Facebook Instagram Pinterest

Things to Do
Parenting
Education
Trending
More
Contact Us
- Advertise
- General Questions

Sign in

Welcome!Log into your account

your username

your password

Forgot your password?

Password recovery

Recover your password

your email

Search

Things to Do
Parenting
Education
Trending
More
Contact Us
- Advertise
- General Questions

type here...

Things to Do
Parenting
Education
Trending
More
Contact Us
- Advertise
- General Questions

type here...

Things to Do Attractions

Get wordy at The American Writers Museum

By Josannah Terry

July 18, 2017

Share

Writer_Museum_1_Josannah_Terry-1 — Crafting an article about the American Writers Museum before it opened in May built my anticipation to see the new space, so I was thrilled to visit with a camera in hand.

1 of 10

Crafting an article about the American Writers Museum before it opened in May built my anticipation to see the new space, so I was thrilled to visit with a camera in hand.

The museum puts the written word in the spotlight from floor to ceiling.

Credit: Walter John Terry Jr.

My husband Walter, dad Joel and toddler Isaiah came along to take in the museum with me and our first stop was The Negaunee Foundation Children’s Literature Gallery. It has seating and books for family reading sessions. Look out for story time events there, too!

The dedicated space for kiddos highlighted many beloved childhood classics and had plenty of hands-on opportunities for little ones. Our small scribe-in-training happily spun this word wheel!

Beyond the official children’s area, the Surprise Bookshelf occupied Isaiah’s hands while Walter soaked in music, videos and photos connected to writers.

The S. Leigh Pierson and Douglas R. Conant Readers Hall would be a great space to sit down and savor a good book for a few moments, if you were not playing Chase the Toddler.

The Beat Journey: Jack Kerouac’s “On the Road” exhibit made my dad, a former hitch-hiking hippie turned lawyer, talk a mile a minute with excitement.

Credit: Walter John Terry Jr.

The Kerouac exhibit runs through Oct. 27 and features the famous scroll that became the author’s “On the Road” novel.

Credit: Walter John Terry Jr.

A trio of visitors from The Merry Family put the museum’s typewriters to good use.

The Chicago Gallery highlights our hometown literary heroes. My dad, an avid city history buff, could have whiled away much more time in this area, but toddler duty called. We had to whisk Isaiah home for his afternoon zzz’s, but I’d like to return for a grown up visit, because this place is definitely worth a second read.

Credit: Walter John Terry Jr.

Share

- Advertisement -

LATEST STORIES

Guides

Memorial Day Parades and Events for Chicago Families

Kari Zaffarano - May 21, 2025 0

Families can pay homage to our fallen soldiers at one of these 2025 Memorial Day weekend events in Chicagoland.

Read more

Sponsored Content

Feel Stuck on What Your Child Needs? The Diagnostic Evaluation Center Offers Answers

Kim Kovelle - May 21, 2025 0

Brought to you by Sonia Shankman Orthogenic School in Chicago

Read more

School Issues

New Proposed Education Laws That Illinois Families Should Know About

Amanda Rahn - May 19, 2025 0

Explore how shifts in education laws from funding to mental health support impact schooling in Illinois, with expert insights on new policies.

Read more

Sponsored Content

From Spas to Hikes, Plot a Restorative Girls Getaway Weekend in Walworth County, Wisconsin

Kim Kovelle - May 20, 2025 0

Brought to you by Walworth County Visitors Bureau

Read more

- Advertisement -

- Advertisement -

About us

Chicago Parent is Chicagoland’s trusted parenting hub since 1984. We connect families with the best local resources, advice, stories, things to do with kids and much more.

Follow us

Grow your business

Connect with Chicago Parent’s audience — and your best new customers in Chicago, the suburbs and beyond — with Zoe Marketing & Communications.

Chicago Parent, as a Zoe Communications Group company, is certified as a Women’s Business Enterprise by the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC), the nation’s largest third-party certifier of businesses owned and operated by women. Ask how we can add diversity to your supply chain.

© 2025 Zoe Communications Group | 332 S. Michigan Ave., Suite #LL-M974, Chicago, IL 60604 | 708.386.5555 | Website by Web Publisher PRO

Terms
Privacy
Advertise
Contact