine@yahoo.com.  The tour is for ages 10-adult only and the cost is $20 for adults and kids are $15 (10-15 years).  Group rates are also available.

About Tim Thomas

About the Lower Presidio Historic Park