National Steinbeck Center

The National Steinbeck Center Some of His Many Works

The Family Home

National Steinbeck Center

Two years ago while spending time in Crans-Montana high in the Swiss Alps, I read three books written by John Steinbeck bringing my total at that time to five. My first was "The Grapes Of Wrath" written in 1939 which was a Pulitizer Prize in 1940 and a Nobel Prize for Literature winner in 1962. At the Center an actual recording of his acceptance speech of his Pulitzer Prize is played.

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When I learned that the Steinbeck Center was located in Salinas, CA. I added that to my "bucket list" which I visited on January 28. The Center is a real treasure with so much preserved for future generations and so worth the time to visit.

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The Center is arranged to take you through his literary works as he wrote them with adequate displays depicting a setting or the artifacts which were used by those he wrote. The actual pickup truck with camper used in his book "Travels With Charlie" is displayed as is the harness from "The Red Pony", only to mention a few.

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At the Center I learned that President John Kennedy recognized John Steinbeck for his efforts of recognizing human injustice through his literary works and planned to present to him the United Stated Medal of Freedom Award. It was awarded almost two months following the assignation of President Kennedy by President Lyndon Johnson.

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The boyhood home was of interest to me for several reasons. While visiting the Center, I learned that two of his works were penned at the family home. "Red Pony" was penned while John was with his dying mother. His grief is expressed through a gift given him and his sister they received as very young youths and with the loss of the pony, a child learns the lessons of life. Another of his book "Tortilla Flat" also was written in the family home and according to documentation was from behind the picture window at the front of the house.

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John had a deep compassion for the oppressed. Several of his works spoke of the injustices toward these people of the Salinas Valley. Other works speak of how we become slaves and encumbered with material possessions. Many of his works were criticized by those enslaving the people he wrote. In the County his works were banned from the publicly funded libraries and schools and ordered burned.

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Today the family home is a small restaurant which serves breakfast and lunch. It is maintained by an organization preserving its history. Plan your visit. It is so worth the time.