Colton Hall

Colton Hall with Christmas decorations

Colton Hall, located in Monterey, California, was built in the 1840s by Walter Colton, who came to Monterey as a chaplain on Commodore Stockton's vessel and remained to become Monterey's first alcalde (mayor) in the American Period.

Colton Hall was originally a public school and government meeting place. It also hosted California's first constitutional convention in 1849.^[1] California’s military governor called for a constitutional convention, to be held in Monterey’s Colton Hall. On September 1, delegates from ten districts arrived in Monterey to debate and write California’s first constitution. The California Constitution was ratified on October 13, voted on in November that year and sent to Congress in January 1850. San Jose was chosen as the seat for the first Legislature. (The official definition of a State Capital is where the Legislature sits; therefore Monterey never was the State Capitol.)^[2]

The Native Sons of the Golden West were instrumental in 1903 in securing a legislative appropriation for necessary repairs on Colton Hall.^[3] The most important public office building in Monterey County still in continuous use, Colton Hall has over the years housed Monterey's City Hall, a public school, the county court house, the sheriff's office, and Monterey's city police headquarters. Today the main floor still holds some city offices (including the city Planning Division and Building Safety Division), while the second floor is a museum.

36°35′52″N 121°53′52″W / 36.5977379°N 121.8977318°W / 36.5977379; -121.8977318^[4]

References

1. ^ "California - Landmarks and Points of Interest". Smithsonian.com. 2007-11-06. http://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/destination-hunter/california-landmarks-points-of-interest.html. Retrieved 2008-05-18. ^{[dead link]}
2. ^ "City of Monterey MUSEUMS". Monterey City. http://www.monterey.org/museum/history.html. Retrieved 2008-06-03. 
3. ^ Historic Spots in California, Mildred Brooke Hoover
4. ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Colton Hall

External links

• Colton Hall Museum