Salinas, like most towns, has hidden treasures if one opens his eyes. I knew we would be amazed by this city, but we didn't know that it would be so much so.

We began our Architecture explore in Oldtown. As the historic heart of Salinas, Oldtown is the original downtown of Salinas, the cultural and economic center of a city known as the Salad Bowl of the World for its abundant agricultural heritage. The rich history of Salinas is preserved in the buildings significant to the story of times gone by and immortalized through the literary genius of novelist John Steinbeck. We stopped at a really cool mixed-use space owned by Trish and Dan. While there we received some great history lessons and the very useful Salinas Art Deco & moderne- a wealth of architecture.
"Look up, not out", is the motto of Salinas architect, Sal Munoz, a member of the Historic Resources Board. And boy were we impressed! Art Deco grew out of the search for a new vocabulary to express the modern scientific age by creating a more logical relationship between design and new building materials. It is believed that Salinas has the largest collection of Art Deco to Moderne — an Art Deco variation — buildings for a city its size between San Francisco and Los Angeles.
How was Salinas able to afford so many Art Deco buildings? In 1924, Salinas had the highest per capita income of any city in the United States. The strength of its agricultural economy carried Salinas through the depression without severe hardship. Money was available for building and expansion, and Salinas benefited from the construction of many buildings by excellent architects.

This Deco and Gothic building (1931) is listed in the National Register of Historic Places as the Old Jail. It was here that César Chávez  was jailed for three weeks for failing to end an illegal boycott during the Salad Bowl War (1970). 


While not Art Deco, this store is pretty cool. Built ~1900, its last use was as Dick Bruhn: A Man's Store. Known as Forresters' Hall, various businesses have occupied the lower part of the building including the Cornell Tractor Parts Department and the Farmer's Mercantile. The upper hall was used as a YMCA. During World War I the upper level was used as a mess hall for Salinas National Guard Company C. It has been vacant since 2007, sadly but there are hopes for it to become a boutique hotel.

We thoroughly delighted in discovering the hidden treasures of Downtown. We have barely scratched the surface but we are impressed. Salinas demands an explore!