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.
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.