Entry No. 23 — the Monterey file — filed under: jail

Colton Hall

California's first constitution was drafted upstairs here by 48 delegates who met Sept 1-Oct 15, 1849. A solid-granite jail was attached to the building's east side and served as the city jail until 1956. Ghost lore attaches to the old jail — visitors report cold spots, footsteps, and bangs on the jail door with no one there. (The second-floor-balcony hanging story is local legend, not documented history.)

The move: Walk the free second-floor museum, restored to its exact 1849 constitutional-convention appearance, then circle around back to the stone jail cells before the museum shuts for the day.

• 📍 Old Town Monterey
• 💸 $$
• ⚡ Up for anything
• 🌗 Indoors

Where: 570 Pacific St, Monterey, CA 93940

Hours: Added 2026-07-20 — confirm current hours before you go.

⚠ Seasonal or scheduled — always check before you go.

Plan a visit & invite your people →

Further reading: Wikipedia · hauntedplaces.org

last checked: 2026-07-20