Stevenson House

Stevenson House is a two-story adobe building on Houston Street with limestone mortar walls, an overhanging roof supported by brackets, and wood shingle covering. The structure displays Spanish Colonial characteristics with practical design features that have endured through the decades.

The building was constructed in the 1830s by Don Rafael Gonzalez, the first customs administrator of Port Monterey, using chalk rock and mud mortar. The Scottish writer Robert Louis Stevenson stayed here in 1879 while recovering from illness and composing literary works.

The building now operates as a museum displaying personal objects and photographs that show Stevenson's impact on California's literary world. You can walk through the rooms and see how the writer connected with the region's literary development.

The house is part of Monterey State Historic Park and can be visited during regular opening hours. Educational programs and guided tours are available to learn more about the building's history and literary connections.

The building originally operated as a French Hotel before becoming known as Stevenson House. This earlier function adds an unexpected layer to the property's story within the harbor town.

Location: Monterey

GPS coordinates: 36.59722,-121.89333

Latest update: December 13, 2025 11:45