Cannery Row Street, Monterey (must see)

Cannery Row, situated near Fisherman's Wharf, is a picturesque street with a rich history. Its name is derived from the once-operational sardine canning factories that have since ceased production. Today, the area is replete with a plethora of shops, restaurants, and bars.

This historic industrial district, located to the west of downtown Monterey, was home to several sardine canneries and packing houses from the 1920s until the 1950s. Unfortunately, the overfishing of sardines led to the collapse of the industry during that time. For decades, the neighborhood remained largely vacant until the late 1980s when the Monterey Bay Aquarium acquired the former Hovden Cannery and established its own facility there. This move breathed new life into the neighborhood, transforming it into the premier tourist destination on the Monterey Peninsula. Some remnants of the old canneries, which were destroyed by fires in the 1970s, can still be seen in the form of empty foundations along the oceanfront. A free shuttle service now connects downtown Monterey with the Aquarium, making it convenient for visitors.

Originally known as Ocean View Boulevard, Cannery Row was renamed in 1958 in honor of the renowned writer John Steinbeck, who authored a famous novel of the same name. Today, it has become a popular tourist attraction, with numerous businesses housed in the historic cannery buildings. Notable landmarks in this district include the Cannery Row Antique Mall, located within one of the most historically preserved cannery buildings accessible to the public. Other historic structures in the area encompass the Wing Chong Market, The American Tin Cannery (now a shopping mall), Doc Rickett's lab (adjacent to the aquarium and open to the public periodically), and some of the water tanks immortalized in Steinbeck's writings.

Cannery Row now stands as the historic cannery district, spanning from Foam Street to the oceanfront.