Teachers:   The following photos show several Information Sites you will visit during your Self-Guided Study Tour of the Monterey/Carmel area. There are many excellent photos, so it may take a few seconds to download.

Accreditation: Fresno Pacific University is the only fully accredited, Christian liberal arts senior school in the southern part of California's great Central Valley. The School of Professional Studies, through its Center for Professional Development (CPD), offers a variety of independent study courses to help meet the ever-increasing demand for professional growth for K-12 educators. To provide flexibility and to better serve the needs of the school community, these courses are delivered using a combination of modalities: printed materials and texts, audiotapes, videotapes, CD-ROM, and on-line distance learning. These courses are not on-campus courses.

Inasmuch as travel is by the student's private car, the Self-Guided (Independent) study format permits the busy teacher/student to "self-determine" when to complete on-site visitation requirements. It also permits the student an opportunity to have family/friends share in both the "home" and "on-site" learning experiences.

Travel is by the teacher's private car, and teachers may enroll at any time during the year. Teachers have up to one year to complete all course requirements.

A weekend (or any two days) in the historic site area will allow the teacher/student time to complete On-Site Visitation requirements for each of the six Self-Guided (Independent) Study Courses offered by Bob and Elaine Kirchner. Off-site requirements may be completed at home, and the teacher has up to one year to complete all requirements.

   

The second stop on your study tour is Mission San Carlos Borromeo, better known as the Carmel Mission. It was the second mission founded, and it was Father Serra's favorite mission.  He lies buried in front of the Altar. The upper right photo is of the cemetery (Campo Santo). 2,364 Christian Indians and 14 Spaniards were interred in the cemetery between the years 1771 - 1833. Immediately above, is Mr. Downie's grave. Mr. Downie restored the Carmel Mission, and he worked on Mission San Juan Bautista, Mission Soledad, Mission San Antonio, and Mission San Buenaventura. Mrs. Downie lies at rest next to her husband.

    Pictured above are photos (Feb. 1978) of Sir Harry Downie and the instructor Bob Kirchner touring the Carmel Mission and, in Mr. Downie's office, discussing the settlement of Alta California and the Carmel Mission. Above, is a picture of the Royal Presidio Chapel. The very large present-day doors to the chapel were constructed by Mr. Downie. The first mission in Monterey was located on this site; however, on December 24th, 1771, the mission was transferred to Carmel. Father Serra made this transfer for three reasons: He felt (1) soil and (2) fresh water to be found in the Carmel area were better suited to raising crops. He also wanted (3) to remove the natives from the bad influence of the soldiers stationed at the presidio.

                          Sloat Monument, with its large granite eagle sculpture, commemorates Commodore John Drake Sloat's 1846 landing at Monterey and the subsequent annexation of California to the United States. It was dedicated in 1910 by the U. S. Government with the aid of the M. W. Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of the State of California. Indian Rock: The pitted granite boulder was apparently used by the local Indians in religious ceremonies. Although similar "rain rocks" have been found in other California Indian sites, the exact use in rituals is still unknown. Wooden Cross: This cross marks the burial site of Alexo Nino, the first non-Indian buried in California. Alexo Nino died aboard ship shortly before arriving in Monterey. He was a black free-man.

                At one time during California's Mexican era, the Monterey Custom House (1827) presided over Mexico's only port of entry on the Alta California coast. It was here that Commodore Sloat raised the American flag in July of 1846, claiming over 600,000 square miles of territory for the United States. A tax (often as high as 100%) was placed on goods brought into Monterey's Custom House for inspection and sale. Upper Left photo: Front view of the Custom House with several of the many flags which at one time or another were flown over Alta California. Upper right photo: An old bronze anchor, found in Monterey Bay, is displayed next to the Custom House. Above photo: A typical shipping crate used to ship breakable dishes and crockery.

                Top left photo: Another type of shipping container. Top right photo: Some of the items on display in the Custom House. Ship photo: This is a model of the ship Pilgrim, on which Richard Henry Dana sailed and wrote about in his book, "Two Years Before The Mast." The model is on display in the Custom House. The actual ship had a compliment of about 22 men. The ship was approximately two classrooms in length. During Dana's voyage, the crew sailed up and down the coast of Alta California purchasing and loading 40,000 cattle hides to be taken back to the East Coast.

                  The First Brick House in California (1847) briefly inhabited by its builder, Gallant Dickenson, represents the kiln-fired brick construction brought to California by settlers in the early American period. Upper right photo: The Old Whaling Station (1847) today boasts Monterey's only remaining whalebone sidewalk, a reminder of one of the town's most important industries from 1850-1900. Many weddings are held in the beautiful garden of the Old Whaling Station. Vertebrae photo: Whalebone (vertebrae) sidewalk. The vertebrae are "shaped" like diamonds. Originally, the sidewalk in front of the Royal Presidio Chapel was constructed of whalebone; however, the vertebrae were removed in the 1940's because they were a danger to women wearing high-heel shoes.
                Top left photo: Casa del Oro (House of Gold - 1845) was built by Thomas O. Larkin and used as a general store by 19th century businessmen David Jacks and Joseph Boston. Today the store is again open for business as the Boston Store. Thomas O. Larkin was appointed as the first American Consul in Monterey, and it was he who advised Commodore John Drake Sloate to take possession of Alta California in a peaceful manner. Top right photo: Casa del Oro (House of Gold) derived its name from the fact that it housed the only vault in Monterey, and gold prospectors would leave their gold in the vault. (The vault "safe," with its door open, can be seen in the photo.) Above photo: First Theater (1844) - Jack Swan's saloon and boarding house became the site of Monterey's first paid performance. The troopers of the Gold Coast have been presenting 19th century melodramas here since the 1930's. A wonderful evening can be had "booing and hissing" the evil villain, even today! A photo of Richard Boone (Have Gun Will Travel) hangs on the wall of the theater as a reminder that he once acted in the First Theater.

Top photo: One-room headquarters of Lt. William T. Sherman, later to become General Sherman of Civil War fame, were very simple. Lt. Sherman accompanied Colonel Mason, Military Commander in Monterey, on a tour of the gold fields during the early part of the gold rush and found numerous prospectors had recovered several pounds of gold. Upon his return to Monterey, Colonel Mason sent a caddy of placer gold and a report to President Polk verifying the gold discovery in California. On December 5, 1848, President Polk officially notified congress of the discovery. It was real! It was true! The president of the United States had said so! "The gold rush was on!" Interestingly, four young military officers assigned to duty in Monterey, were destined to become generals. Sherman, Ord, and Halleck were three of the officers. The fourth, Major Robert S. Garnett, is credited with having designed the Great Seal of the State of California which was presented to the state's Constitutional Convention in 1849 by Caleb Lyon. Unfortunately, Major Garnett (General Garnett during the Civil War) became the first General Officer killed during the Civil War. He was mortally wounded by a sharpshooter as he sat astride his horse while leading his men in retreat. Bottom photo: Larkin House (1846) This two story adobe was built during Monterey's Mexican period by Thomas O. Larkin, American merchant and first U.S. Consul to Alta California. It is located immediately next to the Sherman Headquarters.

Top photo: Shortly after the Americans occupied Alta California in 1846, Reverend Walter Colton, a U.S. Navy chaplain, was appointed alcalde of the Monterey district. It was Reverend Colton who accomplished the construction of the first town hall which bears his name (Colton Hall). Lower rooms were used as school classrooms. As alcalde (judge & jury) Colton saw to it that much of the hall's construction was done by convicts. Between the first of September and the thirteenth of October, 1949, Colton Hall served as the site of California's Constitutional Convention. Forty-eight delegates, several of whom had been born and raised in Monterey, were elected to attend the convention. Delegates included Mario G. Vallejo and John August Sutter. Bottom photo: It appears the delegates have "adjourned for the day."

Top photo: Front entrance to the Stevenson House: An old Monterey adobe, once called the French Hotel, and now called the Stevenson House, contains the world's largest collection of Stevenson memorabilia. Stevenson, born in Edinburgh, Scotland on November 13, 1850, met an America, Fanny Osbourne, in France and followed her to America. Stevenson lived but a few months in Monterey; however, it is believed that beautiful and scenic Point Lobos was the setting he used for his classic novel, "Treasure Island." Bottom photo: Rear and garden view of the Stevenson House.

Stevenson's many writings include "A Child's Garden of Verses," "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde," "Treasure Island, and "Requiem."

Requiem Under the wide and starry sky Dig the grave and let me lie Glad did I live and gladly die And I laid me down with a will. This be the verse you grave for me Here he lies where he longed to be Home is the sailor, home from sea And the hunter home from the hill. By: Robert L. Stevenson

"RLS Video for Schools Is Finished! Two years ago OMPS voted to support a project which would bring Robert Louis Stevenson closer to school children. The program, aimed at middle and high school students, consists of work in class, both before and after visits to MHSP. The field trip includes "An Evening 'a la RLS" as well as a tour through Stevenson House. In order to familiarize a class with RLS, ... put together a slide show of RLS's life..."

This slide show is now available in VIDEO, not just for teachers, but to the general public. "The Life and Times of RLS," a 21 minute video is on sale in the Cooper Museum Store for $7.00.

Questions? Contact the instructor via email below.

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