Colton Hall

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Colton Hall, located in Monterey, California, was built in the 1840's by Walter Colton who came to Monterey as a chaplain on Commodore Stockton's vessel and remained to become Monterey's first alcalde (mayor) in the American Period . It was originally a public school and government meeting place. It also hosted California's first constitutional convention in 1849.^[1] That same year, California’s military governor called for a constitutional convention, to be held in Monterey’s Colton Hall. On September 1, delegates from ten districts arrived in Monterey to debate and write California’s first constitution. The California Constitution was ratified on October 13, voted on in November that year and sent to Congress in January 1850. San Jose was chosen as the seat for the first Legislature. (The official definition of a State Capital is where the Legislature sits; therefore Monterey never was the State Capital.) .^[2] The most important public office building in Monterey County to be in continuous use, Colton Hall has over the years housed Monterey's City Hall, a public school, the county court house, the sheriff's office, and Monterey's city police Head Quarters. Today it is a museum, while adjacent buildings serve as the seat of local government.

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