Cannery Row Street, Monterey

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.

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Cannery Row Street on Map

Sight Name: Cannery Row Street
Sight Location: Monterey, USA (See walking tours in Monterey)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Walking Tours in Monterey, California

Create Your Own Walk in Monterey

Create Your Own Walk in Monterey

Creating your own self-guided walk in Monterey is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Monterey State Historic Park Walk

Monterey State Historic Park Walk

Monterey State Historic Park is a National Landmark and a part of the Monterey Old Town Historic District. Found on the grounds here are a group of significant old-time houses that once made up California's earliest capital and were the site of the state's first constitutional convention. Today these buildings retain their rich heritage, preserving an important part of Californian as...  view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.9 Km or 1.2 Miles
Monterey Introduction Walking Tour

Monterey Introduction Walking Tour

Monterey is one of California's oldest cities, having been settled since 1770. The Spanish and Mexican governments both used the city as a capital for Alta California. Monterey offered many important firsts for California during this era, including a newspaper and printing press, public school, library, and theater.

This city was the location for the first constitutional convention in...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.2 Km or 2 Miles
Cannery Row Walking Tour

Cannery Row Walking Tour

Cannery Row – the waterfront street in Monterey, California – was once home to a number of sardine canning factories, the last of which closed down in 1973. The former nickname for Ocean View Avenue became the street's official name in January 1958 to honor John Steinbeck and his famous eponymous novel. In the novel's opening sentence, Steinbeck described Cannery Row as "a poem,...  view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.8 Km or 1.1 Miles