Monterey Colonial architecture

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Monterey Colonial style house at Rancho Petaluma Adobe AdobeNorthWingEdit2808.jpg
Monterey Colonial style house at Rancho Petaluma Adobe

Monterey Colonial is an architectural style developed in Alta California (today's US state of California when under Mexican rule). Although usually categorized as a sub-style of Spanish Colonial style, the Monterey style is native to the post-colonial Mexican era of Alta California. Creators of the Monterey style were mostly recent immigrants from New England states of the US, who brought familiar vernacular building styles and methods with them to California.

Contents

The style is characterized by two stories, continuous surrounding porches on both levels, and a hip roof, often created by adding a framed upper level over existing adobe walls on the lower level. The first known example of the style is the Larkin House in Monterey, California, built by Thomas O. Larkin in 1835. The largest example of the style is the Rancho Petaluma Adobe, begun by Mariano Vallejo in Petaluma, California in 1836.

Revivals of the style have been popular in the 20th century, substituting wood framing or brick for adobe. Other common variations use gable-end roofs and second-story-only covered porches. Monterey Colonial is one of the historical styles recognized (though not encouraged for new construction) by the architectural design guidelines of Santa Barbara, California. [1]

Examples

See also

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José Manuel Boronda, was the first ranchero settler in Carmel Valley, California. He and Vicente Blas Martínez were given the 6,625-acre (26.81 km2) Rancho Los Laureles Mexican land grant in present-day Monterey County, California on September 20, 1839, by Governor Juan Alvarado. Many of the Boronda historic sites still exist, including the Los Laureles Lodge, Carmel Valley Village, Road-Boronda Road Eucalyptus Tree Row, Manuel Boronda Adobe (1817), José Manuel Boronda Adobe, and the Jose Eusebio Boronda Adobe.

References

  1. Guidelines: El Pueblo Viejo Landmark District
  2. James Dillon (September 22, 1976), National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination: Larkin House (pdf), National Park Service and Accompanying four photos from 1958, 1968, and 1975  (32 KB)
  3. Vicente Martinez Adobe