Historical Buildings Walking Tour (Self Guided), Carmel

Back in the early 1900s, little about Carmel-by-the-Sea rivaled the appeal of the magnificent ocean front. What is seen now as a quaint, European-like town on the coast of Central California, started off at the turn of the last century with the planting of 100 pine trees right down Main Street – today's Ocean Avenue. This was followed by the arrival of the young architect, Michael J. Murphy, specifically invited to come over and build the city from scratch.

The architectural patterns that shaped the downtown character emerged predominantly in the 1920s and 1930s and were mostly Northern and Southern European–influenced Romantic Revival styles. Mock Tudor, fairy-tale storybook homes, with a touch of medieval influence, give the town its signature charm, while the abundance of Mediterranean and Spanish Revival designs, mixed up with a few Western false-front and Craftsman-style buildings from the start of the 20th century, nicely contribute the eclectic mix.

Here are some of the noteworthy samples of the historic Carmel-by-the-Sea architecture not to be missed:

Cottage of Sweets – a popular sweets store inspired by traditional candy shops in the UK; originally built in 1922 as a weaving shop, then served as a theater box office.

Harrison Memorial Library – a historic building designed in 1928; named after California Supreme Court Justice, Ralph Chandler Harrison.

Carmel Art Association Gallery – founded in 1927, the oldest art gallery in Carmel and the second oldest non-profit art organization in the US.

Fairy Tale Cottages (The Tuck Box) – a series of whimsical renditions of Tudor-style homes - uneven rooflines, stone chimneys, ornate metalwork and English-style gardens; built from 1924.

To discover these and other historic buildings in more detail and to see what makes Carmel-by-the-Sea truly unique, embark on the self-guided walking journey!