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| Monterey's Hotel del Monte (CA) (Images of America) | 
 enlarge | Author: Julie Cain
Publisher: Arcadia Publishing
Category: Book
List Price: $19.99
Buy New: $12.15
You Save: $7.84 (39%)
Buy New/Used from $12.15
Avg. Customer Rating:  (5 reviews)
Sales Rank: 1019415
Languages: English (Original Language), English (Unknown), English (Published)
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 128
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.7
Dimensions (in): 9 x 6.3 x 0.4
ISBN: 0738530328
Dewey Decimal Number: 979.402
EAN: 9780738530321
ASIN: 0738530328
Publication Date: September 12, 2005
Release Date: August 24, 2005
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
California?s ?Big Four? railroad tycoons built the Hotel del Monte to be the most elegant seaside resort in the world. Although it boasted 126 landscaped acres when it was constructed in 1880, pampered guests, including presidents and kings, stars and magnates, needed a larger playground. Owners added the 7,000-acre Del Monte Forest and 17-Mile Drive, planned to optimize picturesque spots along the Monterey coast, like Cypress Point and Pebble Beach. Burned to the ground in 1887 and 1924, the Del Monte became more luxurious with each incarnation, at one time incorporating a glass-roofed swimming pavilion, racetrack, lake, tennis courts, and Del Monte Golf Course, now the oldest continuously operating golf course in the West. The third hotel became the Naval Postgraduate School in 1952.
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| Customer Reviews:
 True to its title December 26, 2005
Ms. Cain's book delivered what I wanted, which was to see images of both the architectural and horticultural beauty of the three hotels that stood on that site in Monterey. I also found the writing engaging, informative and succinct.
I am somewhat surprised by the reviewer who was disturbed by the mention of celebrity film actors who frequented the Hotel Del Monte. Whether any of us likes it or not, these icons of the film industry are woven into the tapestry of American life and, therefore, are part of our history. Since the patronage of film actors was hardly the focus of the book, I found Ms. Cain's inclusion of a few photographs of early screen actors an honest representation of the variety of clientele one might expect to see at the hotel.
I recommend this book to those who would like to see wonderful images of the Hotel Del Monte that are not just the common postcard photos. Of particular interest to this garden lover, are the pictures and descriptions of the meticulously and laboriously planted garden areas that must have been quite a visual treat to the hotel's visitors.
Author used many sources October 14, 2005
In response to Ms. Bogg's review, I am well aware that the Naval Postgraduate School does own photos of the Hotel del Monte. Unfortunately, they have been held in "deep storage" for quite some time, and were unavailable during the time I was putting this book together. However, I used multiple other sources and looked at over 2,000 photos before choosing the final 200. Fluff? Definitely not. I put in 5 move star photos because, like S.F.B. Morse, I LIKE movie stars. And if you want to know who S.F.B. Morse was, please read this book for yourself! All sources are listed in the bibliography and mentioned in the acknowledgment, so those of you interested in reading more about this wonderful hotel can do so.
Beautiful evocation of a special place October 14, 2005
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
This is a great book on the history of the Hotel Del Monte. It's lavishly illustrated and really brings alive a vanished time and place. It's true it's not a scholarly tome, but on the other hand, it's much more readable because of that! It's soundly researched and for those of us who thirst for more information, it has a valuable bibliography at the back.
I'm not sure why another reviewer thought that the Monterey Naval Post Graduate School resources where ignored, since the author used several of their images (including the inimitable one of Amelia Earhart) and specifically thanks them in the acknowledgments.
If you're interested in California history, and beautiful images of a vanished way of life, you need to buy this book!
 Too bad the author didn't check other sources! October 6, 2005
0 out of 2 found this review helpful
It is truly unfortunate that the author didn't check with the Monterey Post Graduate school for better history ... we happen to have pictures of historical events at Del Monte, have shared them with the post-grad school and they shared with us.
Too much fluff on movie stars, not enough of the truly historical events which occurred (other than fires)..... the author could have found a wealth of information.... including a picture of General Vallejo on the grounds of the Del Monte. Too bad that she didn't search for all resources to make this truly a book of history.
Fabulous!! September 4, 2005
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
After reading the preview copy of this book, I found that is has everthing you would want to know about the history of the Hotel. The author is thorough, concise, and well reserched....
A must read for every person who is interested in this Hotel and the area....The vintage pictures of the hotel, Monterey, Pebble Beach, and Seventeen-Mile Drive are beautiful and clearly reproduced.
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