On the Waterfront: The Chris Shake Collection

Step back in Monterey history and enjoy On the Waterfront: The Chris Shake Collection. This special 40-photo exhibit will be on display at the Monterey History and Art at Stanton Center from November 1, 2025 – January 25, 2026.The connection between Chris Shake and Old Fisherman’s Wharf runs deep, with a family history spanning almost a century. Chris is one of six sons of legendary restaurant owner Sabu Shake, Sr., who founded Old Fisherman’s Grotto in the 1950s. Chris learned the restaurant business at his father’s knee from the time he was a child with the Wharf as his playground, his school, and his community.  Chris developed a keen appreciation of photography, especially images that captured the spirit, grit, and grace of the working waterfront. His extensive photo collection grew organically over the years, through both acquisition and personal encounters. Many of the photos were a gift from Bill Hyler, another Wharf business leader whose own life experiences are represented in the historical photograph collection.  The collection reflects both a visual history of Old Fisherman’s Wharf and the iconic Monterey waterfront.