From Stagecoaches to Race Cars: How Transportation Shaped the Monterey Peninsula

Wednesday, September 9, 2026

7:00 p.m. Carpenter Hall at Sunset Center, Carmel

Local History Lecture 

The Carmel Public Library Foundation presents What Moves Us

From Stagecoaches to Race Cars: How Transportation Shaped the Monterey Peninsula, with historian and former Naval Postgraduate School Library Special Collections Manager John Sanders

Transportation has long shaped the history and identity of the Monterey Peninsula. From stagecoaches and railroads to automobiles, scenic highways such as 17-Mile Drive, and internationally renowned motorsports, each new mode of transportation transformed how people experienced the region. This engaging local history lecture examines how the evolution of transportation influenced commerce, tourism, and the Peninsula's distinctive character, offering new insight into the forces that helped transform Monterey and Carmel from coastal communities into destinations known around the world.

John Sanders is an author, storyteller, and historian whose research has helped reshape the historical record of Hotel Del Monte and its lasting influence on the development of Monterey. During his 31-year career at the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS), he established an archives preserving the history of both NPS and Hotel Del Monte and shared that history with thousands of visitors through engaging presentations. His work uncovers overlooked stories about the Monterey Peninsula, including the origins of the 17-Mile Drive, the construction of Hotel Del Monte, and the region's early transportation history. His most recent research, co-curated with Greg Berkin, explores Hotel Del Monte's pioneering role in the automotive age and its influence on the development of California's highway system.