Monterey County Court House facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Monterey County Court House
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Monterey County Court House viewed from the southeast
Location in California Show map of California Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Location	240 Church St., Salinas, California
Area	1.3 acres (0.53 ha)
Built	1937
Architect	Robert Stanton
Sculptor	Joseph Jacinto Mora
Architectural style	Modern Movement, WPA Modern
NRHP reference No.	08000878
Added to NRHP	January 8, 2009

The Monterey County Court House is an important building in Salinas, California. It serves as the main court house for Monterey County.

This building was designed by a local architect named Robert Stanton. It was built in 1937. The money for its construction came from the Works Progress Administration (WPA). The WPA was a special government program. It helped create jobs and build public projects during a difficult time in history.

The court house has a unique style. It is known as Art Moderne or WPA Moderne. You can also see amazing sculptures inside. These artworks were created by a famous artist named Joseph Jacinto Mora. Today, the building is used by the Monterey County Superior Court. This is where important legal cases for the county are handled.

Building the Court House

A New Design for Justice

Architect Robert Stanton had a clever idea for the new court house. He designed it to be built around an older court house. The old building was later taken down. This created a beautiful open space in the middle. It became a lovely courtyard with plants.

The court house is made of concrete. It has two main floors. There is also a third floor at the back. This top floor is made of glass and steel. The whole project cost about $450,000 to build.

Art and History in Stone

The building is filled with incredible art. Most of it was made by the sculptor Jo Mora. You can see his sculptures and carvings everywhere. The outside of the building has simpler designs. But the parts facing the courtyard are much more decorated.

• Look closely at the columns in the courtyard. They have special carvings at the top.
• Small bronze sculptures decorate the doors.
• In the center of the courtyard, there is a large sculpture. It is made of a stone called travertine. This sculpture is a main highlight of the court house.

Stories from California's Past

Jo Mora's art tells stories. The sculptures show important moments from California's history. You can find 62 busts, which are sculptures of people's heads and shoulders. These busts represent important figures from California's past. They are placed in the spaces between the windows.

There are also five large carvings made of travertine stone. These carvings show different scenes from the history of Monterey County.

A Historic Landmark

The Monterey County Court House is very special. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on January 8, 2009. This means it is recognized as an important historical site in the United States.

Images for kids

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  Center courtyard Mora sculpture after renovations

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  Base of Mora sculpture

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  Jo Mora art

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  Center courtyard

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  Completed renovations

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  Monterey County District Attorney's Office