“American writing is distinctive diverse.” That’s more than just a slogan. It’s the spirit embodied within the American Writers Museum.
Welcome to a unique Chicago museum experience. The American Writers Museum celebrates the enduring influence of American writers. It honors their impact on our history, identity, culture and daily lives.
This museum is the first of its kind in the nation. It’s located on Michigan Avenue. The American Writers Museum engages the public. It encourages everyone to explore the profound influence of American writers.
The American Writers Museum connects visitors with their favorite authors. It showcases writings from more than five centuries. It inspires the discovery of new works of every type. You’ll find poetry lyrics speeches and drama. Fiction nonfiction and journalism are here too.
The authors and works aren’t presented as a definitive list. They aren’t ranked by greatness or influence. Instead the museum presents authors and works. They are shown as part of a continuum. This continuum will grow and change over time. The museum hopes you’ll visit often. You can see what authors and works come next.
Malcolm O’Hagan had the vision passion and tenacity to found the American Writers Museum. The museum owes its existence to him. We are forever indebted to Malcolm. He had an enduring belief. America’s great writers deserve a home all their own.
Werner Hein is the AWM co-founder. Mayer Brown is the Pro Bono law firm. The American Writers Museum thanks them. They provided immeasurable wisdom and guidance. Werner’s leadership helped the museum meet every challenge. Mayer Brown’s commitment did too. They provided resources and professional counsel.
Amaze Design also receives a special thanks. The American Writers Museum is grateful for their creativity and commitment. They transformed a simple idea. They created a rich layered and brilliantly realized cultural destination.
The American Writers Museum features innovative exhibitions. They use state-of-the-art technology. These exhibits educate enrich and provoke. They inspire visitors of all ages.
There are five permanent displays. There is also a temporary exhibition space. One popular interactive is the Surprise Bookshelf. Visitors can rotate each box. They discover a surprise about the author. The surprise could be a photograph. It might be a sound or even a smell.
Another engaging interactive is Welcome to Sleepy Hollow. Visitors compare descriptions of characters. They use flipbooks of visual representations.
The Social Ladder explores themes from novels by Edith Wharton and Theodore Dreiser. Visitors see how protagonists rose and fell in society.
In the Mind of a Writer gallery you can find the Story of the Day. Visitors contribute to a story using typewriters. You can also Build a Routine. Discover which famous writer matches your daily habits. Use the Dialogue Generator for inspiration. Select characters and a scenario. Then type out some dialogue.
The American Writers Museum is more than just a building. It’s a celebration of American voices. It is a testament to the power of words. We invite you to explore discover and be inspired.