MONTEREY >> The Monterey City Council will have a special session Wednesday to hear a presentation on expanding the Path of History in Downtown Monterey.

The presentation, led by Library and Museums Director Brian Edwards, will feature a revised Path of History plan with additional sites and resources into the existing route, in addition to generating two new cultural heritage walking routes.

The presentation will also have anthropological research on Dutra Street, a historic road right behind Monterey City Hall.

Additional sites and buildings along the existing Path of History were identified by the city in the 2020 Draft Path of History Master Plan and Update. According to the presentation, many of the sites offer the opportunity to shine light on the stories of multiple disenfranchised communities.

“Many of these proposed stops along the existing Path of History route denote locations specifically significant to previously marginalized, underrepresented, or misrepresented peoples, such as indigenous groups; Hispanic and Latino communities, beyond the traditional lens of Spanish- and Mexican-era development (generally 1770 to 1846); immigrant groups; and Black and African American communities,” the plan reads.

More than a dozen points of interest were listed in the presentation, including Simoneau House, Miller Adobe, Few House, Ordway Block Building and Freeman’s Mortuary.

Council members will have the opportunity to ask questions and provide the Museums and Cultural Arts Commission subcommittee feedback.

The next steps for the staff working on this project include:

• Having the Museums & Cultural Arts subcommittee review the recommended new sites and revise descriptions provided in the reports

• Implementing physical (signage, tiles, way-finding kiosks) and digital infrastructure (app, website, historic and current photos)

• Creating advertising by updating Explore Monterey brochures at regional distribution points and updated Path of History maps distributed by See Monterey

• Outreach to Esselen and Rumsien Tribal contacts for additional thematic content

• Research adding way-finding solutions in the community at key locations

• Identify funds and donors to complete these updates

No formal actions will be taken by the council during the session.

The meeting will take place at 4 p.m. Wednesday at Monterey City Hall, 580 Pacific Street. Watch online via Zoom at https://monterey-org.zoomgov.com/j/1616037682.