THE LIST OF INFLUENTIAL FIGURES INSPIRED BY the legendary beauty of the Monterey Peninsula is long and impressive. In 1987, Pope John Paul II performed Mass for over 70,000 people at the Laguna Seca racetrack. He began his remarks inviting the world to get to know California’s landscape, “against the background of an extraordinary beauty of land and sea, of snow-capped mountains and deep lakes, oak groves and forests of fir and pine and mighty redwoods, a land among the richest and most fruitful of the Earth.” This worship service became the largest spectator event in Monterey County history. 1980s1984 Monterey Bay Aquarium opens at site of former cannery 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake topples unreinforced buildings throughout Monterey County 1980 Annual Crop and Livestock Report values Monterey County agriculture at $745,497,225 1987 H-2A visa program established, Department of State issues 44 visas for foreign workers in Monterey County 1986 County of Monterey launches its Information Systems Department Big Sur International Marathon debuts Courtesy of The Roman Catholic Diocese of Monterey Archives Courtesy of The Roman Catholic Diocese of Monterey Archives
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