NATIONAL STEINBECK CENTER

Impressive. That's the first word that comes to mind when you catch a glimpse of the Steinbeck Center on the long drive down Main Street. Everything inside reinforces that first impression of Salinas' native son. The quality in every aspect of the Center, from its design to it accouterments, holds its own amidst museums in major metropolitan areas. The place itself is simply beautiful, and every detail well thought out.

Highlights:

Julie writes: "Every exhibit in the main museum is interactive. There are no 'stand and look' areas that do not have something tangible from one of his books to relate to. We'd read The Red Pony before going, and David, 7, was especially interested in the life-sized stable, complete with brushes and reins for the ride-able pony. The museum section is full of conversation-starters, and an inquisitive child with a patient adult could easily spend a couple of hours discussing migrant farmworkers, the Sea of Cortez, traveling around the United States, and much, much more.

Other things not to be missed include:

· The introductory movie. It's about 12 minutes long, and done to a quality worthy of A&E's Biography. It even kept Elizabeth's, 3, attention for more than ten minutes. I'm impressed that so much information is so well presented in such a small amount of time. See the movie first; it will make the trip through the museum even better.
· Our docent, Mrs. Wolf, obviously has a lot of experience both with Steinbeck and with children. She was able to explain much better than Mommy who he was and what he wrote about in language they could understand.
· The gift shop. No, this isn't a shameless plug for a Family advertiser. But I was really happy with the wide array of wonderful books and artistic materials for all ages. Especially interesting was that the Steinbeck Center showcases some of the best LOCAL writers - the famous authors of the future.
· The mural on the outside wall. If you park in the Center's lot, you'll catch the mural on your way in. Otherwise, make certain to see it. It's a compilation of all his works represented in one big picture.
· "Yes, David, I'll write about Charley the Dog". If you aren't looking for him, you might miss the life-sized replica of Charley the Dog in the front seat of Steinbeck's pickup truck (the actual truck!). He looks like he would have been a great companion to travel with. There are little extra touches like this throughout the museum. Take your time and explore each exhibit area fully.

This is a wonderful outing for entertaining out of town guests, for a Saturday afternoon date with your spouse, or as an educational supplement for students mature enough to understand Steinbeck. His writings are sometimes deep and always thought provoking, and it takes some experience to digest them fully.

Out & About Helpful Hints: If you bring your children, sign out the "Eye Spy" box at the entrance. It's a very interesting mix containing puzzles, a treasure hunt and word games for use in the gallery. The treasure hunt was Jenna's, 8, favorite part of the Center, even if she did need help finding the golden horse.

Kid Safety Considerations: The art gallery boasts some incredible talent, from the Monet-like "The Wedding" to the "pictures that tell about happy families" (Elisha, 5) of Carmen Lomas Garza. However, there are some 'modern' and 'interpretative' paintings that may disturb younger viewers. You may want to keep your younger children to the right hand side of the gallery; or, if your children have the maturity, come prepared to discuss how some people express rage, evil and violence through art.

(c) 1999 Julie Gentry. Note: this article first appeared in Monterey County Family Magazine.