Spreckels in Monterey County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)
Spreckels Sugar Beet Factory
Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, February 18, 2013
1. Spreckels Sugar Beet Factory Marker
Caption: Built 1898, Main Building razed 1993
Claus Spreckels, a German immigrant, at the age of 70 constructed the worlds largest sugar beet factory. The building consisted of 3500 tons of steel framing, 4.5 million brick, a 74,500 sq. ft. slate roof, 6.5 inside stories. The brick walls were 116 ft tall by 102 ft. wide and 582 ft. long. The two brick smokestacks at 227 ft. tall and 14 ft. round, were externally plated with Ό in. steel. Total cost was 5 million dollars. Seven million bricks and the machinery were shipped around the Horn to Moss Landing, where Spreckels owned the P.V.C. Railroad, linking the Watsonville-Salinas area to Spreckels California.
Erected 1994 by E Clampus Vitus, Monterey Viejo Chapter No. 1846.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Immigration • Industry & Commerce. In addition, it is included in the E Clampus Vitus series list. A significant historical month for this entry is October 1994.
Location. 36° 37.407′ N, 121° 39.023′ W. Marker is in Spreckels, California, in Monterey County. It is at the intersection of Spreckels Boulevard and Nacional Street, on the left when traveling west on Spreckels Boulevard.
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Regionally, this marker is on Central Coast and specifically on the Coast Ranges. It is also on the American Pacific Coast. Globally, it is in North America, on the Ring of Fire, in the Pacific Rim, in the Western Hemisphere, in the Western World, and in the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain and also Mexicos Alta California.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Spreckels Historic District (approx. 0.4 miles away); Hill Town Ferry (approx. 1.2 miles away); a different marker also named Hill Town Ferry (approx. 1.2 miles away); Site of the First Salinas Library (approx. 3.4 miles away); Glikbarg Building (approx. 3.6 miles away); The Sargent House (approx. 3.7 miles away); The Steinbeck House (approx. 3.7 miles away); Bataan Park (approx. 3.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Spreckels.
Also see . . . Spreckels Sugar Company. Wikipedia
Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, February 18, 2013
2. Spreckels Sugar Beet Factory Marker
Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, February 18, 2013
3. Remains of the Spreckels Sugar Beet Factory
Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, February 18, 2013
4. Remains of the Spreckels Sugar Beet Factory
Photographed by Dorothea Lange, 1939
5. Spreckels Sugar Factory and Sugar Beet Field...Monterey...
Credits. This page was last revised on March 5, 2026. It was originally submitted on March 4, 2013, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 1,334 times since then and 45 times this year. Last updated on June 3, 2024, by Ronald D. (Ron) Trigueiro of Fresno, California. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on March 4, 2013, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. 5. submitted on March 13, 2013. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
