Certain people have become so synonymous with a city or region that they’ve become literal icons for those places, to the point that it’s difficult to remember they were real people to begin with. While John Steinbeck has achieved that level of notoriety in Monterey, California, the way in which he’s become a literal part of Cannery Row and the rest of the city prevents viewers from forgetting the real person while also creating a powerful sense of identity that has positively impacted the culture and economy of the city.
“Cannery Row in Monterey in California”
Pulitzer Prize-winner and Nobel laureate John Steinbeck was born on February 27, 1902, in the Monterey County city of Salinas. The city and region came to inspire Steinbeck’s stores and some of his most notable characters. One of his most famous works is the novel “Cannary Row”, which ended up driving the change of the street itself. The story revolves around the people living there during the Great Depression.
The opening paragraph of the novel provides a hint at the sense of place that the city and region provided all of his novels: “Cannery Row in Monterey in California is a poem, a stink, a grating noise, a quality of light, a tone, a habit, a nostalgia, a dream.” Those very words appear on banners above the modern street.
In 1958, Ocean View Avenue, which Steinbeck described as “Cannery Row” in the novel, was renamed Cannery Row in honor of the book. There are also numerous sites from the book that visitors can visit.
These experiences have driven the transformation of Steinbeck from an author to an icon. His name and likeness appears across Cannery Row, helping the area to develop a distinct identity that has helped define the economy and culture of Monterey.
Plaques, Plazas and More
Historical plaques that outline the history or connection of a building with a certain book along with sculptures that depict Steinbeck are located all across Cannery Row. A bust of Steinbeck appears on Steinbeck Plaza, which sits in front of the Cannery Row Monument. A depiction of Steinbeck himself sits at the top of the monument, surrounded by eight other bronze figures. The monument was sculpted by a local artist with the $1 million price tag being entirely covered by private donations.
While Steinbeck’s Spirit of Monterey Wax Museum might be the most obvious example of how his name and likeness are being utilized in the area, both appear on numerous stores, plazas and items for sales across Cannery Row. Additionally, multiple quotes from his famous book as well as images of the author are highlighted on banners that appear up and down the street.
Steinbeck’s novels capture a sense of place that is naturally imbued throughout Monterey, which has compelled the area to embrace his work and the author himself in a profound way. Doing so has led to the creation of an icon that is firmly connected the surrounding community to create a legacy that is as much about the past as it is the future of Cannery Row and for Monterey.
From Author to Icon
Few authors become synonymous with a subject or place like the way Steinbeck has become with Monterey, and specifically in Cannery Row. That connection has seen Steinbeck make the transition from author to icon, providing the surrounding community with an identity as well as an attraction that visitors from all over the world can connect with in countless ways.
