Casa del Oro, Monterey

The Joseph Boston Store, often referred to as Casa del Oro (House of Gold), was among the earliest general stores in the Monterey region. Constructed around 1845 using limestone and adobe, this two-story building was the work of Thomas O. Larkin, then the American Consul to Alta California. Around 1849, Joseph Boston took over the building, setting up a shop that sold a diverse range of items, from silverware and pans to walnuts and soap.

A notable feature of this store was Monterey's first safe, introduced by Boston. In the absence of banks, business owners like Boston had to secure their earnings, and his store's safe became a secure spot for miners to store their gold, likely leading to its nickname "Casa del Oro" or "House of Gold." Remarkably, the safe, as well as Boston's original desk, remain in the store to this day.

Monterey's status as a key seaport facilitated international trade, and Boston's store was a hub for this, dealing with various countries and attracting Russian sea captains, among others.

Presently, the store functions under the management of the Historic Garden League, a non-profit organization. It sells items reminiscent of the 1850s, including children鈥檚 toys, housewares, and candy, with a mix of replicas and authentic antiques. Adjacent to it is the Picket Fence Garden Store, also run by the League. Sales from these stores contribute to the enhancement of Monterey's historical gardens.

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Sight Name: Casa del Oro
Sight Location: Monterey, USA (See walking tours in Monterey)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Monterey State Historic Park Walk

Walking Tours in Monterey, California

Create Your Own Walk in Monterey

Creating your own self-guided walk in Monterey is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.

Monterey Introduction Walking Tour

Monterey is one of California's oldest cities, having been settled since 1770. The Spanish and Mexican governments both used the city as a capital for Alta California. Monterey offered many important firsts for California during this era, including a newspaper and printing press, public school, library, and theater.

This city was the location for the first constitutional convention in... view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.2 Km or 2 Miles

Cannery Row Walking Tour

Cannery Row 鈥� the waterfront street in Monterey, California 鈥� was once home to a number of sardine canning factories, the last of which closed down in 1973. The former nickname for Ocean View Avenue became the street's official name in January 1958 to honor John Steinbeck and his famous eponymous novel. In the novel's opening sentence, Steinbeck described Cannery Row as "a poem,... view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.8 Km or 1.1 Miles

Monterey State Historic Park Walk

Monterey State Historic Park is a National Landmark and a part of the Monterey Old Town Historic District. Found on the grounds here are a group of significant old-time houses that once made up California's earliest capital and were the site of the state's first constitutional convention. Today these buildings retain their rich heritage, preserving an important part of Californian as... view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.9 Km or 1.2 Miles

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