The Garden of Memories at 768 Abbott Street in Salinas the burial site of John Steinbeck. He died December 20, 1968 in New York City at home from heart failure at the age of 66. On March 4, 1969 his ashes were buried in the Hamilton Plot nearest Romie Lane. Here Steinbeck is surrounded by family (his mother, Olive Steinbeck, father John Ernst Steinbeck, Uncle, William John Hamilton, and sister, Mary S. Decker), friends, and neighbors, many of whom appear in “East of Eden”.

His Hamilton relatives - major characters in “East of Eden” - are buried in Hamilton Plot #2, directly opposite the mausoleum. In 1971 Universal Studios used Plot #2 for the funeral scene in the television movie, “The Harness”. In “East of Eden,” Samuel Hamilton's burial is set in this cemetery. The cemetery is approximately 2 miles from the National Steinbeck Center and is open daily 8:00am until dusk. Call (831) 422-6417 for information.