Geotype Submission

The Geotype project charts the rich history of lettering and type forms that have established the identity of cities and towns around the world. Explore the map

How does this letter-form communicate its location?

The city of Monterey was established in 1770 and was the first California capital. The Old Custom House adobe was originally built in 1827. By 1846 it had been enlarged and a second story was added. It became the first California State Historical Landmark in 1929, a public museum in 1930, and in 1960, a National Historic Landmark. In 2014 the brass marker on the back exterior wall was replaced, and it’s almost identical to the original from 1929. The tightly spaced caps/small caps text treatment is not all that easy to read, but it’s a wonderful example of art deco-ish lettering.

Location

Custom House Plaza, Monterey, CA 93940, USA