Stevenson House in Monterey, California

Street View of Stevenson House

Did you know that the famous Scottish writer Robert Louis Stevenson lived in Monterey, California for three and a half months during 1879?? 

Well, this tidbit of information was news to both me and my husband! 

During our recent visit to Monterey, California, we made a visit to the Stevenson House located on a quiet side street in Monterey. 

The Stevenson House is a two story adobe building originally built in the 1830s and was known as rooming house called the French Hotel, but was later renamed the Stevenson House.

Gardens Behind Stevenson House

The gardens located at the rear of the house are open to the public from 9am to 5pm daily. 

The gardens are exquisite, especially now that Spring has begun and the flowers are in bloom and the birds are out in full swing singing their lovely birdsongs! 

The garden is quiet and peaceful with several benches to sit on. It's a wonderful place to enjoy being in nature. We loved our time spent at the Stevenson House.

Stevenson House and Garden

 
I would also like to add that the Stevenson House is part of the California Department of Parks & Recreation. The following quoted information about the Stevenson House comes from the California Department of Parks & Recreation website:
 

This two-story adobe has sheltered families, government officials, artists, writers and fishermen, beginning in the Mexican era. During its time as a rooming house, known as the French Hotel, a young writer, Robert Louis Stevenson, stayed a few months in the autumn of 1879. Poor, in frail health and unknown, Stevenson was cared for by friends while he courted his future wife, Fanny Osbourne. It was in Monterey that Stevenson penned the "Old Pacific Capital." Some say that his setting for the tale "Treasure Island" came from his walks along the Monterey Peninsula. Today, the Stevenson House has been restored with several rooms devoted to "Stevensonia."

I am so glad that I had the chance to visit this wonderful historic landmark and view the rooming house that Robert Louis Stevenson once occupied. I would never have guessed that Stevenson made his home in Monterey, even if it was only for a short period of time.

This is one historical landmark worth the visit should you find yourself visiting Monterey, California.