Monterey Public Library
625 Pacific St., Monterey
(831) 646-3933, monterey.gov/library
Libraries weren’t big in the Old West, but Monterey was an exception. Founded by the Monterey Library Association in 1849, Monterey Public Library was the first public library in California, and its purpose, according to an association document from 1853, was to “afford amusement, entertainment, and profit to a large class of people who, without its aid, would waste their time in the frivolities and questionable pastimes so prevalent in our state.” One can read between the lines as to what those “questionable pastimes” were, but suffice to say they probably didn’t include reading. Now, 175 years later, the library remains a vital part of the city’s and region’s fabric: It’s a place to check out books, sure, but it’s also a popular spot for students to do homework after school, or for anyone to use the internet. And for those who want to really learn about the Old West, the library’s California History Room is a gold mine of archival materials.
