Bellingham in Whatcom County, Washington — The American West (Northwest)

Pacific American Fisheries

Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, July 21, 2021

1. Pacific American Fisheries Marker (lower panel)

Inscription. The historic link between Fairhaven's shore and coastal Alaska is long and enduring. The Bellingham Cruise Terminal is built on the former site of the Pacific American Fisheries salmon canning complex which, during the 1940's, was the largest salmon cannery in the world with operations throughout coastal Alaska. The tile warehouse at the entrance to the passenger terminal complex, the last remanent of the original warehouses, was built in 1913 and was part of an integrated compound that included a can and box factory, cannery, shipyard, housing for Chinese workers as well as a by-products division at the entrance to Bellingham Bay on Eliza Island.

At the height of the salmon season, each of PAF's 18 canning lines were capable of packing and sealing 42,000 cans per day achieving a peak daily output of 756,000 one-pound cans. From the original dock on this site, the pack was loaded aboard ocean- going steamers bound for markets in Europe and the South Pacific. Originally built in 1889 and called the Ocean Dock, it was the first ocean shipping facility in Whatcom County, connecting the small

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settlement of Fairhaven with ports down the coast and abroad.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical year for this entry is 1913.

Location. 48° 43.317′ N, 122° 30.78′ W. Marker is in Bellingham, Washington, in Whatcom County. It can be reached from Harris Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 355 Harris Avenue, Bellingham WA 98225, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Washington’s Puget Sound Region.

It is also on the American Pacific Coast,

in the Pacific Northwest,

and in the Lewis & Clark Corridor.

Globally, it is in North America,

in the Cascade Range,

in the Inside Passage,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Original Inhabitants of the Area (a few steps from this marker); Northwest Shipbuilding Company (a few steps from this marker); Schooner Zodiac (a few steps from this marker);

Pacific American Fisheries complex <i>(upper panel)</i> image. Click for full size.

1937

2. Pacific American Fisheries complex (upper panel)

In 1937, the Pacific American Fisheries complex had been the dominant feature on Fairhaven's waterfront for nearly four decades.

Early Bellingham Bay (a few steps from this marker); Commercial Point Shipyard (within shouting distance of this marker); Fairhaven (within shouting distance of this marker); The 1909 Fairhaven Empress Tree (about 700 feet away, measured in a direct line); Site of Puget Sound Sawmills and Shingle Company (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Bellingham.

More about this marker. This marker is the fifth of nine related markers surrounding the perimeter of the Bellingham Cruise Terminal.

Also see . . . Fairhaven & The Bellingham Cruise Terminal (Port of Bellingham). A thumbnail history of Fairhaven and the Pacific American Fisheries complex. (Submitted on August 9, 2021.)

Pacific American Fisheries Marker - wide view image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, July 21, 2021

3. Pacific American Fisheries Marker - wide view

The marker is visible here next to the railing by the Zodiac (mid-picture), with the Original Inhabitants marker also visible more to the right and further in the background.

Marker inset: Ships loading canned salmon image. Click for full size.

1947

4. Marker inset: Ships loading canned salmon

Ships load canned salmon at the PAF dock in 1947, now the site of the Bellingham Cruise Terminal.

Marker inset: PAF warehouse image. Click for full size.

1944

5. Marker inset: PAF warehouse

PAF warehouses such as this, pictured in 1944, eventually fell silent and were demolished in 1989 to prepare the site for the Bellingham cruise terminal.

Credits. This page was last revised on August 9, 2021. It was originally submitted on August 9, 2021, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 571 times since then and 41 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on August 9, 2021, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California.