Travel and Vacations

Historical Legacy of Monterey, California

Story Published on March 31, 2009 ⋅  Email this Story ⋅  Print this Story ⋅ Post a comment ⋅

The city that thrives on reinvention, Monterey, has bounced back from a recession during the last part of the 20th century to become an academic center for Central California. Since the collapse of is fisheries, the city is now host of academic centers and research facilities. The chief facilities are the Monterey Aquarium and the Marine Mammal Center.

Among the most prestigious institutions in the area are the Naval School, CSU Monterey Bay, and the Oceanography Center. As the students relocate, Monterey swells with tourists and residents alike. The jewel of Central California, the city now counts approximately 30,000 residents as more and more students seek out prestigious postgraduate institutions.

The Monterey Canyon, the largest and deepest underwater canyon in the Pacific Ocean, is located only a few miles out to sea. This fact has led to the development of The Monterey Bay Aquarium. To date, it is the largest aquarium in North America and hosts world-renown researchers, marine biologists, and oceanographers. These academics enjoy relatively quick and easy access to the deep ocean.

Though schools and aquariums are to be lauded, Monterey is best known in popular culture, for its contribution to cheese. The now-famous Monterey Jack cheese was first cultivated the local Franciscan friars in the 1880s. A local businessman, David jack, marketed the cheese as Jacks Cheese. The eventually became Monterey Jack cheese.

The city has always enjoyed an unprecedented abundance of marine life, including sea lions, otters, bat rays, pelicans, kelp forests, and dolphins. Subsequently, Monterey has become a popular destination for scuba divers. Regular scuba classes are offered at San Carlos State Beach, a favorite with diving aficionados since the 1960s.

Once the capital of Spanish and Mexican California, the city now thrives not only on the aquarium and educational facilities, but also its rich historical legacy. The city boasts being the progenitors of many of California’s firsts: the first theater, first school, and first city. Visitors are encouraged to enjoy the luxury hotels Monterey has to offer.

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