Before Sacramento became California's capital in 1879, the territory had many capitals, including Vallejo and San José. What city held the honor of being the capital for 75 years, from 1774 to 1849?

In the late 1700s, Monterey was a thriving hub in California. Founded on June 3, 1770, it was the capital of Alta California, which was the northern part of the state, under both Spain and Mexico. Monterey was home to California's first theater, first public library, and first public schools, as well as its first daily newspaper.

Asked by Tom Cohen · Last updated 5 years ago · 1.6K views