Historic Cannery Row

John Steinbeck’s Cannery Row

Chinese immigrants settled the shores of Monterey, California, in the 1850s and established the area’s fishing industry. Once the Southern Pacific Rail Road reached town, big wigs established grand hotels and health spas, determined to turn Monterey into a luxury resort destination. At the turn of the century, a few canneries established themselves along Ocean View Avenue, most packing the plentiful sardines that swam in the waters of the Bay. But after World War II, those waters became fished out, and the industry shut down.

John Steinbeck’s Vision of the Row. For literature buffs, Pacific Grove Inn is just minutes away from Cannery Row, made famous by revered American author John Steinbeck. Steinbeck published Cannery Row, a loosely autobiographical novel, in 1945. It introduced a cast of characters based on people in Steinbeck’s life: Doc, a marine biologist; Mack and his cadre of “bum” friends; and Lee Chong, a grocery store owner. All live or work along Cannery Row in Monterey. While there’s an element of social criticism, the book is sentimental towards the people and place it portrays, as is almost all of Steinbeck’s work. In 1982, a movie of the book was made starring Nick Nolte and Debra Winger. Fans of the book–and the movie–continue to visit Monterey and Cannery Row to this day.  [Top]