The following is from Footnotes from the Most Fascinating Museums by Bob Eckstein.
Mark Twain House and Museum
Hartfort, Connecticut — Est. 2003
The grounds consist of the twenty-five-room American High Gothic home of the national treasure Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain)—where he lived with his family from 1874 to 1891. Celebrities who visited the museum include Dan Brown, Laura Bush, Judge Judy, Stephen King, Dennis Leary, Spike Lee, David Letterman, and Bruce Springsteen.
The American Writers Museum
Chicago, Illinois — Est. 2017
“The mission of the American Writers Museum is to engage the public in celebrating American writers and exploring their influence on our history, our identity, our culture, and our daily lives.” The museum was inspired by the Dublin Writers Museum in Dublin, Ireland.
Rosenbach Museum and Library
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania — Est. 1954
Two townhouses house a rare book and manuscript collection of renowned early 20th century book dealer, A.S.W Rosenbach that spans 8 centuries and is open to the public. Rosenbach Museum & Library highlights include the manuscript notes to Dracula, the manuscript of James Joyce’s Uysses and the first book printed in North America, the Bay Psalm Book (1640).
The Morgan Library and Museum
New York, New York — Est. 1906
The Morgan Library was founded to house Morgan’s private library of manuscripts, books, prints and drawings. The library was made a public institution in 1924 by J. P. Morgan’s son John Pierpont Morgan Jr., in accordance with his father’s will.
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From Footnotes from the Most Fascinating Museums: Stories and Memorable Moments from People Who Love Museums by Bob Eckstein. Copyright © 2024. Available from Chronicle Books.
