The Old American Can Factory
One of Gowanus’s most notable industrial landmarks, the Old American Can Factory, was built in 1884 as The Somers Brothers Tinware Factory.
It was here, in 1889, that Somers Brothers became one of the first companies to develop a system of lithographic printing directly onto tin cans, an advancement over the common practice of wrapping blank cans in printed paper labels. By the 1890s, Somers Brothers was one of the top-producers of tin cans in the country, and in 1901 was bought out by The American Can Company, which produced 98% of tin cans in the United States. This building remained a leading site for can manufacturing until 1950.
Now, this building is one of Gowanus’s largest creative hubs, a workspace for more than 300 artists, writers, musicians, makers, and creatives. Among these, the space boasts Ortega y Gasset Gallery, as well the headquarters of The Gowanus Canal Conservancy, Rooftop Films, and The Center for Urban Pedagogy.