The new National Steinbeck Center is being built in tribute to a belief John Steinbeck shared with his native city the belief that the arts should be enriching to the community and relevant to everyday life.

In this spirit, the Steinbeck Center has a mission to be much more than a memorial. Located in Historic Old Town at the head of Main Street in Salinas, the Steinbeck Center is a focal point for activities in education, history and the arts within the city. It comprises a multipurpose facility and entertain local residents, tourists, school children and scholars alike.

WHAT LIES AT THE HEART OF THE STEINBECK CENTER?
• Memorializing John Steinbeck
• Revitalizing downtown and Main Street in Salinas
• Building a living museum for Salinas Valley culture and commerce
• Expanding and giving access to the country's largest collection of Steinbeck Archives
• Offering special education programs and facilities for school children
• Constructing a world class facility for Steinbeck scholarship
• Providing the first major arts exhibition space in Salinas
• Creating a dynamic community center for both daytime and evening family events
• Attracting visitors from the millions of Monterey County tourists

Year round, active programs take place under the Center's roof. Through archive displays, art and history exhibitions, lectures, repertory film series, and special programs for schools, the Center draws people into explore the rich history of the Salinas Valley and Steinbeck Country.

The Steinbeck Center presents the life of Steinbeck, his writings, his characters, and Steinbeck Country in an informative, educational and entertaining manner. Different nationalities play an important role in the Steinbeck Center because the author himself saw the Mexican, Chinese, Italian, Portuguese and other ethnic groups as dignified people and important contributors to the community (East of Eden, Tortilla Flat, Forgotten Village, Cannery Row, etc.). Utilizing diorama, innovative exhibits, changing displays and other media, the wonder and beauty of Steinbeck's creativity is dramatized so that everyone can enjoy and appreciate the author, his works and his environment. This will be literature and culture come alive. You can even see the original truck, Rocinante, that John Steinbeck drove while writing Travels with Charley.

Equally as important as drawing people into the Center, the Center reaches out to the community--to inform and entertain, to invite visitors from around the world, to spill out into revitalized Main Street with a garden area, musical and theatrical performances, tours, festivals, and special events.

MAIN EXHIBITION HALL
To display the city's extensive and valuable collection of Steinbeck materials as well as regular program of visiting art exhibitions, loaned materials, and community projects.

EDUCATION CENTER
To accommodate visitors ranging from grade school students to Steinbeck scholars; including conference rooms and individual study areas, video and recording facilities, a research library, and a special collection of Steinbeck literature and related works open to the public.

ARCHIVES AND PRESERVATION WORKSPACE
To meet the critical needs for cataloguing, preserving and expanding the Steinbeck collection now  housed in the new archive space in the Center's basement.