According to Disney legend, the district known as Pacific Wharf was originally constructed in the 1920s and 30s to support California's fishing industry. After the collapse of that industry from overfishing in the 50s, the buildings sat abandoned for decades. The area has since been reborn by a local entrepreneur who has refurbished the site and attracted a variety of new businesses.
Pacific Wharf is comprised of a collection of weathered buildings which once served as facilities for processing, canning and packaging the catch brought in each day by local fishermen. (An interesting side note: The body of water that sits alongside Pacific Wharf only looks like an extension of nearby Paradise Bay. It's actually the reservoir for the Grizzly River Run attraction. On occasions when the attraction is not operating, the water runs downhill, raising the level here at the wharf.)
The "history" of Pacific Wharf can be seen in the outline of old foundations, patched sections of pavement, original tanning vats and water towers, fading paint and ghosted graphics left from operations long gone. In their place are newer signs that point to current businesses, while carrying on the heritage of the area.
In a nod to that heritage, many of the old signs and ads have been left in place, indicating a canning company, sardine packager and more. In the graphic below, "pescadaro" is the Spanish word for fisherman.
In this district, you'll also discover a small exhibit honoring California's fishing history, with nods to the famous Cannery Row in Monterey, once one of the most productive fisheries in the world.
With the new life that's been brought to the district, Pacific Wharf has become a showcase of California's ethnic diversity. Ever since the Gold Rush lured people here in the 1800s, the state's limitless opportunities have attracted African Americans, Mexicans, Chinese, Spanish, French, German, Japanese and other people from around the world.
From German beer at the Karl Strauss Biergarten truck to Mexican tamales from Cocina Cucamonga, the culinary choices in this area are rich and diverse.
Lucky Fortune Cookery offers Asian specialties. At one time (back before this operation and Cocina Cucamonga swapped locations), you could even watch through the window as a fortune cookie machine processed and folded the popular treats. While fortune cookies are typically associated with Chinese restaurants, they're actually an American invention first cooked up in California (although historians differ on whether they originated in San Francisco or Los Angeles).
The fortune cookie machine may be no more, but visitors to Pacific Wharf can still see food products being made. Check back tomorrow as we tour two of the area's factories.
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