Collection consist of four bound hotel registers for the Central Hotel in Monterey. (The first two registers have hard covers; the last two have had the covers removed.) The registers are records of hotel guests for the time periods: July 1, 1883 through September 24, 1885; September 27, 1885 through January 31, 1887; December 20, 1905 through April 1, 1906; and November 12, 1912 through October 10, 1917.

The Central Hotel was a later name for the first commercial hotel on Alvarado Street in Monterey, the American or Morrissey House of 1849-1854. The building was originally the Dolores Vasquez Adobe. In 1878, Charles Underwood expanded the original adobe to 18 rooms under the name 2Monterey House.3 Underwood had obtained the building in a deed from the estate of Henry Carr Curtis in 1869. He also had large land holdings in the Carmel Valley and in Corral de Tierra. He and his wife Catherine managed the hotel and, in the early 1880s, renamed it the Central Hotel. They leased the hotel to William Tibbetts in the mid 1880s, with Mrs. Underwood maintaining the proprietorship. By the late 1890s the hotel had expanded to 36 rooms. The Underwoodsʼ son, Alexander Richard Underwood, became the manager in 1900, and in 1909, his mother deeded the hotel to him. In 1911, Alexander Underwood had the hotel razed and erected a steel and brick structure (the Underwood Apartments - Hotel) in its place in 1912.

4 registers in 3 boxes; 40 x 27 cm. to 47 x 33 cm.

Reproduction by Local History Librarian or other designated staff; may be restricted due to condition of the materials.

Access by appointment only; contact Local History Librarian or designated staff.