Canneries of AlaskaWe’re excited to introduce a series of articles describing just a few of Al
Canneries of AlaskaWe’re excited to introduce a series of articles describing just a few of Alaska’s canneries, the people who worked in them, and the landscape features that defined where and how these places developed. Find the series at: Canneries of AlaskaThe Cannery LandscapeFeatures of the canneries were often built in response to their environment. An ideal cannery site required an adequate freshwater source, space that was buildable, and an abundance of salmon and salmon streams. Many were constructed in drainages or directly on the shoreline, requiring the addition of boardwalks for circulation around the sites. The processing buildings were often built on pilings so they could extended out into the tideline and connect with docks. The design of the buildings and structures was utilitarian in nature, and they were often an imposing feature to the landscape. In many cases, the cannery would be the only development in the area. Cannery structures, docks, and the surrounding landscape at Dundas Bay, 1912 (NPS / GLBA Archives) Well before these salteries and canneries were built, Native Alaskan peoples fished in the areas and used them for villages or seasonal encampments. While the development of the commercial canning industry altered the use and appearance of these landscapes, traditional subsistence practices continue to endure in many parts of Alaska. The overall period of significance for canneries in Alaska begins in 1878, when the first two canneries opened, and ends in 1936, when salmon production peaked. While some of these canneries no longer exist, features of the landscapes continue to tell of the history and importance of that period in the commercial fishing industry. The