National Steinbeck Center

It is all about the Nobel Prize-​winning author but you also learn American and world history at the same time. The museum has multi-​sensory displays with doors and a curtain you can open, videos, and the usual museum displays-​photos, letters, transcripts, etc. Parking is super cheap at 50cents per hour and has multiple levels. On a weekday in June, the museum was rather empty. A charming learning place in the middle of The Salad Bowl Of The World.

Bias aside (for I’m a HUGE Steinbeck fan), this is a fantastic museum.
Exhibits are incredibly rich, beautiful, and interactive. Each one is centered around a particular work or life period of Steinbeck’s and offers a ton of cool and informative nooks and crannies. It’s a great way to learn about Steinbeck as a person and the life he both experienced and breathed into his works.
There are also a number of cool sections dedicated to California’s history, agriculture, and workers that provide museum-​goers with a colorful, comprehensive, and fun learning experience.

This is really a great museum but my expectations were a little higher. The self guided tour was interesting but I thought I would see more personal effects of his here. I expected more of a museum than a walk in time with supergraphics. There were trappings of the times and videos abound of movies and performances. The day we got there it was more of a Sci-​fi convention for kids going on inside.

Got a Groupon for a family of 4, so I went there. I have read John Steinbeck’s books when I was in high school. I didn’t really know much about him until I went to this museum. It had a lot of information about the author himself and the books he wrote. I really learned much more about him. This museum is very well put together, organized and logical. I guess many of his books were made into movies as well, so they had a lot of TVs around showing those movies.
If you have never read anything written by Steinbeck, then don’t go, it won’t interest you. My children, who are not yet in high school yet were not very amused that I bought them there.
As mentioned by others, the parking lot is right next to the museum. Plenty of parking at a reasonable price, so no need to worry.
We spent about 2 hours in there, including watching the 2 films.

If only every great American writer had a museum devoted to them this way. Having experienced this makes me proud to live in a country where in spite of all the challenges artists face, the ones who truly make an impact are celebrated this way.
What a wonderful place! Speaking as a Steinbeck fan I was pleased to see equal time given to every point in his long writing career, although some sections such as East of Eden seemed to loom deservedly larger over the others.
If you are going to visit I would recommend reading as many of Steinbecks books beforehand as possible because the exhibits touch upon many of the things that inspired Steinbeck’s writing and you will find yourself wishing you were more familiar with some of the texts. Having read most of his books in the past 20 years I was familiar enough to appreciate every exhibit. There were a few such as the ‘Zapata’ years that I was unfamiliar with and the exhibits did a nice job of stirring my curiosity.
As some have noted the 2 films are probably the weakest parts of the museum. The Salinas film is more like a Chamber of Commerce ad and the short biographical film contained little information I didn’t already know. But it was nice to take a break from walking around. The museum itself is set up like an IKEA, meaning you walk through in one direction only, covering the events of Steinbeck’s life in chronological order. There are no areas to stop and sit but the exhibits do a good job of drawing you forward so before you know it you’ve reached the end.
The placement of the museum itself is ingenious. Downtown Salinas practically becomes a part of the exhibits when you walk out the door and some of the exhibits even point out how so much of the landscape and geography of the place affected Steinbeck growing up there and can be found referenced in his early books.
It saddens me to see people so critical of paying $ 15 for the admission or quibbling over parking! How much do they pay to see the latest Hollywood schlock at the cinema on a Friday night? This place is a gem and something to be cherished. Of course it was very telling that the only other people in the museum with me the day I went were foreigners here on vacation.
My only criticism is that I wanted to see more. The signage in the museum says it is a place to study Steinbeck but there is very little in the exhibits to indicate what their studies have discovered. I would love to see more exhibits that look more deeply at his writing and do more to educate visitors on what Steinbeck did that made him special. I’d like to see the original pages he wrote and made revisions on. Surely there are sections that were cut that would be interesting to see. Or maybe some galleys from the publisher showing how they came up with the artwork or decided to market the books. Very little space is given to how Steinbeck actually wrote, which is of course the genie in the bottle that every writer has to discover how to conjure up.
It would be nice if they used some of that empty space to highlight some of Steinbeck’s contemporaries as well. They do a wonderful job with what is currently offered but as a fan of writers it only made me hungry for more.
Kudos to the museum docents who all seemed very dedicated to their jobs and passionate about the subject matter. And my Steinbeck coffee mug is nice but couldn’t they sell some cooler things featuring the author? (See MOMA in NY bookstore for examples) The T-​shirts with famous passages by Steinbeck sounds like something I would have enjoyed buying also. Writers are cool!

First time here. Very well put together. I love how they have audio recordings of people who knew him at some of the exhibits. I wanted to read his books as soon as I was done! I wish Netflix had his movies!

If you really REALLY like Steinbeck, go read one of his books. If you feel the need to immerse yourself in the total Steinbeck experience, then I suppose you could go here, too, if you want.
I started out annoyed because the museum does not validate parking. the parking is cheap, like fifty cents an hour or something, but still, hey. It’s like $ 15 to get in and walk around.
There were a few items of interest that actually caught my eye. I can’t remember what they were. Some of the books he owned as a kid, I think. Maybe a desk. I would liked to have seen more stuff on Ed Ricketts, but I suppose he has his own museum somewhere.
Anyway, it’s a fairly decent effort from the town that ostraciszed him and burned his books back in The Day.
There are no rides. I feel this is a missed opportunity.

This was a great small to medium size museum. It was of great quality and very informational. I thought our docent was very sweet at 92 years old and spry for her age. Helen our docent actually got to meet him when he lived in Salinas, Ca. I would recommend to visit his house museum as well.

The entire museum is incredible beautiful. It’s so funny of information and visually stunning. So many videos, sound clips, and just over a great. I learned a lot coming here today and am ready to hit Amazon to buy of his books I hadn’t heard of. They also have 90 minute free parking! It’s $ 4 for all day and 50 cents an hour after the first 90 minutes. His house is only a few blocks from the center and they serve lunch there everyday. 11:30−4pm!

great overview of his life and works.
late entry is about $ 9 on saturday

Love this museum. It’s a great place for the kids as well. There is a scavenger hunt for the kids so it keeps them preoccupied. Staff was friendly and readily available if I had any questions.

I bought a Steinbeck mug from the gift shop. They have some pretty cool stuff in there. Unfortunately they didn’t have a Large-​sized «There are never enough books» T-​shirt otherwise I would’ve gotten one.
Bountiful Harvest, the initial film, wasn’t that great. It came across like an advertisement.
Steinbeck lived quite a life. I had no idea he knew Spanish and interacted with soldiers from Zapata’s army and the wrote an original screenplay about the experience.

This was a great day trip for my boyfriend and I, coming from Sam Jose. The building itself is beautiful and well kept, and the exhibits inside are filled with information about Steinbeck, the Salinas area and tons of American history.
We were impressed by the quality of the exhibits and really enjoyed the additional exhibit which followed multiple American stories on a road trip through the U.S.
The gift shop is nice too, I got a sticker and a ruler, but they had tons of books (obviously), audio books, t shirts, mugs and posters.
Park in the garage, it is cheap ($ 4 daily max, we paid $ 1), but know that the museum does not validate.

My husband wanted to go here, since we found out that we’d be driving through Salinas to get to Carmel. I thought, why not? It seems like a popular destination, especially if you are a fan of Steinbeck novels.
Ticket prices are: $ 14.99 adult
There’s a bookstore inside, and the staff are very friendly.
Once inside, you can opt to view a video clip of the life of Steinbeck. I think viewing this video is important before you take the tour of the museum, since it’ll help you understand his life journey and his works through time.
My husband is a fan of Steinbeck’s books, so he found this museum to be rather fascinating. You can spend a good 1 – 1.5 hours here, give or take. Parking is available on the streets; not sure about a parking lot or structure.
If you like Steinbeck or his books, then this museum is right for you! It’s quiet and not that many visitors, at least for July 4^th wknd.

If you went to high school in California, chances are that you read a book or two by John Steinbeck. The Grapes of Wrath and Of Mice and Men were required reading at my school. Steinbeck was born and raised in Salinas, where the National Steinbeck Center is located. The Center is actually located a few blocks from the house that Steinbeck was born in.
This museum is dedicated to Steinbeck’s life and his works and according to the most awesome docent ever, Al, is the largest museum in the U.S. about a writer. Al, who volunteers his time at the Center, is full of Steinbeck knowledge and is quite enthusiastic about it — meeting him and chatting with him was definitely one of the highlights of visiting the Center. He recommended that I check out the short film about Steinbeck’s life in the little theater and also gave me a list of Steinbeck’s works and told me which ones were his favorites. He also talked about the temporary exhibit (right now it’s photographs of Edward Weston and three of his descendants) and how it used to be the section devoted to agriculture and migrant workers, but that the Center had to change it to have exhibits that would draw more visitors.
The main part of the museum starts with the early years of Steinbeck and goes through each of his major works. There are lots of old photographs and lots of reading — so this isn’t really a museum for little kids; more for folks who can comprehend his works and the themes he wrote about. There are also tv screens playing films based on his novels. One of my favorite parts was seeing the display that held Steinbeck’s novels in all different languages, including Korean. My other favorite part was the section on Travels with Charley — there was a map of where Steinbeck and his dog Charley went and a model of the camper that he took on his major road trip. I really want to read this book now!
The Center was a great place to visit and learn more about John Steinbeck, who was not only from Cali, but has ties to the Bay Area as well (he went to Stanford, though he didn’t finish). The gift shop was cool too — they sell all of Steinbeck’s works and they also sell shirts that have one of my favorite quotes of his «I guess there are never enough books.» The main gallery about Steinbeck is quite chilly, so if you get cold easily like me, definitely bring a light jacket or a sweater. I was wearing a shirt and jeans and I was freezing in there. And parking is either what you find on the street, or there is a parking garage right next to the Center. The Center doesn’t validate for it, but the garage is 50 cents an hour, which may be the cheapest garage (that’s not free) I’ve ever parked at.

$ 15 for adult ticket entry here. Closes at 5PM. got here too late. At the very north end of Main street. One will simply dead-​end into it. V close to the blocks of renewed urbanization and land reform.
Even though we only had 5 mins in here, still fascinating. Shame I never read beyond Red Pony, Cannery Row, and Of Mice&Men…

We finally checked out the National Steinbeck Center in Salinas. It’s in Old Town Salinas, they have street parking & parking garage nearby.
It’s better if you’ve read Steinbeck’s book because it’s mostly about all the books & other stuff he’s written. I’ve only read: «The Grapes of Wrath», «Of Mice & Men» & «Cannery Row». So many other books I need to read.
We watched the 2 short films first which helped. Learned more about John Steinbeck — he was married 3 times, born in Salinas, his old house is only a few blocks away from the Center. He went to Stanford, but didn’t graduate. Other film was about agriculture in Salinas.
The Rabobank Agriculture Museum had exhibit on the Missions & Ohlone Indians. In the current changing exhibit there’s works by Liam De Leo — he’s a graffiti artist. Pretty fun & colorful stuff.
Plan about 2hrs to see everything in the museum.
Good for locals & fans of John Steinbeck.
Regular adult admission $ 14.95 — with AAA Card you get $ 1 off.
Open daily 10 – 5, holidays different hrs check website.
Website:

If you’re a big fan of John Steinbeck (his books, journalism, or his philosophy), this place is for you and worth the trip.
I went with the family and we enjoyed it (of course, I want to go back and just spend hours there, but hours I usually don’t have when with the family). Modest charge to get in, especially with a student ID.
For kids, it’s not that exciting. There are a lot of things to see, but it’s not Great America. Young kids will really find it a bore. They don’t have any connection to Steinbeck’s work or the appreciation for it, which is totally reasonable. I myself didn’t fully begin to appreciate the man until I was in my late teens.
The NSC is what I’d describe as a museum that is devoted to one of the most brilliant and prolific American authors of the 20^th Century. The museum is located in beautiful Salinas, CA (his impressive childhood home is a very short distance from the museum as well as his burial plot). Aside from being the birthplace of Steinbeck, Salinas is an area that’s known for it’s agriculture and it’s mild climate. It’s also an area that’s really close to the ocean.
Although he came to nearly despise the changes that his fame brought to the area as well as Cannery Row in Monterey, CA, Steinbeck’s hometown of Salinas remains the backdrop to some of his most powerful stories. On the same note, his fame combined with the anger that farmers directed towards him as a result of his exposing the plight of migrant farm workers, forever altered his ties with this town and its people.
As you can tell, I’m a big Steinbeck fan. I fell in love with «The Grapes of Wrath» and went from there. Being in Salinas, I’m best reminded of his short story titled «Pastures of Heaven» (Las Pasturas del Cielo, as it’s first named in this story), which paints the beautiful landscape of Salinas as a sort of heaven and hell. Also, I immediately think of it as the backdrop for Steinbeck’s «Of Mice and Men».
I love «Travels with Charley» too, and have read it numerous times. So, to be here, and actually SEE Rocinante, the truck named after Don Quixote’s horse that Steinbeck drove across America, was HUGE. I had to just stop and practically pinch myself because I couldn’t believe how lucky I was to be right there, next to the truck and the adventures that I’ve read about.
So, if you love Steinbeck –again, this will not disappoint. The gift shop is nice too, but it’s of course mostly books, many which can be bought elsewhere. However, there are other items, such as magnets, bookmarks, cups, shirts, etc. that are worth checking out. The museum is a big, open area with lots of cool artifacts as well as creative and interactive displays.
I’m going to mention the Center for Steinbeck Studies on the fifth floor of the Martin Luther King Jr. Public Library in San Jose, CA (Downtown and shares its resources with the public and San Jose State University students). It’s free to the public. I was lucky (and totally elated) to spend an entire semester with my class in there. BEST CLASSROOM & BEST PROFESSOR EVER. While not a museum, it has several cool artifacts and books that are available to look through. There are ongoing events as well throughout the year.
Also noteworthy is a connected museum to the National Steinbeck Center. The admission to the Steinbeck Center covers both areas. When we went, there was a feminist type of exhibit, including the works of various artists. It was memorable and charged with emotion. Great, open space for it too.
Good parking –we went on a weekend. Main Street in Salinas is completely dead on the weekends so it’s a good time to go if you don’t like crowds.

When you first come up to the Steinbeck Center, you might be thinking «Why is there such a nice building in the dust bowl town?» I don’t have the answer to that, but the Center is pretty awesome!
I probably fit into the category of 99% of people in that I knew nothing about Steinbeck and only read Of Mice and Men in highschool. The Center really has an awesome exhibit, going through many of Steinbeck’s novels and the era behind them. You could spend a ton of time here watching all the movie clips that have been adapted from his work too. The admission seems a little high at first, but it was totally worth it. I’m almost finished with my 2^nd Steinbeck novel since our trip!

Surprisingly enough, making a small detour to Salinas was way more than we bargained for! Up until a few weekends ago, I didn’t know that this museum existed. Now I feel like shouting its praises on the rooftops, just to give the place some more buzz. Though a Unilocal review is likely a much better tool ;)
— — — — — — — — — — –
The scene: Sunday morning, in a sunny Monterey County hotel room. 30-​something overindulged couple is trying to decide how to spend their last day of a mini-​vacation.
Her: «Believe it or not, I’m tired of drinking wine.»
Him: «Do you want to go hiking?»
Her: «Umm… do I look like an adventure scout in ballet flats?»
Him: «Give me your phone»
(He pulls up the Unilocal app on her smart phone and starts reading details about the museum. Being a BlackBerry user, this man’s phone has no use in the real world. It’s often the topic of her ridicule)
Him: «There’s a Steinbeck museum in Salinas.»
Her: «Does it cost money?»
Him: «Only about $ 10/​person.»
Her: «Let’s do it.»
(They grab their overnight bags and head towards the car)
Fin
— — — — — — — — — — —
A wonderful detour, indeed! Embarrassingly enough, I had little prior knowledge of Steinbeck beyond «Of Mice And Men». But that’s OK, since the museum lays it all out there for you without bogging down the brain with too much info. You learn about his upbringing in Salinas and Monterey, find out more about his various publications over the years as well as many historic accomplishments. All of this is done through interactive exhibits, video, photos and text displays. One of the most unique museums I’ve ever been to.
It so inspiring, in fact, that a few nights later, we got «East of Eden» and watched at home!
Other than I urge you to go visit and experience for yourself, I would not suggest bringing small children. The museum is located within a library and the folks in charge are very kind to allow any ages within, I wouldn’t think that anyone under the age of 12 would find it to be very exciting. There were a few small children there who were completely bored and, as a result, distracting everyone else around them by screaming and running around.
Plan a little day trip down south and learn more about California history! It’s much better than anything lesson in high school, I can guarantee!