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Doc Rickett's Pacific Biological Laboratories, Monterey

4.4
#9 of 11 in Historic Sites in Monterey County
#Historic Site, #Tourist Spot
Pacific Biological Laboratories, abbreviated PBL, was a biological supply house that sold preserved animals and prepared specimen microscope slides, many of which were of maritime aquatic species, to schools, museums, and research institutions. It was located in a building on what is now Monterey's Cannery Row on Monterey Bay in Monterey County, California.The building, activities, and business were fictionalized as "Western Biological Laboratory" by John Steinbeck in his novel Cannery Row, as was a character based on one of its founders, Ed Ricketts.HistoryThe company was started by Ed Ricketts with his college roommate and business partner Albert Galigher in 1923. Originally located in Pacific Grove at 165 Fountain Avenue, the lab was moved to 740 Ocean View Avenue, Monterey, California around January, 1930, where Ricketts became sole owner. Today, that location is 800 Cannery Row. After Ricketts developed marital problems with his first wife Anna, the lab served as Ricketts's home for some time beginning in 1936.On November 25, 1936, a fire broke out at the Del Mar Cannery next to the lab (site of today's Monterey Bay Aquarium) and most of the contents of the laboratory were destroyed. The manuscript for Between Pacific Tides survived the fire as it had already been sent to Stanford University for publication. It was Steinbeck that saved the lab financially after the fire with the purchase of half the company's stock.
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36 reviews
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TripAdvisor
  • By lolabwoods On December 4, 2017
    Pleasantly surprised to find so much of the original concrete infrastructure still in place and glad to see so much history still intact. Even if you are not a fan of the books, it is still extremely ...  more »
  • By Noelbats On November 7, 2017
    I've been a fan of Steinbeck and loved his friendship with Doc Ricketts. Log of the sea of Cortez did more for me than many of Steinbeck's other litterary masterpireces. It was such a shame that this ...  more »
  • By Wanderlustutah On October 10, 2017
    Just a quick stop. Not great, but really nice for Steinbeck fans. Building is viewable from the exterior only. Really only good for a quick pic.  more »
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  • By Robert Karbaum On September 19, 2017
    I'm a Steinbeck junkie. I traveled a long way to see this place, and it was entirely worth it.
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