American Writers Museum

I had a great time at American Writers Museum, so many interactions at the exhibition, with sound, objects, books and artworks. I was obsessed with the typewriter, and typed my own letter. Everyone should try it.

This was a lovely way to spend an afternoon. I love when a museum is interactive and encourages patrons to participate in the exhibits, and this museum does a great job of it. The “Writers & Gamers” exhibit is loaded with nerdy nostalgia for all types of gaming. I will say that I am disappointed in the use of AI art in the exhibit.

Went to the Gaymer Pride event 2024. We thought it was fantastically interactive and incredibly community based. Loved the museum and the experience.

A true hidden treasure! I was in town for the Chicago Marathon and wanted to experience something that I hadn't heard about. I found this museum nearby and was super intrigued by the concept. I checked it out and wow! For only being a single floor, it has so much material to absorb and learn about. I enjoyed it so much and learned a lot about American authors, including ones from my home state of Michigan that I never knew about! The layout, interactive pieces, "photo op" sections were all wonderful. I will recommend this museum to anyone in Chicago that wants to experience something new and different!

Wonderfully unique and beautiful museum. Took me a couple of hours to tour the interactive exhibit. I appreciated the diverse representation of history.

There are lots of interactive prompts and games to get you started in doing a bit of your own writing. But if you’re looking to get informed on American writing history or a deep dive on a particular writer or work, there’s not so much of that. This place is probably better suited for families and kids.

Great museum with it's pulse on America's writers and our unique voice. Plan to be there for a couple hours. So much to learn and re learn.

The American Writers Museum in Chicago is a unique cultural gem, offering a rich exploration of the nation’s literary history. Interactive exhibits invite visitors of all ages to engage with the voices of American authors and their influential works. Highlights include the "Mind of a Writer" gallery, which provides fascinating insights into the creative process, and the "Children’s Literature" section, which is a hit with younger guests. The museum is not only educational but also incredibly inspiring, making it a perfect destination for families looking to experience something new together. Its central location and welcoming atmosphere ensure a memorable visit for literature lovers and casual visitors alike.

I arrived here around 1:05pm on a Saturday afternoon with my son and sister using the all inclusive Go City Pass. It is located on the 2nd floor of the building. Cassidy Kearns was the front desk staff that checked us in. The process was easy as they simply scanned our passes. It wasn't busy at all. A part of the Go City pass was a challenge to complete called "murder in the Chicago loop". After we checked in, we went ahead and got it, so that we can complete the mystery after we finish reviewing the museum. If you are in a party you can do it as a group. Per Cassidy, this is something new that they are doing. (Unfortunately, we didn't get to do it due to timing. We planned to do it the next day but just didn't work out). The first area was the children's area with children books. We sat here for a bit and I listened to my son read me a book. I like this option. I work a lot and this vacation was work free. This allowed for some educational quality time. He read the Grinch. Most of the museum was interactions which was cool. On one wall, there were tiles you turn that can reveal sound, a smell, or something to see. In one area, you can create a character and a backstory. My sister and I didn't do it but we went through and read most of what other people have already done. Some were good, some were funny, and some were inappropriate. I think staff should periodically go through them. If you're a parent, I'd monitor what your child writes and proofread before letting your child read them. My favorite part was the typewriter and being able to send a letter. It was $2, which wasn't paid. I believe this paid for the stamp and the envelope. Towards the end, there was a machine that will print off a story! You choose how quick of a read you want, and it prints out! I really wish I had allocated more time here. We were supposed to had been there earlier but my sister and son wanted to sleep in, lol. I would most definitely return when I'm back in the area. I highly recommend checking them out, especially if you're into reading and writing. There was a lot of activities, for all ages.

In an effort to write better prose, I could take a course at a local college or hire a professional editor. Instead, I decided to visit the American Writer's Museum. The obstructionist lobby security guard, the terse ticket clerk, and the $16 admission gave me a bad feeling, but in the end, this place was alright. There was a disturbingly significant amount of space devoted to fantasy role-playing games that included something called LARP (Live Action Role Play), where it appears grown men don robes, weird hats, and pretend to be somebody else. There was a quote on the wall that I found quite inspirational. It made me contemplate my own writing, realize I had a ways to go, and, more importantly, no matter what some readers think, I need to keep at it.

I underestimated this museum and did not allot nearly enough time. It is small (located on the second floor of a multi-use building in the tourist district), but packed full of info. That being said, this museum is not for everyone. It's almost all reading. And there is a LOT of reading. This isn't so much a whirlwind tourist museum or a mega-stimulating must do attraction. This is more of a rainy day activity or an activity to do on a day where you don't plan to do much else or don't have a tight schedule. This museum is mainly for readers and writers. There are several sections that highlight various areas of reading and writing. The first section is somewhat of a literature/author timeline. It progresses from early literature and authors--their subject matter, their style, the political implications of their work--through more modern writing, explaining how each writer impacted literature and the world around them. There is also a section on writing by Black authors. This section was done so well. It wasn't whitewashed and didn't avoid the most painful parts of this topic. There was a beautiful art exhibit, in multiple mediums and textures, highlighting black authors and activists. And there is a timeline of Black authors, giving examples of prominent writers from each era, and how they contributed to the struggle or how they expressed the effect of oppression. And there is a large section of prominent authors and their bios/famous quotes. There are also some fun interactive spots--typing on a typewriter, writing your immigrant story. And something I thought was fun--an activity on habits and fuel--where you could touch something like "a fuel," and learn H.P. Lovecraft loved eating donuts. Or another author only needed whiskey and cigars. Or learn about the idiosyncratic writing habits and rituals of authors. Again, be prepared to read. There are even spots to sit down and read and relax. Don't expect flashy. But this would be a great museum for a planned day of quiet reflection and learning, followed by a nice lunch or dinner and maybe a walk along the beach.

A hidden gem - full of interesting, interactive content. Although small, there's so much to see and read and do, so budget more time than you think you need.

Well known writers as well as some we hadn't heard of. It was well organized with multiple interesting exhibits. A plus was that there were multiple places to sit along the way. Definitely recommend for those who have been to Chicago before and are looking for an additional, new activity to do.

I think it's basically the library only it costs $18 to get in. Some good concepts. But not as much as I expected from a museum. Maybe I'm just more of an art museum person. I liked the concept but it's a really small venue. Looked like a handful of people go there just to read their collection like a private library. I guess if you live in downtown chicago and just want a nice private library it would be perfect for you. Idk about the term "museum" but when you get there you'll see what I'm talking about I guess. I feel like I had a turning point seeing the design to the place. Not what I expected. Kinda short descriptions of most of the authors.

Even though it's kind of a small museum, there's a lot of material to read through and look at. It may not look like that much, but some of the exhibits have many things you can spend hours reading. The American Writers Museum should have reading material of course. Check out information on many authors and journalists. You can also find artifacts like typewriters. A museum like this can be tough to pay the price but sometimes it's worth it. It's overall a pretty small museum located in part of a larger building, and the hours are limited. The prices are kind of high too. Get on Groupon. It's about $9 there for tickets. Among the detailed exhibits is a long corridor kind of resembling a hall of fame of authors. There's excerpts from their famous books, and a personal history summary. Among the other exhibits is one about Ray Bradbury. This has some of his personal items including one of his typewriters. Also there's a table of typewriters next to it that you're encouraged to use to type up a short story, cool. There's another exhibit of just Chicago writers and their impact on culture and literacy. Cool even though it's small and it's pretty high for the admission. It's a bit cheaper by getting tickets on Groupon. There's also lots of interactive exhibits encouraging you to develop your writing skills whether you intend to be a serious author or just for fun and whatever.

Such an interesting museum on Michigan Ave. So unobtrusive that it's not noticed by many. It has so many interesting exhibits featuring authors, writers and advocating freedom of speech. Also supporting students with free programs. Quite impressive.

Highly recommend checking out this gem! Fun for adults and kids alike. Lots to explore and of course, read. A way more interactive museum than I was expecting which I really appreciated. Learned a lot and got some great book recommendations to add to my list. Spent way more time here than I was planning to but so glad I did!

really inspiring place with so much to explore, it is truly a hidden gem, only wish i have spent more time there

Noticed this listed on Yelp close to my hotel- got to have about 2 hours here but would have happily spent 2 more if I didn't have to return for a work meeting. It's on 2nd floor of a business building, so look for signs out the front. Fantastic variety of multimedia exhibits- lots of interactive things. I really loved the My America exhibit now featuring many of my favorite authors. Also enjoyed Ray Bradbury exhibit, the typewriters, learning a lot about history along with writing. Small but fun gift shop. Super clean facilities, definitely worth a return visit especially for any Bibliophile or writer.

A hidden gem. If you love to read/write, this is the museum for you. What makes it truly wonderful is that it is interactive, completely hands on. They just add this new section on the history or gaming and TTRPGS, which my daughter really enjoyed. The staff was very friendly, they answered all our questions (they even promised to tell Lou Wilson my daughter says hi). You can tell that the workers really care about the museum. The price is completely reasonable compared to other museums in this city. Will definitely visit again on our next trip to Chicago!

Lots of words and cool stuff all over this place. I felt like touching everything and diving into all the content but there was just too much stuff to pace oneself. A great place to meet up and stroll through content.

A *museum* about American *writers*? Is this my mecca? It sure is! We are so fortunate to have this hall dedicated to words, history, and the people who create stories right here in Chicago. I will be back, with family and friends, again and again!

We had SO MUCH fun at this museum! I wish we could spend a whole day here. Really looking forward to coming back.

my first time going and it was amazing despite the front door desk man in addition, who came off kind of snobbish . i enjoyed seeing all the famous writers and learning about history.

American Writers Museum might as well have been created with me in mind. I LOVE writing and reading, so being able to learn about American authors was right up my alley. There were so many different areas and I wish we would've made it in time for a guided tour, but we got there late so we only had about an hour to explore. We definitely want to come back because we loved it so much and felt like we could learn even more from our 2nd visit. Both my husband and I were obsessed with the typewriters and spent quite a bit of time using them. I loved that they have an area to put in your top 3 favorite books from American authors and see how many other people put them on their list (nobody else chose the book I did for my number 1 spot). If you love reading, I would highly recommend checking out AWM if you're in Chicago. It is definitely made my list of favorite museums. I love this museum and I am looking forward to coming back.

I'm totally embarrassed to report that I, as a longtime Chicagoan and lover of the written word, never knew that The American Writers Museum existed. I only found it by walking south on Michigan Avenue on a weekday morning and seeing the sign outside. Blessed with time to indulge my whims on that day, I went inside and paid my entrance fee. The Museum itself is not large, but its many interactive exhibits mean you can spend a couple hours here, no problem. I started in the exhibit on children's literature, and listened to Langston Hughes reading three of his short poems. More embarrassment -- I never heard his voice before, and I never read these poems. On to a long diorama listing many fine American writers, starting with the earliest writers of the American colonies. No list will ever be complete -- there are just too many fine writers to be included here -- but this list is exceptional because it is so diverse. I recognized black writers, Native American writers, immigrant writers, as well as the famous white men, such as Mark Twain, Nathaniel Hawthorne, and more. I loved it. There was a special exhibit devoted to Ray Bradbury. He is definitely deserving of inclusion here. Not only were there artifacts like his typewriter, but alongside, there were several old typewriters set up. Visitors were encouraged to write their own short story at that moment, in that space. And I did. I had to laugh at my rusty skills on the typewriter, as the keys stuck, and I had to reach far back in my memory to figure out how to return the carriage. This was a lot of fun. One wall exhibit consisted of famous first lines from American novels, including "Call Me Ishmael." I wished for a list of famous last lines -- who among you can identify "I am haunted by waters?" My only regret is that certain of my favorite writers were not included, strictly for lack of space, for sure. Many sometime down the lines, new names will substitute for some of the current ones. I'll be looking for Norman MacLean, Conrad Richter, Toni Morrison. I loved this place, and I really enjoyed my visit here. If you go, be sure to do all the interactive stuff, and listen to the authors reading their own work.

What a inviting space to spend an afternoon in downtown Chicago! Located on the second floor, on Michigan Ave this museum is a hidden gem. General tickets at $14 with discounts for students, teachers, and senior citizens. I especially loved the reading books dispersed throughout the floor. They have accessible resources for people with disabilities like headphones with descriptions of the artwork & subtitles on videos. I can't recommend this museum enough!

This museum is small but really well done. I definitely recommend it.

Truly a unique space with an amazing purpose in Chicago! I received an email about a Virtual Book Presentation and Q & A Session from the Museum yesterday. I registered (it was FREE) and joined Zoom at 6:30pm to see the author and his presentation via a Power Point Presentation. The presentation with Q & A at the end lasted approximately and hour and a half. It was phenomenal and I will definitely be attending future book presentations at the Museum in person. About the presentation: Nicholas A. Basbanes discusses his new book "Cross of Snow," a biography about iconic American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. As a college student in Boston-I visited the Longfellow House and took a tour as it is a Museum and Research Center in Cambridge, Massachusetts-footsteps from Harvard University (where Longfellow was once an acclaimed Professor). However, I learned so much more about Henry Wadsworth Longfellow through the presentation by Mr. Basbanes. Longfellow's house was actually a house where Former President George and Martha Washington resided at one time as it was Washington's Headquarters! I loved the pictures and details about Longfellow's travels and studies in Maine, his life travels to learn languages and tour Europe; meeting his wife, Fanny an academic in her own right and the human interest aspect of Longfellow who was loved for his poetry which still endures today by adults, adolescents and children! The Song of Hiawatha Paul Revere's Ride The Psalm of Life I also learned about his translations of Dante and other famous International Writers. One thing that I want to learn more about is Longfellow's role as an abolitionist "Although known primarily as a poet and scholar, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807-1882) was also an abolitionist who used his poetry, and his money, to further the cause of the anti-slavery movement in the mid-nineteenth century." Source: https://www.nps.gov/long/learn/historyculture/longfellow-slavery-and-abolition.htm#:~:text=Although%20known%20primarily%20as%20a,in%20the%20mid%2Dnineteenth%20century I cannot wait to get the book and read it. FYI-I love that the Museum recommends The Seminary Co-op to purchase the books that are discussed at the Museum. The Seminary Co-op is an Independent Bookstore in Hyde Park, Chicago, Illinois. https://www.semcoop.com/

This is a very interesting place, even if you come here alone

Small, but impactful museum focused on a wide range of American writing. Little interactive exhibits kept things interesting. Would have liked to have seen more exhibits with comic book writers. The typewriters were a nice touch and interactive. Expand the museum shop to give us more to buy.

What a surprise! We spent a lovely afternoon. It looks like it's going to be small, however it's very interactive and there is so much to see and do and learn. Very interesting.

Oh my gosh, where to begin with this museum. I love American literature, and have since high school, so I loved the exhibits which talked about nearly every American writer who ever existed. Probably my favorite part was the reading room which talked about literature's impact and had books setting out on that subject. Very cool, could spend hours reading the various books there. Keep in mind, though, it is fairly small. If you are not one to read every plaque (such as I), then this might be a bit of a quicker museum for you.

This is very nice museum! It's located on the second floor. Tickets were $14 dollars general admission. There was a ton of information, you probably couldn't get through it all in a couple hours. There's interactive displays and you even get to write on a typewriter. Overall there's a good amount of displays to see and things to do. At the end there's a small gift shop located where the ticket desk is, with some cool T-shirts and other items.

My friend purchased a Groupon ($12 for two tickets) and treated me to a visit to this museum as a good way to pair it with my 3-day copyeditors' conference in Chicago. I read the other reviews, and the reviewer who had a tough time with getting a group rate seemed to have had a big misunderstanding with the staff; I partly disagree with the other reviewer who said that this is "wildly overpriced" at $12---this is why my friend and I looked online for coupons and deals because we also didn't want to spend $12 each on a museum we knew nothing about. Also, if you go to their website and sign up for e-mails, you can receive 20% off your first visit. Fodor's tagged this museum as one of the world's 10 best museums. It is not even a year old! Indeed, I was skeptical of the breadth and quality of a museum that's on the second floor of an office building, but I should not judge a museum by its curb appeal! We rode the elevator up one flight and knew exactly which direction to go; there was no room for confusion. The front desk staff were extremely friendly, including Cassidy, who processed our Groupon without being put off or being unprofessional, told us he'd hold our hot chocolate beverages because food and drinks were not allowed, and told us to enjoy our visit. The space was adequately lit, attractive, modern, and super clean. There was plenty to see, touch, interact with, and engage in throughout the exhibits at the museum. There were panels were you flip rotating boards and quiz yourself on facts about writers, walk down a long hallway with a history of the great American writers, an area where you can sit and type a letter or poem on vintage typewriters from over the years, an area to lounge and play word games, another area where on a touch-screen device you can form sentences with words in the size of fridge magnets, stand in a meteor of words that answer the question "What does it mean to be an American?", an area where you can see where specific writers were born and which writers were born in specific states, and so much more! We spent only an hour because we arrived an hour before they closed; I would have liked to spend a little more time because there was just so much to do and see. I understand that there are different levels of interest and engagement from person to person, so the value will likely range. For me, as someone with a writing background and degrees, I felt that this was a valuable experience. My friend, a professor of psychology, also enjoyed and appreciated the exhibits despite not having a literary background. I highly recommend it if you're in the downtown Chicago area. It was a very easy walk from the hotel I stayed at---Club Quarters on Adams Street.

What a great spot! There are several interactive tools to enjoy the writers and exhibits. The typewriter exhibit was especially interesting and the line of authors and notes about them was pretty cool. What a fun place to visit. The only thing I thought was a little much was the price for entrance. Overall, it was a good experience and I would recommend it if you are a fan of books and the art of literature.

While visiting Chicago last week, we passed by this place several times before taking the time to stop in. Wow! We are really happy we did! There is so much to explore and learn - we could have spent all day there! My teens, my husband and I all enjoyed learning about so many American Writers! It was interesting to see how history and world events shaped writing styles and content. There were many interactive exhibits, even a young readers room, so there is something for everyone to enjoy. My teens were intrigued with the typewriters that they were able to try using. From the old days! lol! I highly recommend making a stop here and immersing yourself in history and writing! You may leave inspired to start writing yourself!

I'm so happy this is has a home in Chicago! Super immersive little museum, and I hope to see it grow!

If you love to read or write, this is a must see! I was in my happy place as I explored through the exhibits at the museum. The exhibits are hands-on. A few highlights: a children's area featuring several beloved children's authors; a wall of quotes from authors dating back several generations; an area to experiment with writing your own words. Loved it!

From the opening day this little museum with great ambitions won my heart as one of the favorite cultural institutions in Chicago . It's entirely dedicated to literature and books, but it's also very innovative and interactive. It's located on the second floor of the building , so many people are not aware of its existence. It's a pity , because American Writers Museum deserves all the fame! Prior to pandemic they often hosted visiting authors and it's there that I had a chance of meeting Sandra Cisneros, Sara Paretsky, Gillian Flynn among many other famous authors. The museum is small enough to creat an intimate atmosphere, but its space contains many fascinating exhibits , such as collection of typewriters that belonged to some of the greatest writers in American literature . Another recent program was dedicated to immigration and every visitor had an opportunity to leave his or hers mark by writing about own experience of coming to America. Children's room is cozy and inviting. Whenever I took my daughter downtown we'd stop by at the museum to recharge, read a story and learn something new. Their gift store next to the front desk will make any book lover happy !

I went to an event at this museum last night, and I absolutely adored it! It was my first visit, because in all the years I've lived in Chicago, I had never heard of it, until seeing a booth at this year's Printers Row Lit Fest. It's in a small space, on the second floor of a downtown office building, so it doesn't shout "come visit me!", but it should. The exhibits are all well-done, and they encourage learning through fun and interaction. And I especially loved that the museum recognizes the important role women and POC writers have played in American history, and not just white male writers. Don't expect a huge museum, but if you embrace it for what it is, I hope you'll love it, also!

This is a small museum packed with a lot of great info. I came here with 3 "kids" 15, 12 and 8. After 3 hours, I was ready to leave but they wanted to stay. Most of the museum is kinesthetic reading and I did feel like at a point, my brain just can't retain all of this wealth of knowledge. If you are deciding on visiting, give yourself 2-3 hours of time. Definitely worth the visit.

If you aren't paying attention, it is really easy to walk right pass the American Writers Museum, and you will be missing out. Located in the building between the Nothing But Noodles and citiBank, a placard on the building is really the only advertising you will see. Once through the doors, you will need to take the elevator to the 2nd floor. Highlights/what makes it worth your time: + If you don't have a discounted ticket, it will set you back $12/adult. Check Groupon to see if they have a better deal. + The museum is on the smaller side, one whole floor of the building, but you can spend anywhere from 30 minutes - 1.5 hours, depending upon how much time you read/interact with the exhibits. + The Kids room - Even if your an adult, its fun to look at the tree mural and find all of the books and interact with some of the books you might have enjoyed as a child + The wall of writers- listed in chronological order, you can channel your inner Vanna White and spin the tiles to learn about different writers. brief information/history provided on the tiles. +Surprise Bookshelf- Read, feel, smell, and hear things about writers from all different genres +Word Waterfall - This is a stunning wall. Using light, the wall comes to life and tries to answer what American mean through the use of quotes. + Story of the Day- Get to experience first hand the pain of using a type writer and add to an on going story. +Plus, there are many more interactive exhibits to enjoy Overall, if you are a bibliophile, especially of American authors, you should enjoy your time here.

What books did you read when you were a child? When really young, my list included, (of course!?) the Judy Blume series: Fudge n all that as well as that kid detective, Encyclopedia Brown. I already mentioned in a previous review that I was a Snoopy cartoon book reader/collector (and obviously I guess that not's exactly "writer's museum" material since Schulz himself knows he was considered more "cartoonist" but still, those words of "The Peanuts Gang" had had an effect upon the little me. You will find "Cat in the Hat" here, so I do believe there's a fine line and is an illustrator is the one to draw it? That previous sentence just sounded like "stream of consciousness" and why not? Indulge me. One of my favorite literary devices and the beauty of this place is that you will find writers of all shapes, sizes and devices. Big fan of the written word? Ever dog-eared a page? Missing the sound of an old typewriter? Needing the touch of the thin, white sheet and rolling it through the IBM Selectra, snapping it into place? Type away! Yes, there are working machines here, as well as that good old-fashioned...paper! I encourage you to check out this relatively new museum - it opened in May 2017 after nearly nine years of planning and as of last month, it still smelled of fresh paint. It's nicely designed: modern yet warm. And, not only does it celebrate America's rich heritage of storytellers in print, it encourages you to think - and even write a little - yourself. Note: it's on the second floor of what I'd have formerly considered "office/medical" building - you may access elevator or via the stairwell to your right past the elevator bay.

This was my 2nd time there and only returned for the Bob Dylan exhibit. Otherwise I would not have returned. While I had high hopes for the museum, it is rather disappointing. It is highly organized but doesn't include anything that you can't find on your own. The children's Literature room is very nice. Then one follows a long path with a historical timeline featuring bios of important writers. That leads to a room highlighting statistics about literature (most popular books, authors, etc.). There is a very small exhibit about On The Road and an important and informative exhibit about Fredrick Douglas, followed by several hands on activities and finally an exhibit about famous Chicagoans. If one has an hour to kill downtown it is a nice stop to make.

So wonderful! I could have spent way more time in here, but I started to get information overload. I spend around 3 hours here, and could have easily doubled that time. Amazing stories of writers, poets, patriarchs, and innovative people who shaped American life into today. The museum is artfully designed, and cleverly created with interactive displays throughout. I particularly loved the 'tYpe writter area" where you were encouraged to start a sentence of a story and another person finishes it! What a neat idea, and it gives you a chance to use type writter which I remember using as a kid--A must visit for any Chicagoan, and a worthy stop for visitors. Pricing is super affordable for the information provided. It's not the best place for suitable parking so get creative or take the train/uber.

We went to the museum because of the Bob Dylan exhibit. The museum is on the second floor of the building. It is rather small. I think it is geared more towards high school students than adults. The Bob Dylan exhibit was quite nice, but again, small. We used a Groupon to go to the museum. I think it was worth that price. I really wonder if this museum will still be there five years from now. If it is, I bet it is greatly expanded. I would actually give this Museaum 3 1/2 stars, but I rounded up. It's a minor point, but in the gift shop, they should have more Bob Dylan items and it should be bigger. It would probably help them with revenues.

This museum is an absolute disappointment. It's basically one big floor with more interactive computer stations rather than artifacts. Lots of bios of local authors and physical copies of their books--but you can get all of these things anywhere else. I wish they had unique items in their collection on display that I couldn't find anywhere else. The typewriter corner and free bookmarks are the best part. However, I would never come here again--let alone pay full price. If you really want to check it out, only do so with a coupon code. I can never fathom why I'd ever want to come back here again--and I'm a writer! This place needs a major overhaul. It has so much more potential than what it is. Skip!

When I drive through Chicago I never get off the highway. Downtown intimidates me. However, when I heard this place was opening I reached into my courage reserves, navigated, and parked (parking costs more than your ticket to the museum...Chicago....). As a huge book nerd, I was disappointed that I didn't have more time to spend here, but the time I did have was filled with stunning and interactive displays. This is not a museum filled with artifacts, which I was personally hoping for a few more, but it's more a tribute to the written word itself and those who have the gift to weave it together beautifully. Hopefully, in the future, they'll get a bit more space. It's a little museum, but it's filled with so many exhibits!

This place is a bit small and the price is a bit high, but the American Writers Museum is really great nonetheless. In addition to a lot of reading material (perhaps obvious), there are many things to play around with - typewriters, word games, etc. This might be a great place to bring kids to pique their interest in literature.

For most people who love the written word, the local library provides escape, adventure and opportunity for discovery. Now imagine a place that gives the back story on those adventures and opportunities, and you have the American Writers Museum, which opened in spring 2017 on Chicago's Cultural Mile. Street-level signage is scarce, but this is worth the effort to locate. One of the museum's strengths is that "writer" is defined broadly and includes literature, poetry, nonfiction and journalism. The first section is almost overwhelming as visitors are presented with a wall of authors' names on blocks that rotate when pressed to reveal the work and a quotation from it. This is a great way to introduce people to unknown writers. Opposite this wall is another wall of authors along a timeline from America's earliest days. A strong effort has been made to include women and people of color, though the early decades favor white men. Around the corner, smaller displays cover various themes and topics in writing, and kiosks with computers allow visitors to list their favorite books with the results compared to all votes. The whole place is interactive with activities aimed at middle/high school kids (or readers of all ages), but few of the activities seem oriented toward kids under 10. Other interactive displays allow visitors to draft lines of poetry like the magnetic refrigerator poetry sets but on a digital display, to type out -- yes, on typewriters! -- a line for the "story of the day," and to play a version of Mad Libs by filling in the blanks of lines of literature based on a word bank. Two rooms offer special exhibits. The opening set was a palm room based off of a poet and a space dedicated to Jack Kerouac's "On the Road" with the original scroll on which he typed the manuscript. A special room features writers who made their career in Chicago or writing about Chicago. Vinyl banners hang on a rod and display information about the writer -- Upton Sinclair, Studs Terkel, Ida B. Wells, Jane Addams, Carl Sandburg and many more. You could make a visit here for an hour or an afternoon, and 60-90 minutes would be enough for most people. The adult admission is a little steep for what you get, but perhaps it'll be included in a CityPass or offer local discounts. Memberships are available.

Excellent idea for a museum! As a literature fiend/ex-English major who can't find time to read enough, this is a nice overview and refresher of the big writers, with a special effort to bring to the fore the under-appreciated and non-white-male figures. The main room has a long line of influential or should-be-influential authors that you can review in any order. There is a nice reading room with some selected books, and several exhibits that could be used to teach or discuss books. I appreciated a banner room with displays of Chicago authors, there were more connections to Chicago than I originally knew about. Well worth the time to explore, if you are looking for high-tech this may not be your type of spectacle but I appreciate that it is much more substance than style.

This is the nicest most interesting museum in Chicago. Everyone will find something that intrigues them from just how the place is laid out to typing on an old typewriter. The word waterfall is brilliant

I went to the Writers Museum this weekend with my girlfriend, and we had a lovely time. The museum is fun and interactive, inviting visitors to engage with the content in an unselfconscious way. My girlfriend, who is a voracious reader, loved learning more about her favorite authors and the historical context of their work. My literary activities are mostly limited to writing yelp reviews and reading the occasional NYT push notification, and I still found the museum equally enjoyable. It was super accessible, and it made me more excited about reading than I have been in a long time. The museum features authors, poets, musicians, activists -- all types of people who have made an impact with words. There are also tons of games: you can complete stories started by other visitors on a typewriter, do a sort of digital MadLib to learn more about the power of descriptive words, and see which author you are most similar to based on your daily routine and favorite foods. The American Writers Museum is truly a hidden gem on the Chicago museum scene. Its unassuming location on the second floor of a downtown building speaks to its casual nature. Take the time to seek it out and you won't regret it.

The museum was nicely curated and it was very cool to read about writers. I was pleasantly surprised that they had a lot of women included since they often are left from history. The ticket price was fairly valued. The only reason I wouldn't give five stars is because I wish they had artifacts from the famous writers. They had glasses and a pen on loan from Fredrick Douglas, but that was it. I think this museum is fairly new so I would be interested to come back in a few years to see what has changed.

I visited this museum for the first time this past Sunday. It's very non-descript--considering the "museum scene" in Chicago. The exhibits do a fine job of putting Chicago's writers up front. One important Chicago writer whose work I learned of recently is Willard Motley--brother of Archibald Motley, the Harlem Renaissance painter. But overall there's good diversity of folks--Brooks, Alinsky, etc. especially Chicagoans. High school age students--AP English, AP American history students might benefit more since many of the writers here aren't taught much these days (Charles Brockden Brown, James Fennimore Cooper, Henry James). The chronological exhibit is what I'm mostly thinking about here. The Frederick Douglas exhibit was brief, imho, considering how long he lived. He visited Chicago many times at Quinn AME Church, another very important historical site that is under appreciated. I did like the way the exhibit highlights his stylistic devices, for even today Douglas' Narrative is a hard-to-put-down text if there ever was one! The scene with Covey and the lash is unforgettable! His story is a great one for ANYONE who doubts perseverance can lead to great accomplishment. I look forward to going back to see more there!

I do love Museums. This one stood out. I was able to visit during Free Museum Day, believe it was the worth the experience. There was so much to take it. It is all one floor. Very interactive including a hands on typewriter where you could share a story and others could add to it. That is what I love about Chicago, all the culture we have to share. I will be back very soon.