I’m currently on vacation. Literary destinations weren’t a priority when planing this trip (shocking, I know), but I often have a knack for stumbling upon them.
After visiting friends in Los Angeles we headed north on the Pacific Coast Highway and stopped in Marina, CA for a couple days. I was pleasantly surprised to discover that The National Steinbeck Center is just down the road in Salinas, where John Steinbeck was born and raised. I visited the Center earlier today — February 27, 2016 — which also happens to be Steinbeck’s birthday. He was born in 1902.
I’d like to read more Steinbeck. I’ve only read The Pearl and The Moon is Down. I think I started Cannery Row once upon a time, but didn’t finish it. Today’s visit certainly motivated me to read more Steinbeck.
The National Steinbeck Center is a wonderful museum and although I don’t have time to write a detailed overview of the exhibits, I wanted to share some pictures of my visit with you.
The front entrance.
Posing with the man.
Happy Birthday John Steinbeck ~ everybody eat some cake!
Diary of Dust Bowl migrant Lou Wagner. Apparently I am one of the few Americans of a certain age who did not read The Grapes of Wrath in high school. It is on my reading plan for 2016. Have you read it? Did you love it or hate it?
The camper Steinbeck traveled in with his poodle, Charley. Later immortalized in Travels with Charley
Their living space in the trailer. There’s an Underwood travel typewriter on the table.
Steinbeck’s passport from when he traveled to Russia in the 60s.
Re-creation of Steinbeck’s writing hut and desk,
A picture of a picture of Steinbeck’s desk.
Selfie with The Pearl, which I read (and loved) in 8th grade.
In 1962 Steinbeck was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature.
The house where John Steinbeck was born and grew up is about three blocks from the Center. It is now a restaurant.
Visit the National Steinbeck Center online at http://www.steinbeck.org National Steinbeck Center
One Main Street
Salinas, CA 93901
