Vaqueros, Cowboys & Ranch Life

Who are the real cowboys of Monterey County? That’s the question a new exhibit Vaqueros, Cowboys & Ranch Life, aims to answer through images of the profession. Presented by Monterey History and Art Association, the exhibit at the Stanton Center features drawings by Jo Mora from his books Californios and Trail Dust and Saddle Leather. The work of a vaquero is primarily carried out on a ranch or hacienda. In Spanish, “vaquero” describes a horse-mounted herder of cows and bulls. Since the arrival of the conquistadors, vaqueros have been known throughout northern Mexico and the southwestern United States, becoming part of the regional cowboy tradition. Mora was an Uruguayan-born American cowboy and artist who documented Monterey County in his work. The Stanton Center is located at 5 Custom House Plaza in Monterey; hours are noon-4pm Thursday-Monday and the exhibit is open for one year, until October of 2026.