The Church of American Literature

We haven't gone on a weekend trip in over a year, due to the pandemic.  This weekend presented us with an opportunity to take a well needed weekend getaway.  On May 14th, the American Writers Museum in Chicago, Illinois had their soft re-opening with a Ray Bradbury exhibit.  Valerie and I had to plans to speak of so drove down Friday night so we make the opening time of 10 a.m. The museum is located at 180 North Michigan Avenue ( a couple of blocks from The Art Institute Museum) on the second floor. 

Once in I immediately felt a sense of awe.  Maybe it's something that religious people sometimes feel in church.  I felt that I had entered a place of deities of American literature.  They were all there, all in one place. Hemingway, Hansberry, Poe, Chandler, Wright, and Baldwin. I knew immediately that I would have to come back again in order to take it all in. It is not something that one can do all in one visit. I felt renewed and recharged.  I felt an inspiration to write and definitely a push to read more. 

And there are typewriters.  Ray Bradbury's Royal was part of the Bradbury exhibit, but just beyond that was a long table where 6 typewriters sat for public use.  Stacks of American Writers Museum letterhead were there to that attendees could leave a note or a poem or a memory.
I left a quickly improvised poem for them 

Valerie and I at the typewriter table. In the background you can see Ray Bradbury's Royal.

There are many interactive displays within the museum.  As I said before, I have to go back very soon.  I have not felt that inspired to create in a long time.

And on the way out, I saw an old friend and influence

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Go for the Ray Bradbury exhibit, stay longer for everyone else!