National Steinbeck Center
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(831) 775-4721NileGuide Expert tip:
Set aside an ample amount of the day to dedicate the National Steinbeck Center. It's best viewed at a leisurely pace.Description:
Literary critics speak of a distinct sense of place in Steinbeck's writing, borne from his close association with the locales he brought to life on the page. Many of these are right in the Central Valley, particularly Monterey and Salinas. The latter chose to honor its Nobel Prize winning son by erecting the National Steinbeck Center, the only museum in the country dedicated to a single author.A beautiful, expansive glass-face facade almost beckons you to enter, drawing you in like a tractor beam. Six galleries are devoted to Steinbeck and are full of lively, 3-dimensional displays. Memorabilia from his time as a World War II correspondent, canisters from Doc Ricketts' lab in Cannery Row, Steinbeck's camper that he traversed the country with and recounted in Travels with Charley all bring the author to life and offer a penetrating look into what inspired him.
The chair of the National Endowment for the Arts said of the NSC: "This is really the best modern literary shrine in the country, and I've seen them all." If my two cents count, it is one of the Top 5 best museums I've ever been too, and I too have been to a lot. The NSC treats its subject lovingly and respectfully, but Steinbeck is not the only one lavished with attention. NSC hosts exhibits of local photographers and painters works regularly, as well as visiting exhibitions.
