Vásquez House

Vásquez House is an adobe building in Monterey designated as a California Historical Landmark, featuring thick mud-brick walls constructed in the early 1800s. The structure combines original ground-floor adobe with wooden additions made over the decades and currently serves as a municipal office space.

The property was purchased in 1834 by María Guadalupe Cantúa and later became connected to her son Tiburcio Vásquez, a noted outlaw in the region during the 1870s. The building received its present form when a wooden second story was added during the 1920s, transforming its original single-story adobe design.

The building shows how early California residents built and adapted their homes over time. The mix of adobe walls and wooden additions reflects how construction methods changed as the community evolved.

The building now serves as a municipal office for the city's Parks and Recreation Department and includes accessible parking. Visitors should know it functions as an active workspace, so interior access may be limited depending on office hours.

The building was originally a single-story adobe structure and underwent substantial transformation through wooden additions in the 1920s. This construction choice shows how residents adapted existing structures to meet changing needs rather than starting anew.

Location: Monterey

Address: 546 Dutra Street

GPS coordinates: 36.59778,-121.89806

Latest update: December 14, 2025 14:43