Architectural Heritage

Any survey of the variety of architecture that make up Pacific Grove must start with the first structure built by Americans just after California statehood.

Pacific Grove was established as a Christian encampment in 1875 on 100 acres given to the Pacific Grove Retreat Association in order to hold its 3 week summer Christian encampment. The “town” was subdivided into 30X60 tent lots. This original subdivision design and temporary intent has had an enormous effect on how Pacific Grove grew and developed over the last century and a quarter. The tent city encampment of the late 1870’s and early 80’s soon gave way to small almost tent size cottages, some still with outside cooking facilities.

These first cottages tended to be simple single wall vernacular cottages sometimes dressed up with ornament, but often not.

These first cottages tended to be simple single wall vernacular cottages sometimes dressed up with ornament, but often not.

When Pacific Grove evolved into a city of homes in the early 20th century, neighborhoods took on a more substantial look as larger and more elaborate homes were built. What follows is a sampling of some of the more recognizable architecture that has come to define our town.

Queen Anne style 1888 designed by English trained architect William Lacy. It was derived from the work of Richard Norman Shaw.

1887 Queen Anne with Eastlake detailing.

(Picture used by permission from the Tuttle collection)

Designed by Julia Morgan in the Bay Area Regional Style and built in 1916.

The Benjamin J. Langford Houseis an Italinate style home that was built in 1884 by Judge Langford, who is famous for taking an ax to the locked gate that “protected” Pacific Grove.

Two story Craftsman style home.

Craftsman Bungalow with clinker brick and river rock porch.

Craftsman Bungalow with unusual wooden siding.

This stucco clad Bungalow is nearly identical to its wood clad neighbor at 618 Cedar Ave.

This wood clad Bungalow is nearly identical to its stucco clad neighbor at 614 Cedar Ave.

Prairie Style

Moderne style

Colonial Revival with Gambrel roof

Colonial Revival with hip roof.

Central and 12th, English Gothic Revival built of California redwood, features Tiffany stained glass window (Arcadia Press pg. 60)

Stevinson House, Carpenter Gothic, 1883. The first recorded marriage in Pacific Grove took place in this home the year the house was built (Arcadia Press pg. 41)

Earliest example of Mission Revival in Pacific Grove, corner of Lighthouse and 16th

Spanish Eclectic commercial building at Forest and Lighthouse, built in 1930

Spanish Eclectic

Pueblo Revival

Pueblo Revival

Spanish eclectic with Deco parapet

Craftsman derived log cabin

Log cabin with shingle clad addition

Tudor Revival

English Cottage style 1925 built by M.J. Murphy for the owners of Rudolph and Rudolph furniture store

Four Square style home with Colonial Revival detailing

1925 Chinese House in the Asilomar dunes

Vernacular Seaside Cottages

Laurel and Forest ave. Italinate style City Hall, built by the Chivers Brothers

Lighthouse and Grand, Victorian Commercial Storefront

Forest and Lighthouse, Beaux Arts Style

Forest and Lighthouse, Richardson Romanesque 1903, designed by William Weeks

Moderne style warehouse