Day 203: Alaska Packers Association's (APA) Diamond NN Cannery, South Naknek, Alaska
📌APIA Every Day (203) - The Alaska Packers Association (APA) Diamond NN Cannery, located at the mouth of the Naknek River in Alaska, was a key site for salmon processing from 1890 until its closure in 2015. Originally a saltery, it was converted into a cannery by the APA, becoming a major industrial facility with structures dedicated to specific functions such as canning, storage, machine repairs, and housing. The cannery's workforce and accommodations were organized along ethnic lines, with bunkhouses designated for Italian, Scandinavian, Filipino, and Chinese workers, though these designations shifted over time. The cannery's operations were integral to the local community, offering employment and services, including a hospital that was used extensively during the 1918 Spanish Flu pandemic.
The cannery's early workforce consisted largely of Chinese laborers who carried out most of the canning process. However, after the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 restricted immigration, the industry turned to other ethnic groups, including Puerto Ricans, Koreans, Japanese, and Mexicans. The introduction of the Smith Butchering Machine in 1905, which could process fish more efficiently, reduced the need for manual labor and accelerated production. By the mid-20th century, Filipino workers became the primary labor force, playing a crucial role in the cannery's operations until women and college students began joining the workforce in the 1980s.
In 2015, as the cannery was set to close, the NN Cannery History Project was initiated to document and preserve its history. Led by historian Katherine Ringsmuth, the project collaborated with various historical and cultural organizations to collect stories and nominate the site for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places. The cannery was listed in 2021, acknowledging its historical role in Alaska's fishing industry. An exhibit titled "Mug Up" opened in 2022 at the Alaska State Museum to highlight the cannery's work culture and its diverse workforce.
LEARN MORE:
National Park Service: Diamond NN Cannery: A Case Study
NN Cannery Project: Documenting Cannery Work, People & Place
Project Jukebox - Digital Branch of the University of Alaska Fairbanks Oral History Program
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