Situated on the Monterey Peninsula at the south end of famous Monterey Bay, this charming Central Coast community has a rich history from the Spanish colonial times to the early days of California. Founded in 1770, Monterey was the capital of Alta California under Spain and then Mexico. At the end of the Mexican-American War in 1848, it was ceded to the United States and hosted California’s first constitutional convention in 1849. Today Monterey is a tourist mecca with gift shops, restaurants and bars in the converted factories of Cannery Row.