Dali17 Museum opens with a splash at Stanton Center.

Dali17 has finally arrived. 

In a soft opening last night with a standing-room-only crowd, the Stanton Center is now officially open to public after being renovated for several months, and is also the permanent home to the second-largest collection of Salvador Dali art in North America. 

Founded by Dmitry Piterman, a real estate magnate and former Spanish soccer club owner who now resides in Pebble Beach, the museum comes after a partnership with the Monterey History and Art Association that hopes to revitalize not only the Stanton Center, but Custom House Plaza.

The interior of building has been given slick makeover, with gray paint accented by black trim, and the more than 500 pieces of art are subtly illuminated with newly installed lighting. 

The work in the museum is almost entirely lithographs done by Dali, who lived in Monterey and Pebble Beach for several stretches from 1941-1948.

It also includes blown-up photographs of Dali during his famous surrealistic party at Hotel Del Monte in 1941, taken by then Pebble Beach Co. photographer Julian Graham, and is accompanied by text from Barbara Briggs-Anderson, whose e-book "A Surrealistic Night in an Enchanted Forest" describes the party and its preparations. 

As guests munched on bites from Aqua Terra, Crepes of Brittany and Carousel Candies, and sipped wine from Folktale Winery, Piterman took to the microphone.

"This project has been almost two years in the making," he said. "The last two weeks, we've been working almost 15 hours a day." 

Piterman noted that his collection has previously only been seen for relatively brief periods in Spain and Belgium, and was thrilled to finally have it in what he says is its permanent home. 

"To have it in Monterey, this is a special place," he said. "[Dali] chose Monterey for a reason. I'm sure he chose it for the coastline, the culture and I'm sure he chose it for the people was well."

After his speech, guests were allowed to matriculate into the exhibits, which were striking for both their imagery and breadth. 

Signs were also posted throughout reading: WARNING: Graphic content throughout this museum. 

It felt impossible to absorb all the art in one viewing, and the museum will definitely be a place—like the Aquarium—where one would take visiting family or friends for an exceptional taste of the Monterey Peninsula. 

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The museum opened today at 10am, and its hours are 10am-7pm Fri-Sat, 10am-5pm Sun-Thu. Prices are $20/general admission; $16/student, military and ages 65+ (all w/id required); $10/ages 6-17; free/ages 5 and under with adult admission.