John Steinbeck's Childhood Home, Museum & Final Resting Place in Salinas
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 30 ก.ย. 2024
- Jeff and Sarah visit Salinas and check out the National Steinbeck Center where his famous truck and camper shell used in the journey that led to the writing of "Travels with Charley." You'll see the interior of the home where John Steinbeck was born and lived in as a young boy and man.
They will also check out the Hamilton grave plot where Steinbeck's ashes are interred with his parents.
#JohnSteinbeck #Salinas #HistoryHunters
Born and raised in Salinas. I remember when they filmed East of Eden there. I miss the Salinas from the 70s and 80s. It's not at all the same now.
Salinas native here… I actually went to the little red school referenced in “The Red Pony.” Lagunita. Me and my little brother went there for every grade up until 8th grade. I was born at Memorial Hospital in the south side of Salinas. Now I live in Oklahoma. It’s interesting to experience both sides of two places that are deeply connected. I love the Salinas Valley and it will forever be my home. Monterey Bay is hands down one of the most beautiful places on the planet and being so far from it now makes me appreciate it so much more. Feeling a little homesick now after watching this video.
On san juan grade rd???
God bless you! So you took the opposite route back to Oklahoma from Grapes of Wrath. Life is full of irony. Thanks for sharing and hope you’re well! Keep the faith.
Absolutely love History Hunters always so interesting and all the History 😁👍👍👍❤
In my younger days I knew an old gentleman who was a lifelong fisherman in Monterey. He knew Steinbeck through Ed "Doc" Ricketts. He remembered the bums, and used to talk and drink with them.
Honest to God, he looked and sounded like Popeye.
Do you remember the boat builders in the bay
@@sherrilee230 I remember the boat yard, if that's what you mean.
@@tikitavi7120 I left there in 68 and went back to see family but didn't get to Monterey went to Carmel Valley , Spreckels and the Hallock house
Great story. Wish we could go back and capture those recollections on tape or video.
I remember the bar Doc Ricketts
Salinas is a hidden treasure! Always loved going there and the improvements in town are very impressive! Great to see the both of you stay safe and healthy..✌️❤️🩹
Our pleasure! Thanks for going to Salinas with us!
I live 30 minutes from Salinas and got to go to the Steinbeck Center
Wait what I live in Salinas and how did you get a picture of his old school honestly want to see old pictures of my town if you know how let me know !
I was born and raised in Salinas❤️
Old town is beautiful, I actually live a couple streets away from old town and Steinbeck’s home 🥰
Steinbeck is a favorite author. I think Canary Row ls my favorite. It is a hard choice as I could say the same for many of his books.
Jeff, you mentioned Steinbeck was not especially liked in California during his time. I believe he exposed the harshness of the of the places he wrote about. Farming and the canaries were big business in California at that time.
Hemingway, Fitzgerald, Steinbeck
Some of the greatest authors in my lifetime and most younger kids have no clue. Thanks for the tour.
You forgot Twain.
Oh but we do. Not every one of every generation appreciates a great read. Everyone had different interests.
@@gabi-gi2ht Trying to find ANYONE under 20 who has read any of these authors would be a fruitless undertaking. Thanks to a solid teacher, I started reading Steinbeck in 9th grade. We read The Pearl in class. I naively asked, Did this guy write anything else. Teacher was grand, he did not laugh.
He just said, Yes he did, check the library.
I have since read almost everything he ever published. I am a writer today because of him and others. Though I tend to write way more non-fiction material than fiction.
@@delip9303 I’m 18 and have read a ton of these books as have many of my friends. My 13 year old brother called me the night he read the first chapter of grapes of wrath because he couldn’t believe how good it was.
@@Conradt1996 Trust me, I just fainted. I am THRILLED you and your friends have read anything classic without Emojis or Abbreviations. Evidently, your parents did well compared to the norm. Three cheers for your brother too. I will encourage you
to read all your life. Expand your horizons!!
Grapes of Wrath, both my parents lived it..came out from OK as kids and lived in the picking camps around Tulare. Loved this episode and wonderful to see Sara peeking in a bit.
Of Mice and Men... is my favorite but I've never read Travels with Charley and need to now. Salinas, Monterey, Pacific Grove, my favorite areas in California. I'm a native too and that's the area I always go back to, will be there in September I think and will have to visit the Steinbeck house and museum. Thanks for another awesome vlog!
Wonderful! Enjoy your experience when you come to Salinas. The weather was great when we were there in June!
Kind of odd to imagine Steinbeck awkwardly standing around a gymnasium with a cup of punch at a high school reunion.
I was born and raised in Salinas, still live here and John Steinbeck will always be one of the biggest things to come out of Salinas.
The only thing. 😆
@@itiiyt Did you know the local television station, KSBW, got its name for Salad Bowl to the World? Did you know that Salinas iced rail cars to move produce, and, later brought refrigerated trucks into being? Sammy Hagar (Musician) and actress Vanessa Hudgens are reportedly from Salinas. I grew up further south but have heard lots about Salinas over the years.
Booooooooo to the 3 people who gave this a thumbs down. Just saying.
Yeah, we know. There are 4-5 consistent individuals who think they are getting to us. For whatever reason they keep watching when, if they don't like it, they can just go away. LOL. We are not fazed by it but see it as a sign of success! Thanks for the boo!
Hi History Hunters, Thanks for sharing another great video. Have a Wonderful day 🌞
Hi Charles! Thanks! You have a great day too!
I live in Soledad just down the valley from Salinas. This is where "Of Mice and Men" takes place. I just wanted to thank you posting Mr. Steinbeck's biography. I learned some new facts that I didn't know.
Being from Salinas it brought back memories. Mr. Steinbeck went to school with my my family and across the street from his house was a grocery store where my grand mother shopped. My great grandfather built their house across from Salinas high it was on Pine Street. The Hallock and Blomquist family from Jamesburg. I would like to see more of that area. Your do wonderful work thank you for sharing it. My 2nd great grand father ran stage from Salinas to the hot springs
That's some pretty close connections there. Thankyou for sharing that...and your ggfather being a Salinas stage coach driver!
@@wendygerrish4964 I'm 70 now and can't travel and my cousin has worked with the Monterey historical society. My family still lives there
At that time I was to young to care I wish I would have now
Wow thanks so much for sharing your story to your friends here! 🙂
Thx for sharing this
Growing up in the bay area, I had heard reference to John Steinbeck many times but never read his work. Then one day I watched the movie Of Mice and Men with Gary Sinise and John Malkovich. Not knowing anything of the story, I found myself stunned by this story teller and began reading his books.
Simply outstanding video! I've loved "Of Mice and Men" since I read it in High School.
Wonderful comment! Thanks! Steinbeck books have piqued my interest more now!
Very interesting, I didn’t know anything about him. Thank you!
See! We teach things lots of folks don’t know! That’s a great inspiration for us! Thanks!
@@jbenziggy You sure do, thanks!
I never knew he was buried in Salinas. I have a niece and nephew, siblings, buried in that cemetery. Next time I go visit them, I will go look for Steinbeck's plot.
I loved my visit there a few years back. :)
I would love to walk through some of the old homes just to see how they were laid out, room size, fixtures, ,maybe glass doorknobs,
wood burning stoves. When I was perhaps 2 years old, 1945, i only had a diaper on and i bellied up to the front of the wood stove for
less than a second. I had a nice red imprint of the door design. One of my earliest memories I still have today at age 78.
Pretty early for a tattoo! Glad you were ok! Yes old houses are history!
@@Porsche996driver Nah, he got branded!😆
Just finished re-reading "Grapes of Wrath" "Of Mice and Men" and "East of Eden" The kids today will never know the pleasure of reading one of his books. Some time in the future could you do a look back at the movie "Skater Dater"?
I love the great classics .
"The kids today will never know the pleasure of reading one of his books. " His books are required reading in school. Just because times have changed doesn't mean "kids today" will never have any of the same experiences you had. Maybe you should try being less of a boomer.
I’m a native of the County of Monterey, and it makes me warm and fuzzy to see these videos on our local history. 🥰
Right when I was feeling home sick this popped up on my list. I was born in San Francisco and we moved to Salinas after the 89 earthquake, my grandparents live in Hollister, aunts and uncles in Aromas, Santa Cruz, Monterey, Carmel and Gilroy. I always have great memories of home. My first apartment was in the tan building behind the Steinbeck House.
Happy to know you lived so close to the Steinbeck house! I am assuming you got to tour it?
@@jbenziggy believe it or not no!!! I had been in the basement though or where the store was. My Mother still lives in north Salinas so i do visit plus my 30 year high school reunion is upon us soon.lol. My first job was at Dick Bruhn's Downtown. It was a very different place then it is now. I love our history on the Central Coast.
My favorite book is "Travels with Charley". Thank you for the information on Ed Ricketts.
By accident walked into a talk on the Life of Eugene C Haderlie Oceanographer Stanford or Hopkins Marine Station Monterey where in his biography is a story of his meeting up with Steinbeck and Ed Ricketts in LA Paz, Baja and the 'Western Flyer'. The book is "Conversations with MARCO POLO" Denny/Nelson.
Steinbeck wrote the book The Log From the Sea of Cortez, after that trip. Could be a companion book to the one you referenced.
Always aThumbs Up! My work has taken me to Salinas many times.. just a few months ago I delivered a truck load of Drywall to their Home Depot. I have never had the opportunity to go into the older section of town.. and really appreciate you doing this segment! I also was not much of a reader all my life because I was busy working and raising a family. Didn’t know much about Steinbeck or his books but recognized the names so now you have me interested in reading them!! Especially now that I am down for a while and can’t work. Jeff I also find it interesting that you love being and or touching something where these famous people have touched or stood.. I am the same way!! Again.. outstanding home work on the back ground of another famous and important person from California’s past!
John Steinbeck and Mark Twain are my two favorite authors. Cannery Row is my favorite book of his. I bet I've read it a dozen times.
A trip to Hannibal was interesting. Twain's museum and many other things all within walking distance.
@@delip9303 Thanks bud. I may travel down there sometime.
Wonderful memories of going with my son's class to this place...kids climbing on the boxcar and the red pony. Loved seeing Charlie's camper and bought the book! The home is absolutely gorgeous! xoxo
It is an amazing house for certain! I’m in love with the exterior design, built in a day in which they knew how to build beautiful homes!
Great job guy’s! I remember in high school we had to read “Of Mice and Men” by Steinbeck for one of our summer reading project. Definitely a good read but back then I remember it being a bit different though, lol! Frank from Philadelphia, PA.
Time 9:42, flat pennies for .50 cents. I have one book full, i try to find them when I can but I don't get out that much anymore.
You could have a side job if you wanted to sell the pennies from your various stops. Even if I was not there, they make a wonderful
collection.
Hmm, now that's an idea! Selling Sarah's flattened pennies? Maybe. LOL
That was so very interesting. John Steinbeck wrote about the plight and reality of American, human existence against an historic background. He didn't "pretty up" stark occurrences. I think my favorite book of his is "Of Mice and Men". Thank you both for taking us along.👏🤠👏 BTW, the guide at the home was fantastic.
He was an astute observer of people and the human condition. It is a frail existence to be sure and he knew how to describe it in words. Thanks! Mr. Dale was nervous when he asked, "So what do you plan to do with the video?" and I told him about my TH-cam channel and my 53,000 subscribers! I hope he watches and enjoys!
Sarah doesn't always shop...but when she does....love the t-shirt Sarah picked out !!👍😊 As always....Jeff ..nice job on this subject.....p.s. the grapes of wrath.... Peace out 💛💛💛
This was a really good one, exceptional.
Thank you very much, Arlene! Glad you enjoyed it!
Wonderful. One of my favorite books since I was a kid is Travels With Charley by Steinbeck.
My hometown. North Salinas High....Class of 1985! Great job friend. Tony Driver... Forrest Fenn treasure finder! Remember the name.
As a Salinas native and old guy Steinbecks popularity has grown exponentially. As a kid I knew plenty of adults that didn't care much for him
My dad loved his writings, thought he was pretty full of himself.
I literally lived like 4 houses away, it a great place to have walks & see all the beautiful Victorian homes
One of my all time favorite authors ever! Fantastic and informative video so fun. Thank You 💕
You’re welcome! Glad you enjoyed!
John Steinbeck has always been my favorite author, my favorite books of Steinbeck’s are of mice and men and the grapes of wrath ,thanks for posting 👍🇺🇸
Thanks for sharing!
Inlater years John Steinbeck lived in a small cabin located in Crestline, California. He may have possibly have written "The Grapes of Wrath: in Crestline.
Interesting. My mom and her family were one of those okie families who migrated from Oklahoma
Can't hear _John Steinbeck_ without thinking _Grapes of Wrath._
Very true! I think it’s his best!
Travels with Charley bought it in Big Basin California State Park while camping years ago.I’ve always dreamed of doing the same, sometimes life gets in the way. I’d have to title my trip Travels with Cassidy, Madison and Oliver….. Black lab and 2 Golden Retrievers lol. Again enjoyed the Video Jeff and Sarah ,Thanks
Life always gets in the way, doesn’t it? Thanks for watching! I hope you find a way to take the journey!
Great read 😉🍇💚
What a great documentary! I was raised and educated in Germany. I remember reading “Jenseits von Eden” in high school. I’ve been living in the Central Valley of California for decades. A few years ago I visited the John Steinbeck Center, but haven’t made it to his birth place yet. My niece from Germany accompanied me to the Steinbeck Center. She’s an English teacher in Germany and had not heard of John Steinbeck. I guess he’s no longer on the curriculum… pity! The center is set up really well, targeted mainly to school children. I remember one exhibit in particular. Grapes of Wrath. I was in for a kind of rude awakening. This was when, 1930’s? Times haven’t changed all that much, have they?
But 'Jentseits or Beyond Eden isn't really the Title or the titles intended reference...in East of Eden a reference from The Bible
Just a note... for those who care
Thank you.
I liked his writing too. Realistic and honest. Insightful. Perhaps that is why he was met with opposition by those he knew and lived among. There is nothing he wrote that I read, that I didn’t enjoy. His best, to me, was America and Americans and Travels with Charley: In Search of America.
I have read many but The Pearl for some reason strikes me the most
This is the best episode yet.... I grew up with Steinbeck...👍👍
Thank you very much Michelle! That’s quite a compliment!
I read Travels With Charlie when I was twelve and it remains my favorite Steinbeck. He really loved America. The reason I won't read TWT again is that I'm afraid it won't appeal to me as much now.
One of my favorite authors.
Canary Row was my favorite Book . He is still my favorite writer
Back in the 70’s when I was a kid my brother was friends with the care taker there . At Steinbeck’s house.. a fellow teenager name Jim hack .. he claims he saw Steinbeck ghost there .. at the time the national enquirer did a story on it..
Responding to what you said, of mice and men , The grapes of wrath. 🦘💥
Of Mice and Men for me. This is one of my favorite episodes to date. Thank you for the hours of work that goes into putting together these videos.
I have something in common with Steinbeck, I was also born at home, on the kitchen table.
I love your videos!!! This should be on TV.. Like PBS..
Hi! Awesome video! Very interesting and informative article! It would be great if you are related ! Thanks for all your vlogs! Stay cool and keep on vlogging! Deborah.... Winnipeg, Canada
I’d love to be related to Steinbeck!
Was able to visit the museum briefly several years ago. My favorite American author. Thanks!
I think 'East of Eden' is his greatest work (and so did he). I have read it five times and every time I get more out of it. I am especially interested in his character 'Lee'. I have also read all of his other works and they are wonderful.
Love this video! You are awesome and your productions are incredible...ThaNK YOU SO MUCH FOR SHARING YOUR PASSION!
Wow, that was a fantastic sentence for us to read this beautiful day! Thank you so very much! We appreciate the view and the amazing comment, Steven!
Steinbeck is my favorite author. East of Eden and travels with Charley my favorite books. Thanks for the excellent video.
My pleasure! I just recently finished “Travels with Charlie” and enjoyed it!
My all time favorite author. Great video, thanks for sharing...
Love the history of the Monterey Bay! Please do a piece on Monterey, especially on Colton Hall, since I just found out about it.
"Travels with Charley" is my favorite.
Excellent book! I bet you appreciated seeing the pickup and camper shell in this video then! Thanks for the comment ... and watching!
I remember reading East of Eden after watching the 1980s mini series. Thanks for the tour!
Nice one Jeff! 2021 and some folks are still burning books and blaming others. John Steinbeck had the curiosity and courage to look a little deeper. I loved Grapes of Wrath and the story of American migration. I’ve been near Salinas (Laguna Seca raceway) many times and didn’t realize this history right there.
“I’m asking for Charley not Lassie!” That’s hilarious. Thanks for including and interspersing the footnotes and pictures.
Also noted his middle name was Ernst (which is a name but also means serious in German). I found that his family name was originally Grosssteinbeck. He might remind us that most Americans are descendants of immigrants. Peace all. 📖📚
Thank you for this video. John Steinbeck was an interesting American. I loved learning more about him. I also love History Hunters. 👍
Great, read a couple of his books, and I plan to read one more, on my bucket list.🦘💥
Thanks for sharing your travels. I'd love to see y'all visit the Cannery Row of today where Ed Rickett's lab is preserved and just across the street still sits the Market Steinbeck featured in his famous book Cannery Row. Steinbeck was a close friend of Rickett's and he featured Both places in their fictional versions in his book, Cannery Row. The real life Ed Rickett's wrote a book of his coastal research of Monterey Bay, Beyond Pacific Tides that has become a cornerstone of marine biology and is still taught in colleges today. Ed was one of Steinbeck's mentors.
The way he said Alisal Street hahahaha great video though thanks for shedding some light on salinas‼️
Scrolling through the comments for just that😂
Thank you for this wonderful presentation . Besides , I don't even blame the author for not wanting to bothered by autograph hounds . I wouldn't either .
Thats my hometown 🥺🥺
Got to visit museum!
Home run again Jeff, great job!!!
Thank you Jeff & Sarah for this entertaining and educational Vlog.
So interesting. Loved “Of Mice and Men”
Thanks for sharing. Sara and I watched the recent version of mice and men and understand that it held true to the book.
Good one Jeff! Thanks on Steinbecks roots, love his work! Amazing mind and work ethic.
I was born in Salinas in 1977 and grew up a few blocks from Steinbeck House. My aunt has been a volunteer there for over 30 years. I remember there being an old flop house hotel that was demolished for the Steinbeck Center.
Hey I live in Salinas!
Great video as always
I ❤ my town; thank you for making us look good 😊
It's great to see some of the old buildings. The Jeffery hotel and the dry goods
I live in salinas😌
The Long Valley and Pastures of Heaven. My favorite Steinbeck books. Both describe life in the Salinas and Carmel valleys as only a native resident could.
Thanks for yet another great and interesting video! My husband's aunt was a docent at the Steinbeck Center before she passed. Looks like they changed it up a little. Was the red tractor sill there? Our daughter climbed up on it.
Oh wow! Didn't see the tractor there on this visit but maybe I missed it! Thanks for watching and commenting!
My hometown 🥰
The twentieth century produced many great writers, but to my mind, Steinbeck remains the top of the class. My favorite book is Cannery Row, a wonderful short novel that can be read in one evening, although it is so beautifully written, it is better savored, a few chapters at a time. In the years I was reading Steinbeck, I didn't know that I would live out the second half of my life in Salinas, but so it has come to pass. Thanks for showing a few other places of note here in Salinas. It's a great little town. I like taking the old stage coach road over the hills into San Juan Bautista. I always imagine that my great great grandparents stayed in that town in the 1870's. Great video! Subscribed, and thank you!
Thanks for the really nice comment, Susan. We appreciate you subscribing and hope you enjoy all the videos that will continue to pour forth from my fertile imagination!
@@jbenziggy Reread my comment (above). Have you done one on San Juan Bautista? If not, why not? It's chockablock full of history, the whole town is a living history memorial and park. You haven't lived until you've attended a Saturday morning wedding at the Mission, followed by a Mariachi procession with the bride and groom and guests, through the square and down the street to Jardines de San Juan, the most beautiful Mexican restaurant in California (with the possible exception of the one in the Mission district of San Diego's old town. That would make for a wonderful couple of three videos, for sure, too!
@@susansisson366 If you look at our video list we just released one about a month ago on San Juan Bautista.
Thank you for the video
I grew up reading John Steinbeck books as a kid in Slidell, LA. I would enter a different universe reading his work
As always when explore the past it always saddens me how white folks can pick up move to a place and prosper.. the folks from Oklahoma may not have been wanted but they didn’t have to worry about being terrorized, lynched.., didn’t have to have their communities burn down due to hate .. as you said the Okies became wealthy ..
I’m reminded of the that successful black communities were burned to the ground and/or terrorized..Rosewood, Fl, Black Wall Street in Oklahoma.. to many communities to name that alot of folks don’t know about because their history is intentional not taught
Mormons were pushed out of the east coast and Midwest but they were kindly given Utah and other areas to create their cult’s unhindered.
All religions are cults to me .. black folks who fought in all American wars, even before the official founding of the US would never be given that chance..
another great story Jeff thanks for letting us tag along 👍👊🙌🏻
I’ve live in Salinas and have been here for most of my life but never been to John Steinbecks museum.
Great Author. He also lifted the "Grapes of Wrath" from the the Battle Hymn of the Republic. My English teacher took us to see Broadway production of "Of Mice & Men" starring James Earl Jones in 1975. It was incredible!
Great video
My parents got to California like in the Grapes of Wrath , Settled 1/2 way between Salinas and Moss Landing / Watsonville , Made friends with the Watsonville Massey Ferguson Dealer(Cocks Brothers) in the late 40’s .. By the Early 60’s My father had Purchased 50 Massey grain harvesters…
Salad Bowl!!
Excellent job. Steinbeck was such a talented writer. My favorite of his books is East of Eden , but I also really like Travels With Charley. Of Mice and Men was my least favorite. Grapes of Wrath was good but had a bit of an odd ending. Thanks so much for sharing this .
Thanks for sharing!
Loved this...but, I'VE NEVER READ ANY OF HIS BOOKS (maybe the Red Pony, as required reading in 7th grade, back in 1964!)?
I really enjoyed your video; thank you for posting! I've traveled to Salinas and been to the museum. My favorite JS novel is EAST OF EDEN.
"Tortilla Flats" is always SOO much fun to read, and read again, about those mischievous work-shunning Paisanos always stealing each other's wine, "fun" smokes, and women. And you get the same whackiness in the "Cannery Row" trilogy. But for more serious fare, who can top the oftentimes ghoulish Cathy Ames Trask, in "East of Eden"? With "Grapes", another issue taken against that book, was the use of some extremely sharp cuss words. There are still some folks to this day, in the worst side of the conservative culture, who take issue with Steinbeck allegedly being a Communist. They also descry pioneering conservationist John Muir for being a proto-Communist! "Nature's for sissies and @#$&'s!! Dam them rivers, cut down the Sequoias!", I've often heard them say. I can really relate to John's love for Charley as you actually can have a meaningful conversation with a dearly loved and dearly loving dog, without verbal words passing between the two of you. I understand that Gary Sinise did a reprise of "Grapes" as Tom Joad and would be really fascinated to compare Sinise's production, against the original John Ford movie.
Thanks for visiting Salinas! I’ll have to check-out the Steinbeck Center some day. I’m so glad you like museums. I grew up two blocks from Haggin Museum in Stockton. It was open to children every Saturday morning in the 1950’s. I recommend a trip there! You’ll find it so interesting! I attended the memorial of the brother of the museum director, Ted Ruhstaller. It was quite a moving tribute to his brother, Ned, an antique appraiser and collector. The Haggin also has a first class art gallery.
It’s located in beautiful Victory Park.
I recommend Mr. D’s Pizza 🍕 after your visit. It’s located in an old tallow making, brick bldg. Happy trails!
The Title of- Of Mice And Men - did NOT come from Robert Browning! •But Robert BURNS :
From- 'To A Mouse ' " The best laid plans o mice & men... gey aft agley" or: Often go off course the original non-english part ,written in Gaelic.
You have the opportunity of editing...WHY Sir...So Sloppy , when you are teaching History to young minds? Attention to detail will sink you, Or set you apart. Thank you for... trying.
My two favorites, The Pearl, (read in school), and Grapes of Wrath, which I find quite informative and uplifting. As a result I was awarded a Distinction in English Language at CXC.
I am now a Geriatric Nurse