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Cannery Row

Cannery Row is a famous six-block street along the Monterey harbor. The street gained fame in part due to John Steinbeck's novels Cannery Row and Sweet Thursday.

Cannery Row was once the site of over twenty fish-packing plants which processed sardines from Monterey Bay. These plants thrived during the early 20th century, reaching their peak during the 1940s. Then in 1945, the sardines by-in-large disappeared, most likely due to overfishing. Most of the canneries stopped operating and some were demolished.

Today, the remaining canneries are home to various shops and restaurants. 800 Cannery Row is the old laboratory of "Doc" Ricketts, notable marine biologist, beer drinker, and Steinbeck's best friend. Now the building is a private club. Cannery Row is also home to the world-famous Monterey Bay Aquarium.