Cooper Molera Adobe, originally dating from 1827, is a National Trust Historic Site in Monterey’s Old Town Historic District, a National Historic Landmark. Cooper Molera represents the layered history of the families who lived in and built Monterey, from its early years as the political and commercial capital of Mexican Alta California, through the development of the State of California.
Cooper Molera includes two adjacent adobe homes, a corner store, an adobe warehouse, a barn complex, and beautiful gardens and grounds, all on roughly 2.5 acres surrounded by a historic adobe wall in downtown Monterey. A “shared use” model for the property includes an active program of historic interpretation by the National Trust centered on the Cooper and Diaz Adobes, along with compatible commercial uses appropriate to the historic setting. This new version of shared use is a fitting model, as the site has combined commercial and residential uses for most of its history.
Today, Cooper Molera represents a new vision for an operating historic site, sharing museum uses with commercial operations, and with historic interpretation weaved throughout. The Cooper and Diaz Adobes, together with the gardens and grounds, are open to the public with self-guided tours and special exhibits. Admission to the museum is free.