Museums for Books & Literature

"The Foundation fosters understanding of the life and work of Ernest Hemingway with emphasis on his Oak Park origins and his impact on world literature. Its mission reflects The Foundation's belief in the importance of the written word and the value of thoughtful reading and writing."

"The mission of the Folger Library is to preserve and enhance its collections; to render the collections accessible to scholars for advanced research; and to advance understanding and appreciation of the Library and its collections through interpretive programs for the public."

"Tobias Smollett, George Eliot, Goethe, Coleridge, Shelley, Byron, the Brownings, Henry James, Edith Wharton, Oscar Wilde and Joyce were just a few of the many who were attracted and inspired by the celebrated 'centro storico'."

"The Museum exhibits include artifacts spanning over a century of the lives of the pioneering history described in the 'Little House' books. The life, writings and career of Rose Wilder Lane are also featured in a section of the museum. Recreations of rooms from Rose's homes, her desks, her manuscripts, and souvenirs from her world travels are also displayed."

"Step back to the Gilded Age during guided tours of the 19-room, Tiffany-decorated mansion where Mark Twain raised his family and worked from 1874 to 1891."

"Milton's Cottage is the only extant home of John Milton, the great English poet and parliamentarian, in Chalfont St. Giles, Buckinghamshire. It was in this grade 1 listed XVIth century cottage, described by Thomas Ellwood as 'that pretty box in St. Giles, Chalfont,' that Milton completed 'Paradise Lost,' and the idea of Paradise Regained was put to him."

"In the tradition of John Steinbeck, the National Steinbeck Center draws its inspiration from the diverse people and the land of the Salinas Valley. Through the exploration of Steinbeck's work and themes, we provide and support educational experiences that inspire audiences to learn about human nature, literature, history, agriculture, and the arts."

"Thurber House is a restored nineteenth-century house where author, humorist, cartoonist, and playwright James Thurber lived during his college days with his parents, two brothers, numerous pet dogs, and an occasional relative. This is also the house where so many of Thurber's beloved stories are set."