John Steinbeck is an important person in the history of the Salinas Valley. Salinas is where his life began and where he spent the first years of it. For Steinbeck, Salinas and the surrounding areas served as inspiration and setting for many of his novels. He was born in Salinas, California on February 27, 1902. He was a member of St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Salinas and attended Salinas High School, graduating in 1918. He is also buried in the Garden of Memories Cemetary in Salinas. This page will provide information and pictures on Steinbeck's beginnings in the Salinas Valley.