A 20th century Nobel- and Pulitzer Prize-winning American novelist, Steinbeck’s writing is infused with his experiences from growing up in a town full of productive agricultural fields and a culture made by the immigrants who worked them.

Decades of American children have grown up with images of romance, humor, and hardships of working class Americans that they discovered through his most famous works, The Grapes of Wrath and Of Mice and Men.

Eight Women, One Mission

More than a century has passed since the Steinbeck family moved into the house in Salinas. Today, the Steinbeck House is maintained by the Valley Guild, a volunteer group formed by eight enthusiastic women with a passion for preserving John Steinbeck’s history. Volunteers of the Valley Guild purchased and renovated the house and then created The Steinbeck House Restaurant, which opened on February 27, 1974, the 72nd anniversary of John Steinbeck’s birth.

Take the Self-Guided Mobile Tour

This piece is part of the Downtown Salinas Architecture Tour and an excerpt from a tour published by the Salinas Historical Resources Board. Download the free app with many tours of the Santa Cruz area and beyond at mobileranger.com.