1833Jose Maria Armenta claims the land grant for “Punta de los Pinos” (2,667 acres that included Monterey and Pacific Grove.)
1855Point Pinos Lighthouse built. (It is the oldest continuously operated lighthouse on the west coast.)
1864David Jacks acquires “Punta de los Pinos Rancho” from Darrell Stokes Gregory.
1868David Jacks acquires more of the Rancho lands.
1873-1874Methodist Annual Conference meets in San Francisco and begins the discussion of creating a seaside resort on the west coast. Rev. W.S. Ross spends time camping in a grove of trees near Monterey Bay. The land is owned by David Jacks and negotiations begin with him for the use of his land.
June 1875The Pacific Grove Retreat Association (PGRA) is formed.
July 1875Official agreement signed between the PGRA and David Jacks for 100 acres of the existing Rancho Punta de los Pinos land. For Jacks, the deal is partially a donation and partially a business deal. The first map of Pacific Grove is filed with the Monterey County Recorder’s Office.
1875August 8 through August 29: Commencement of first Methodist camp in Pacific Grove.
May 1876Unsold Pacific Grove Retreat lots revert back to David Jacks as per the agreement of 1875.
May 1880David Jacks sells all of remaining Punta de los Pinos Rancho to the Pacific Improvement Company (PIC), a branch of the Southern Pacific Railroad. The selling price was $35,000.
1880The first Chautauqua Summer Retreat meeting is held. The Feast of Lanterns celebration begins to mark the closing of the Summer Retreat.
1881Eight families now live year-round in the Grove.
1883March 31: The PIC and the PGRA sign a contract stating the PIC controls financial management and the PGRA controls “the moral and prudential management” of Pacific Grove.
June 1884Carrie Lloyd opens a summer school for children in Chautauqua Hall.
1886Business begin to appear on Lighthouse near Forest. The first library opens in the “reading corner” of the old Parlor.
1887First hotel opens: The El Carmelo between Fountain and Forest Ave. St. Mary’s-by-the-Sea consecrated.
June 1889Pacific Grove incorporates.
1889Railroad comes to Pacific Grove.
1891Pine Street School opens with 150 students enrolled. The school serves all grade levels. President Benjamin Harrison visits Pacific Grove.
1892Hopkins Seaside Lab - part of Stanford University - is built.
1893Pacific Grove Bath House is built.
1895Electric lights come to Pacific Grove. The Mayflower Church is built.
1896First Telephone exchange installed.
1901President William McKinley visits Pacific Grove.
1903President Theodore Roosevelt visits Pacific Grove.
1906The city of Pacific Grove obtains a Carnegie grant to build a public library.
1906Arson fire destroys the Chinese fishing village at Cabrillo Point.
1908Pacific Grove Public Library opens at its current location.
1911Pacific Grove High School constructed on Forest Avenue (presently the Middle School).
1912Pacific Improvement Company donates land to the YWCA. This becomes Asilomar “Refuge by the Sea.”
1916The Monterey Boatworks is built on the site of the former Chinese fishing village.
1923Pacific Biological Laboratory, Ed Rickett’s first laboratory, opens at 165 Fountain. Pine Street grammar School opens. Renamed Robert H. Down Elementary School in 1952.
1924Holman’s Department Store opens on Lighthouse Avenue. Lighthouse Avenue paved.
1926Forest Hill Hotel constructed at Forest and Gibson, currently Forest Hill Manor Retirement Center.
1930John Steinbeck moves to Pacific Grove, 147 Eleventh Street. Holman Highway built (Hwy 68 East).
1932Pacific Grove Museum opens to the public. Pacific Grove Municipal golf course opens.
1938Post Office constructed.
Sources:
Pacific Grove by Kent Seavey and the Heritage Society of Pacific Grove. Arcadia Publishing, 2005.
Pacific Grove: A Story of Western Development by Robert J. Rapp. Master’s Thesis, 2002.
Local History Files, Pacific Grove Public Library.