Cannery Row Monument Honors Historical Monterey Figures

The Cannery Row Monument was unveiled Wednesday afternoon in Steinbeck Plaza with a ribbon cutting ceremony.

The rock monument includes nine bronze figures representing historical figures of Cannery Row; specifically depicting the spirit of Cannery Row from the 1930s to today.

The 15-foot monument will be open for John Steinbeck’s birthday, which falls on Thursday, Feb. 27. A bronze figure representing Steinbeck sits at the top of the monument.

Also sculpted on the monument is Ed Ricketts, who was Steinbeck’s good friend and a famous marine biologist who studied the Monterey Bay sea life.

The four boys on the monument represent real-life entrepreneurs Ted Balestreri, George Zarounian, Harry Davidian and Bert Cutino.

Steven Whyte sculpted the bronze figures. The internationally acclaimed sculptor has a studio in Carmel.

Monterey native and former U.S. Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta was also in attendance for the dedication ceremony.