To the casual observer, Carmel Valley is just a small valley with a single road and a river traversing its bottom. But it is so much more! With a rich history going back thousands of years, Carmel Valley is fascinatingly varied, complex, and ever-changing.

The History Center and its Museum are adjacent to the community park. It is kid-friendly and staffed by knowledgeable docents on duty Saturdays from 1-4 and Sundays from 11-2. Admission is free.

Museum artifacts, photos, and memorabilia bring the Valley’s story to life—from its geologic beginnings and indigenous peoples to early settlers’ farms and iconic ranches. Exhibits include:

• Native Peoples exhibit and authentic replica of a tule reed boat

• Mastodon fossil, grizzly bear & coyote pelts to touch, and a boar’s head

• Iconic photos and western gear capturing ranch life in the Valley

• Victorian-era parlor with piano shipped around Cape Horn in the 1860s, a fainting couch, and nearly 120-year-old wedding dress

• 3-D map depicting the rugged ridges and ravines of the Valley overlaid with Native Indian Villages, Mexican land grants & other historical landmarks

HISTORY LIVES HERE!