Doc Rickett's Pacific Biological Laboratories

The Pacific Biological Laboratories, presently located at 800 Cannery Row, Monterey, CA, was a biological supply house of preserved marine wildlife for museums and educational institutions. Starting in 1923 by Ed "Doc" Ricketts, the lab also served as a meeting place for artists, musicians, writers and vagrants. The discussion topics often included science, art and philosophy that sometimes transitioned into parties that lasted for days.

A fire broke out in 1936 destroying most of the labs contents. Fortunately, Ricketts manuscript "Between Pacific Tides," detailing marine wildlife living in the tidal habitats, had been sent away for publication and survived. John Steinbeck, a good friend of Ricketts, saved the lab by purchasing half of the company's stock. Steinbeck even fictionalized the lab, its activities and owner in his book "Cannery Row".

The commercial operation of the lab declined once World War II began, but its legacy lives on through the numerous museums throughout the United States that own specimens provided by Ricketts. After his death, a handful of Ricketts' friends continued to use the lab for their weekly meetings until the building was sold to the city of Monterey.

The Cannery Row Foundation restored the building and the Pacific Biological Laboratories' building has been added to the National Register of Historic Places.