Located about 20 miles inland from Monterey Bay is the city of Salinas, California. Salinas is the county seat of Monterey county. It was founded in the 18th century by a land grant, first from the Spanish government, and then from the Mexican government. The city became the center of the agricultural industry for Monterey County, a roll it still enjoys today.
Salinas is the birthplace of American writer John Steinbeck (1902-1968). Steinbeck mostly wrote novels and novels. From 1929 through 1961 his fiction described the lives of working people in this area. He is best known for The Grapes of Wrath, Of Mice and Men, and East of Eden, all of which explore the experiences of farm workers on California’s farms. Steinbeck was awarded the 1962 Nobel Prize for Literature. In the center of town is the National Steinbeck Center. This wonderful museum offers interactive exhibits that go beyond Steinbeck’s books, highlighting their cultural effects on American society.
Because Salinas was the center of such an important industry in California, it became a recipient of quite a bit of WPA construction. The center of town is filled with beautiful Art-Deco buildings. Many are government buildings whose exteriors are decorated top to bottom with artwork. However, some have hidden surprises, up above modern storefronts.
When you come to town, please remember to stop by the California Welcome Center-Salinas. It is located next door to the Salinas Amtrak station, another art-deco gem.
The center provides great information on things to do in the area. They also help run the near-by Monterey & Salinas Railroad Modeling and Historical Society, and the First Mayor’s House, both a part of the station complex.
The city of Salinas is home to great treasures of California history, and worth a visit.
Nuts and Bolts
- National Steinbeck Center – 1 Main Street. Open Wed – Sun 10 AM – 5 PM
Entrance fees Adult $15/ Seniors, Students and Military personnel $13/ Children $7 - California Welcome Center 1A Station Place Mon – Sat 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
M&SVRRM first Sat and Sun 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
First Mayor’s House first Sat 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM
John Steinbeck was a genius. Thank you for sharing this information about Salinas.
Salinas seems a town where time hasn’t move very quickly. I enjoyed my visit to it, and thank you for your narrative and photos. We visited on the Day of the Dead, and one of our stops was at the cemetery to see Steinbeck’s grave. We were surprised by the hundreds of visitors (to many of the gravesites), colorful displays of flowers, and general sense of community — in a cemetery.