Presidio of Monterey

The Presidio of Monterey, located in Monterey, California, traces its origins to 1770, when it was established by Spanish colonial forces as El Presidio Real de San Carlos de Monterey to protect the nearby mission and secure Spain’s territorial claims. Following Mexican independence, the post was occupied by Mexican forces until it fell under U.S. control during the Mexican-American War in 1846. In the late 19th century, the United States Army reestablished a military presence at the site. Today, the Presidio of Monterey is best known as the home of the Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center, serving as a critical center for military language training.