To operate exclusively for charitable and educational purposes the national steinbeck center and build community, celebrate creativity inspired by the words of john steinbeck.
The national steinbeck exhibition hall is normally open to the public from 10am - 5pm, 7 days a week. Due to covid-19, the exhibition hall closed to the public. The center holds four major programs: the steinbeck young authors program (which reaches over 5,000 children annually); the steinbeck festival (a three day event of talks, films, and tours); the steinbeck birthday celebration (which features family friendly program inspired by steinbeck's works); and comiccon (a two day event which focuses on the younger generation's interest in graphic novels).
Store - the museum store, which is open the same hours as the museum, features the works of john steinbeck and also sells best sellers, books about monterey county area, books written by presenting authors and artists, and curriculum books about writing. The museum store also sells original art, posters, cds, dvds, and miscellaneous merchandise related to the exhibits.