Portuguese launched whaleboats from this beach.
From the California Gold Rush to nearly the turn of the century, Azorean Portuguese launched their whaleboats from this beach, rowing them to intercept whales migrating past the Monterey coastline. Harpooned whales were towed to the beach, cut up and their blubber was boiled for its oil. Kerosene replaced whale oil for lamps in the late 1800s and whaling from the beach disappeared.

McAbee’s seaside entertainments.
John B. McAbee purchased the golden sand beach of Arena Gorda (thick sand) at the turn of the century and pursued one of the first commercial ventures on Ocean View Avenue, the original name for “Cannery Row.” Before the beautiful shoreline became the world-famous industrial street, McAbee rented boats, tents and small cottages to a seasonal clientele but was unable to make a dependable income.

Monterey’s McAbee Beach Chinese Settlement.
The Chinese fishing village at China Point ( c. 1853 - 1906), now Hopkins Marine Station, became the second largest Chinese settlement on the West Coast. When it was destroyed by fire in 1906, the Chinese leased McAbee’s beach and built a smaller settlement which occupied the beach area until the late 1920s. The Chinese fishing settlement dispersed as the growing sardine canning industry spread out along the rocky Monterey coastline.

WHALE ON MCABEE BEACH

CHINATOWN BEACH

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Photos in the Cannery Row Walk Tour are courtesy of Pat Hathaway, Photo Archivist
(http://www.caviews.com/)