North Pacific Cannery National Historic Site, Salmon cannery museum in Port Edward, Canada
The North Pacific Cannery National Historic Site is a salmon processing facility at the mouth of the Skeena River with 25 buildings spanning its industrial past. The grounds contain processing halls, worker housing, and various structures that show how the operation functioned as a working facility.
The cannery opened in 1889 when three entrepreneurs purchased land for salmon processing and operated continuously until closure in 1981. Over nearly a century, the facility became a significant center of the salmon fishing industry along the British Columbia coast.
The site displays separate housing for European, Japanese, and First Nations workers, reflecting the diverse labor force that built the fishing industry. These distinct living areas show how different groups lived and worked together in this industrial community.
The site is walkable and buildings are visible from outside, though access to interior spaces varies seasonally. Visitors should prepare for changeable coastal weather and bring appropriate clothing.
The original worker mess hall now operates as a cafe serving food inspired by the workers' own cooking traditions. This detail directly connects the industrial past to the visitor experience today.
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