Robert Louis Stevenson House!

Robert Louis Stevenson House
Landmark #352 Monterey County Visited: January 17, 2015 Plaque?  NO. 🙁
What is it? The refurbished French Hotel, where Robert Louis Stevenson stayed for a few months!
What makes it historical? THE GUIDE SAYS: In this house in 1879 lived Robert Louis Stevenson, essayist, storyteller, and poet whose contribution to literature delighted the world.

OTHER TIDBITS: This may be called the Stevenson House, but the famous author only stayed here a few months to recover from tuberculosis and court his future wife, Fanny! He wrote The Old Pacific Capital here and drew inspiration for Treasure Island! However, there’s still more history to this hotel!

This was originally a small adobe built by Rafael González in the 1830s. Known by his friends as “Pintito,” Señor González was the customs administrator of Monterey and did business with American traders in the years before takeover! It changed hands many times until a Swiss fellow named Giardin bought it and turned it into a hotel, which he called the French Hotel!

This landmark is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places!

How can I Help the Helpers? HERE’S HOW:

  • Pay the entrance fee to help maintain trails, signs, structures, and other visitor services!
  • Volunteer with Monterey State Historic Park!
  • Donate to the Monterey State Historic Park Association!
  • Be a responsible visitor! Please respect the signs and pathways, and treat all structures and artifacts with respect. They’ve endured a lot to survive into the present. They’ll need our help to make it into the future!
Where is this place? LISTED DIRECTIONS:
530 Houston St
Monterey, CA 93940

ANNOTATIONS:
Yup! That’s correct!

From Los Angeles: ~319mi (514km) — 5.4hrs
From Sacramento: ~186mi (300km) — 3.1hrs
From San Diego: ~439mi (707km) — 7.4hrs
From San Francisco: ~118mi (190km) — 2hrs

When should I go? The gardens are open daily from 9:00 AM until 5:00 PM, and the building is open for tours from April to October during that time! In winter months, private tours are available but expensive!

Robert Louis Stevenson House

Robert Louis Stevenson House

Click here to see more California historical landmarks!

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