Old Fisherman’s Wharf, Monterey, California. Where Gumbo Was, #74

Where Gumbo Was

Gumbo was visiting historic Old Fisherman’s Wharf in Monterey, California, not far from Cannery Row.  The photos in the puzzle focused on Harbor House, a novelty shop, at the entrance to Old Fisherman’s Wharf, which has a faux lighthouse on its roof.  Congratulations to Roderick Simpson for being the first to correctly identify this location.  Lynn Miller also had the puzzle more or less figured out, but didn’t quite pinpoint it.

Old Fisherman’s Wharf has a long and colorful history.  Monterey’s natural harbor was discovered by Europeans in the early seventeenth century when Sebastian Viscaino, a mariner, was sent to explore and map California’s shore (with an eye to looking for safe harbors for treasure-laden Spanish galleons).  Viscaino landed in Monterey in 1602 and named the harbor after the Count of Monterey.  In 1770. the City of Monterey was founded and it was the capitol city of California until 1822, when the region transitioned from Spanish to Mexican control.  In 1846 the USA laid its claim to the territory.

The first wharf in Monterey was constructed privately in 1846 for freight service and passenger service.  The growth of the sardine industry prompted the City Council to assume ownership of the pier in 1913. (it was around this time it became known as “Fisherman’s Wharf”) .  The Wharf was expanded to provide improved services to the sardine fishing fleet, with the construction of warehouses, retail fish stores, restaurants and similar services.  

A marine accident in 1923 collapsed 132 feet of the wharf and in 1925 City officials started a drive for the construction of a new expanded cargo wharf to meet increasing commercial fishing demands and to relieve congestion on Old Fisherman’s Wharf. The new Wharf (Municipal Wharf II) was completed in 1926.  In 1929 Congress appropriated funds for the construction of the present breakwater, completed in 1934.

When sardines began to disappear in Monterey Bay after World War II, Old Fisherman’s Wharf converted to a tourist-oriented operation and its function has remained much the same since then, although with ever growing visitation and tourist trade.  Services include restaurants, gift and candy shops, snack bars, boat rentals, whale-watching and fishing cruises, and fish markets. Construction of the adjoining Marina was completed in 1960.  

Fisherman’s Wharf remains a popular destination for tourists and locals alike to walk around, enjoy the views and sea-breeze, and have a bite to eat.  Sea lions can often be found sleeping on the buoys or pilings and are always popular, especially with kids.  At the entrance to the wharf is the historic Custom House Plaza, site of the first government buildings in the region.  But that’s a story for another day.