Custom House Plaza

Many people - including myself - consider Custom House Plaza the heart of Monterey. Not only did Monterey's modern history start here; it is also a perfect starting point to discover the town. To your left, it is only ten minutes to Cannery Row and to the Monterey Bay Aquarium, to your right, it is only five minutes to Alvarado Street. Fishermen's wharf is right here and so is the harbor. And it is here where the Coastal Trail meets the Path of History.

The Custom House is deeply connected with Californian and American history. It is the oldest government building on the West Coast and is California State Park landmark #1. Built in 1827 by the Mexican Government, it presided over Mexico's primary port of entry on the Alta California coast. Here, on July 71846, Commodore John Drake Sloat raised the American flag, claiming over 600,000 square miles of territory for the United States.

Inside the Custom House	Behind the Custom House

Right next to the Custom House is the Wharf with souvenier shops and restaurants. The wharf can also be your gate into the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, because all our whale watching trips start here.

Fishermen's Wharf	Monterey Harbor

The other significant building at Custom House Plaza is the Maritime Museum, featuring an extensive maritime collection.

Entrance to the Marine Museum	The signal flags read "MONTEREY MARITIME"

Soon, all these links will be activated and there will be much more here about all these places. Please come back in a week.

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