Cannery Row

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Cannery Row looking north toward the end of the row where the Monterey Bay Aquarium now sits next to the bay Line3012 - Flickr - NOAA Photo Library.jpg
Cannery Row looking north toward the end of the row where the Monterey Bay Aquarium now sits next to the bay
Cannery Row at night Cannery Row at night.jpg
Cannery Row at night

Cannery Row is the waterfront street bordering the city of Pacific Grove, California, but officially in the New Monterey section of Monterey, California. It was the site of a number of now-defunct sardine canning factories. The last cannery closed in 1973. The street name, formerly a nickname for Ocean View Avenue, became official in January 1958 to honor John Steinbeck and his novel Cannery Row . [1] In the novel's opening sentence, Steinbeck described the street as "a poem, a stink, a grating noise, a quality of light, a tone, a habit, a nostalgia, a dream."

Contents

History

The first cannery company was opened on Valentine's Day in 1908. The cannery industries skyrocketed in profits during World War I and during World War II but quickly became fruitless when Monterey experienced a sardine scarcity, which led to the economic disaster of cannery companies. Once the companies were destroyed, two restaurant managers resurrected Cannery Row. They promised, "It would forever remain a place that paid tribute to the many cultures who had made it world famous". [2]

Cannery Row was the setting of John Steinbeck's novels Cannery Row (1945) and Sweet Thursday (1954). Both were the basis for the 1982 movie Cannery Row , starring Nick Nolte and Debra Winger. It is also mentioned in Bob Dylan's song "Sad Eyed Lady of the Lowlands". Pacific Biological Laboratories, a biological supply house, was located at 800 Ocean View Avenue (now 800 Cannery Row) from 1928 to 1948, and operated by Edward F. Ricketts, who was the inspiration for several characters in Steinbeck novels. The laboratory is still preserved. Across from the laboratory still exists a Chinese-American-owned store mentioned in both Cannery Row and Sweet Thursday , as well as a vacant lot that was the "home" of some of the homeless characters in the novel. The former reflects Chinese American history in the area, starting with Chinese immigrants who entered the fishing industry, exporting seafood and abalone shells to China, Europe, and other parts of the U.S. [3] At 851 Cannery Row, across from Pacific Biological Laboratories, is the original building that inspired the bar from the novel named La Ida Cafe. [4]

The Pacific Biological Laboratories of Ed Ricketts on Cannery Row Rickettslabfront.jpg
The Pacific Biological Laboratories of Ed Ricketts on Cannery Row

Cannery Row was adjoined by a grand mansion owned by Montana mining tycoon James Andrew Murray. Known as "Casa de las Olas" or the Murray Hacienda, the mansion was demolished in the 1940s to make way for the expansion of more canneries. A historical marker is located on the site of the former mansion. [5] The canneries failed after the collapse of the fishing industry in Monterey Bay in the mid-1950s, which resulted from a combination of factors, including unfavorable oceanic conditions, overfishing, and competition from other species. [6] In his investigation of where the sardines had gone, Ed Ricketts finally concluded "They're in cans." Before the collapse, the fishery was one of the most productive in the world due to the upwelling of cold yet nutrient-rich water along the California coastline. [7]

Old Hovden Cannery steam boilers MontereyBayAquariumSteamPots.JPG
Old Hovden Cannery steam boilers

Today

Today the area offshore from Cannery Row is the Edward F. Ricketts State Marine Conservation Area (part of the larger Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary) [8] and is home to a large resurgent population of California sea lions.

Cannery Row itself is now a tourist attraction with many restaurants and hotels, several of which are located in former cannery buildings, and a few historic attractions. Some privately owned fishing companies still exist on Cannery Row, housed on piers located a short distance from the historic district frequented by tourists.

In recent years, Cannery Row has become increasingly popular among sport fishermen due to extensive public fishing facilities. MacAbee Beach and San Carlos Beach, which bookend Cannery Row [9] are both popular spots for kayak-launching; San Carlos Beach is one of Monterey Bay's most popular scuba-diving spots. [1]

Front entrance of the Aquarium Monterey Bay Aquarium Front.JPG
Front entrance of the Aquarium

The Monterey Bay Aquarium (opened in 1984) is located at the north end of Cannery Row, at the former site of the major Hovden Cannery. Norwegian immigrant Knut Hovden founded Hovden Food Products Corporation which opened on July 7, 1916. By canning squid at the end of its life, Hovden Cannery managed to outlast its neighbors, finally closing its doors in 1973 when it became the last cannery on the row to close. [10] [11] The aquarium remains a very popular attraction today. [12]

In 2023, Cannery Row opened a pirate-themed ride called "Treasure Hunt: The Ride". [13]

See also

Related Research Articles

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<i>Cannery Row</i> (novel) Novel by John Steinbeck

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lovers Point State Marine Reserve</span> Marine protected area

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pacific Grove Marine Gardens State Marine Conservation Area</span> Marine protected area in California

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The Hovden Cannery in Cannery Row, Monterey, California, was among the oldest, largest canneries of the Pacific Sardine Fishery. In the first half of the 20th century, it marked one of the most lucrative national fisheries. It was a source for literary inspiration in the works of John Steinbeck.

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References

  1. 1 2 Monterey County Convention and Visitors Bureau: Cannery Row
  2. "The Canneries". Cannery Row. Retrieved 2023-11-28.
  3. Van Tilburg, Hans; Moore, Elizabeth (December 2022). "In Search of Ancestors: A Scientist's Lifelong Search for Family, Fishing, and Fortitude along Monterey's Coast". NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries.
  4. "John Steinbeck's Cannery Row Literary Tour". 7 November 2019.
  5. Farley, Bill (2018-03-10). James A. Murray : Butte's radical Irish millionaire. Missoula, Montana. ISBN   9780878426829. OCLC   1019743586.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  6. Monterey Bay Aquarium Sea Food Watch Pacific Sardine Report (PDF). Monterey Bay Aquarium. March 11, 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 21, 2013. Retrieved September 19, 2013.
  7. "Upwelling", NOAA Ocean Explorer
  8. Guide to the Central California Marine Protected Areas: Pigeon Point to Point Conception (PDF). California Department of Fish and Game. September 2007. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2022-10-09. Retrieved December 6, 2010.
  9. Monterey County Convention and Visitors Bureau: Monterey Beaches
  10. "Introduction to California's wetfish industry" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2010-06-11. Retrieved 2010-06-28.
  11. "Cannery Days: From the Bay to the Can (Monterey Bay Aquarium)". Archived from the original on 2011-07-18. Retrieved 2010-06-28.
  12. www.montereybayaquarium.org https://www.montereybayaquarium.org/ . Retrieved 2023-11-28.{{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  13. "It's a pirate's life for thee on Cannery Row's Treasure Hunt". Theme Park Insider. Retrieved 2024-01-10.

Further reading

36°36′59″N121°54′02″W / 36.6165°N 121.9006°W / 36.6165; -121.9006