Today’s post is a quick one just to share the good news! Chicago will be opening The American Writers Museum in 2017. Here is the website if you want to check it out:
I’m quite excited about this because I am from the Chicagoland area (though by 2017 I could be anywhere), so it would be easy for me to make my way there. But more importantly, I think this is a big deal for literary culture. If you look into how the idea for the museum came up, you will read that one of the founders went to a national writers museum while visiting Ireland and realized that there isn’t a designated museum to writers in the US. We have many museums dedicated to particular writers, often located in or near the homes where they were born. But to have a museum specifically dedicated to American literary history in general is something that we don’t have. I’m super psyched that this is happening and that it’s happening in Chicago. (*cough* hire me?? *cough*)
I’ve flipped through all the plans for the museum, which you can see on their website. It looks like they are going to have some very cool, interactive exhibits, including a children’s literature section and galleries for special temporary exhibits. The permanent exhibits look intriguing because they are informative and interactive at the same time (i.e. clicking through a map of the US to track literary history, taking yourself through a writer’s creative process, etc.) These interactive literary exhibits are what I am most interested in, because it seems like the minds behind this project have come up with an entirely new and unique way to explore writing and literature. I’m curious as to how effective the pedagogical design of the exhibits will be (*nerd snort*). I’m also really looking forward to seeing what sort of special programs and events they will have to offer.
Just a very exciting bit of news I wanted to share. Check it out and let me know your thoughts!
Rose Read 