Renovations for Military Museum Underway | New Incentives, Surveys, Laws Preserve History Sesquicentennial Activities Heat Up This October

Year in Review
Renovations for Historic Military Museum Underway
     Work is underway to breathe new life into the former U.S. Army Museum located on the Presidio of Monterey.
     Housed in the Lower Presidio Historic Park, the museum is an important piece of the City’s overall plan to preserve the Historic Park, which is one of California’s most historic sites.
The museum exhibit, developed in conjunction with the Monterey State Historic Park and the Presidio, will explore the historic park’s military history from the late 18th century to present. Additionally, an oral history project focusing on life at the Presidio between 1914 and 1945 is in progress.
     Renovation efforts began this summer and we are looking forward to reopening the museum in late 2000. The City leased the 26-acre Lower Presidio Historic Park for public use and is utilizing the area’s resources to highlight Monterey’s historic origins.

Looking Ahead
New Incentives, Surveys, Laws Designed to Help Preserve History
We’ve spent time and resources in the past few years to study our historic properties and determine the best ways to preserve Monterey’s past.
This new year is the start of the action-oriented phase as the City begins to expand and implement programs targeted specifically for historic preservation.
Look for these new features to come online:
The Historic Preservation Ordinance will provide the City with guidelines for protecting historic buildings and properties. Some of these may include a two-tier historic designation process; revised standards for historic designation; a review process for buildings surveyed for historic significance; and the possible creation of historic districts in the City.
     The Historic Master Plan outlines a program for saving historic resources. It will also be a blueprint for coordinating schedules and activities in public historic buildings, allowing visitors and residents to experience a complete picture of Monterey’s history.
     In addition, the Plan outlines educational programs and ways to make Monterey’s rich history available to all school groups and residents. This includes opening the Lower Presidio Historic Park Museum and completing the Presidio Historic Master Plan. We’ve already received much public input on the Plan and we look forward to being able to refer to it for many years to come.
New incentive programs offer financial assistance to owners of historic properties. Some of the programs include Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) for repairs; commercial facade grants for maintenance and rehabilitation; and the Mills Act for reducing property tax.
     Surveys of local properties will identify potential historic properties and enable us to approach owners to explain incentives and determine if they would like to have historic zoning on their buildings. For example, a survey of Cannery Row will be finished this fall, and we have been working with area property owners regarding the findings.
A statewide historic preservation conference is coming to the City in April. Community members are encouraged to attend the conference, which will provide education and materials on historic preservation and showcase Monterey’s history as well.

Sesquicentennial Activities Heat Up This October
     Our year-long Sesquicentennial commemoration culminates in October with a parade, re-enactments of California’s Constitutional Convention and a public street dance.
     Join the fun as we mark the 150th anniversary of the California Convention, which was held in our very own Colton Hall in September and October 1849.
Highlights of upcoming events include:
     The exhibit “Shades of Monterey,” composed of photos donated by local community members, runs through November 15 at the Alvarado Gallery in the Monterey Conference Center.
     The Monterey Public Library, California’s first public library, will celebrate their 150th anniversary with a community party, a tour and special activities on October 1.
A parade featuring bands, community groups and historical re-enactors will take place in downtown Monterey on October 2.
     And on October 13 – the anniversary of the actual signing of the Constitution – we unveil a Sesquicentennial sculpture and plaques, hold the final re-enactment of the Constitutional Convention in Colton Hall, then kick up our heels at a historic dance concert and Fandango street dance in front of Colton Hall.
     For a schedule of events visit the Web page at www.monterey.org/150years, come by Colton Hall or call 646.5640.
     We look forward to your participation.

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