Larkin and Stevenson Houses
Monterey, CA

Monterey State Historic Park served as California's capital under Spanish, Mexican, and U.S. rule. The U.S. flag was officially raised in California here on July 7, 1846, bringing 600,000 square miles, including California, into the Union.

The Larkin and Stevenson House's are part of Monterey State Historic Park. The Larkin House, home to Thomas O. Larkin, a well known merchant, was the first home designed in the Monterey Colonial or Monterey style of architecture. The style combines architectural features characteristic of New England with Mexican features, such as adobe walls. The Stevenson House, built in 1840, was home to Robert Louis Stevenson who wrote articles for the local newspaper, The Californian, and worked on his writings to capture Old Monterey.

A conservation assessment program was conducted by Heritage Architecture & Planning in order to assist the California Department of Parks and Recreation in the interpretation, management, restoration, and repair of the two homes.