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It has seen bales of Chinese silks
and barrels of Spanish wine, |
| whaling ships,
Navy cutters, and fishing boats by the score; |
| Fisherman's Wharf,
in its various incarnations, |
| has been
the focus of Monterey's economic life for centuries. |
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1600-1800's |
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In 1602 the Viceroy of New Spain, the
Conde de Monterey, delegated Sebastian Viscaino, mariner and
merchant, to explore the western shore of California. Viscaino was
to prepare a detailed map of his findings, and to look for a
harbor-haven for the Manila galleons which brought the elegant goods
from the Philippines to the Pacific shores. Viscaino landed in
Monterey that year and named the harbor after the Count of Monterey.
In 1769 Spaniard, Gaspar de Portola
was sent north and in 1770 located Monterey Harbor and the ultimate
City of Monterey was founded. California remained under Spanish
control with Monterey as its capital until 1822, when Mexico added
California to its empire. After war broke out between the United
States and Mexico in 1846, Commodore Sloat, on landing in Monterey,
claimed California for the Union.
Thus, the Marina, Old Fisherman's
Wharf and Municipal Wharf II lie in some of the most historic waters
in California.
In 1870 the Pacific Coast Steamship
Company constructed a wharf at Monterey for regular passenger and
freight service, with ships arriving four times weekly. Growth of
the sardine industry and the need to keep the Wharf in better repair
prompted the City Council to assume ownership of the pier in 1913.
(At some time during this period it became known as "Fisherman's
Wharf") |
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Our thanks to Pat Hathaway, Photo
Archivist, www.caviews.com, for
providing this photo! |
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Early 1900's |
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By 1916 the City had purchased the Wharf
and immediately began
to expand the Wharf, providing more services to the fishing fleet
and to the freight business. By 1920 the Wharf served as location
for warehouses, nearly 20 wholesale and retail fish outlets, a
marine service station, a restaurant, and an abalone shell grinding
business. On March 3, 1923,
the largest load of sardines ever to be shipped from Monterey,
20,000 cases, was on Fisherman's Wharf ready to be loaded on the
S.S. San Antonio. The weather was bad and the San Antonio leaned too
heavily onto the Wharf timbers, causing 132 feet of the pier to
collapse and spilling 10,000 cases of sardines into the harbor. In
Wharf reconstruction which followed, 750 feet were added, and a
finger pier was built extending eastward from the Wharf. A marine
service station was also added.
In 1925 City officials started a
drive for the construction of a new cargo Wharf to meet increasing
commercial fishing demands and to relieve congestion on Fisherman's
Wharf. Bonds were voted in and a new Wharf (Municipal Wharf II) was
completed in 1926.
In 1929 Congress appropriated funds
for the construction of the present breakwater. The breakwater and
its 400-foot extension was completed in 1934. |
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1940 - 1960's |
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During World War II the character of the
wharves changed only slightly. When sardines began to disappear
after World War II, Fisherman's Wharf converted to a
tourist-oriented operation. By 1956 the users of Fisherman's Wharf
included restaurants, gift and candy shops, a theater, an aquarium,
snack bars, boat rental businesses, fish markets, marine machine
shops and a marine service station. Wharf II was still serving the
wholesale fish businesses. In
the 1950s the demand for a small craft harbor or marina became
increasingly urgent. In 1957 construction of a new marina was placed
on the ballot, but divided Monterey citizens failed to approve the
project until a 20-year, low-interest loan for half the construction
cost was obtained from the State. Construction began in 1959. Upon
completion in 1960, the Marina provided 367 berths at a construction
cost of slightly over $600,000. A protective sea wall extended from
Wharf II to the Marina entrance next to Fisherman's Wharf. The Monterey
Municipal Marina was dedicated on September 11, 1960. The berthing
facilities were constructed by Granite Construction Company of
Watsonville, CA. The launching ramps were added in 1962. |
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1970 - Today |
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In 1969 a new loan of $325,000 from the
State was provided to finance the construction of an additional
bulkhead wall, a promenade and additional parking spaces in the
Marina area. G tier with 29 berths was added in 1975.
In October 1996 a $5,000,000 Marina
reconstruction project was finished. New, wider concrete docks and a
handicapped accessible ramp were added. A low-interest loan from the
State Department of Boating and Waterways made the project possible.
The City of Monterey plans to continue to improve services to
customers and public access to Monterey Bay.
Fisherman's Wharf has continued to
adjust to the ever-increasing visitor trade. Where once tons of
sardines were shipped daily, now thousands of visitors enjoy the
Wharf's many fine restaurants, gift shops, art galleries, tackle and
bait shops, fishing, whale watching harbor cruise and party boat
concessions. The Wharf Theater continues to present plays throughout
the year. |
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