The book The Monterey Mesa: Oldest Neighborhood in California provides the public with a unique insight into the development of the lower half of what is locally recognized as the Alta Mesa neighborhood (The Monterey Mesa).  The Mesa is located southwest of Lake El Estero and encompasses the following Streets -- Via Mirada, Mesa Road, El Dorado and Boronda Lane.  The Monterey Mesa contains a collection of essays which focuses on the Mesa's physical geography, families, art and architecture.

The Editor's introduction describes,

"The life of Spanish-era Monterey (1790-1822) was centered in the Presidio and on the nearby Mesa. During the Mexican era (1822-1846), as well as under American rule, the town developed to the west of these earliest buildings. The three-tiered rise above El Estero known as the Mesa is featured in many early depictions of Monterey. Graced by stone and adobe buildings, it appears in countless paintings, drawings and photographs over nearly two centuries."

The City of Monterey formed the Historic Preservation Commission to steward the City's historic resources. Each year the Commission provides public education about our existing and potential future historic resources.  The editor, Dr. Julianne Burton-Carvajal, along with Thomas Brown, Edna Kimbro, Frances Grate, and Stephen Hauk, who are are experts in their field, have provided a unique insight into the development of the Monterey Mesa.  The Commission recognized the work as an outstanding publication documenting the history of Monterey's oldest residential neighborhood. This is the first time that research on the families, local builder J.C. Anthony, the landscape, and artists has been documented.  The City is looking forward to finding out more about this neighborhood and the people who shaped it as more information will be revealed by readers who are excited about the book's content.