Review: Monterey: Presidio, Pueblo and Port (The Making of America Series)

From its very first pages, Jim Conway’s Monterey: Presidio, Pueblo and Port demonstrates an impeccable scholarship on the subject that will undoubtedly prove to be an important contribution to our understanding of the history of Monterey, California.

According to Conway, the history of Monterey is more than just a categorization of its history into four periods: Native American, Spanish, Californian, and American, but rather that this picturesque coastal community developed as a result of its cultures stemming from the native peoples to its present-day inhabitants. . .

Today, people come to Monterey for vacations and experience the splendor of its natural surroundings. Conway explores how Monterey has reached this interval in its history as it has grown from Presidio to Pueblo to Puerto. It is a story that comes from real places and people where cultural conflict and historical tolerance played a part.

The book is organized in a concrete and logical way with the first chapter focusing on the natural history of Monterey and its original inhabitants, the Rumsien Oholone. According to Conway, “To understand Monterey it is important to start with its natural history, because no matter what man has strived to achieve, it is weather patterns and topography that ultimately shaped Monterey.” It was the Monterey natives who relied the most on native trees, grasses, and plants in their daily lives, as well as in the changing seasons. As noted, O’chons was the word for “seed times,” and these Native Americans measured time not by a calendar but by the natural events that made up their seasons, since they were considered part of nature.

Not much is known about these Native Americans, as their story was told by Euro-Americans, and as many of us know, historians have constantly debated among themselves how to differentiate between ultimate “facts” and “objective truth.” Although the Spanish were the first to keep written records of the natives, unfortunately, there seems to be an absence of the stories and interpretations of the losers in battle, the natives themselves.

From this interesting opening chapter, Conway proceeds to explore the contributions of Spanish colonists and missionaries, however, as he points out, prior to the arrival of these individuals, Monterey Bay was visited and promoted by Spanish explorers and fortune seekers. . Much ink is given about who these adventurers were and the role they played in Monterey history. An important figure we read about is that of Rodríguez Cabrillo and his expedition in 1542, and as we are told, it was his expedition that helped identify and map the California coast. Additionally, his discovery of the San Diego and Monterey Bays brought further exploration, eventually leading to the first European settlements in Alta California.

These first European settlers were soldiers and missionaries who had arrived with Gaspar de Portola and Father Junipero Serra whose main objective was to protect the political interests of Spain. As Conway states, Spain’s objectives were threefold: protection against foreign invasion; the mercantilist development of Alta California as an economic resource; and the Christianization of the “pagans” or natives. All of these objectives led to the construction of the presidio and a mission, although as mentioned, Monterey did not gain town status until 1795. Monterey was designated a port of entry on December 15, 1821, and this changed from being an outpost Spanish to an international port. It should be noted that for several years prior to this designation, Spanish law prohibited foreign ships from entering its ports, although smugglers often ignored the law.

Conway explores in depth the Mexican period from 1822 to 1846 and the Pueblo of Monterey, which was designated the official port of entry for Mexican California in 1831. As the author states: Monterey was not only the commercial center of Mexican California, but also the political center as Good.

The remainder of the book provides a comprehensive overview of the American period beginning before statehood and ending with the current community. We are shown how various groups such as the Chinese, Japanese, Portuguese, as well as Spanish and Mexican, have contributed to Monterey’s extraordinary history. How the fishing and canning industry played a huge role in shaping this quaint port city. And not to be omitted is Monterey’s military heritage which, even today, contributes greatly to its community. In terms of tourism, certainly Monterey’s first grand-dame hotel, the Hotel Del Monte can never be forgotten as its influence can still be felt today.

History should not simply be a regurgitation of past events with dates and names with very little explanation, omitting stories and anecdotes. Conway must have taken this into account, since his objectivity as a historian is quite evident. He presents the history of Monterey not only through his own perspective, but also through the eyes of the people and the environment they inhabited. It is this presentation that makes Monterey: Presidio, Pueblo and Port a book he will want to keep on his shelf.

Author: J.D. Conway

Publisher: Arcadia Publishing

ISBN: 0738524239