October 26, 2020 (CHICAGO) – Halloweek at the American Writers Museum (AWM) include an October 27 online program with Scott Peeples, author of “The Man of the Crowd: Edgar Allan Poe and the City,” a Poe dedicated episode on the museum’s new Nation of Writers podcast, launching October 28, and a virtual spooky storytime reading of Susan Montanari’s The Halloween Tree airing on October 29. Discover more about Poe and other writers of the past by carving out some time to visit the AWM Wednesday through Sunday, 10am to 5pm. Visitors can find Poe spotlighted throughout the museum exhibits and even in its gift shop. Museum-goers can also grab a pair of gloves and write their own terrifying tale or petrifying POEm on one of the vintage typewriters, and AWM might feature it on their blog.
Poe is credited for crafting several forms of short fiction including horror, science fiction, and the detective story. Museum guests can also learn more about the writers inspired by Poe, including H.P. Lovecraft, Patricia Highsmith, and Ray Bradbury, who will be featured in the 2021 exhibit Inextinguishable in the AWM’s Writer’s Room. A copy of Bradbury’s The Halloween Tree sits on a shelf in Readers Hall for visitors to browse through while in the museum.
In “The Man of the Crowd: Edgar Allan Poe and the City,” Scott Peeples chronicles the master of macabre’s rootless life in the cities, neighborhoods, and rooms where he lived and worked, exploring how each new place left its enduring mark on the writer and his craft. To register for this free 6:30pm program streamed live via Zoom, visit here. The full recording will be available on AWM’s Author Talks playlist on YouTube for those who miss the live program. To promote social distancing, all AWM programs will continue to be held live online. For more information and to register for a free virtual program, visit AmericanWritersMuseum.org/calendar/.
Poe is the subject of the first episode of AWM’s new Nation of Writers podcast, a new monthly series in which the museum talks about writers of the past with experts and scholars who know them best. This podcast is presented in conjunction with the upcoming virtual exhibit American Voices. Episode one features experts from two of the AWM’s Author Home Affiliates program, Chris Semtner, Curator from The Poe Museum (Richmond, VA) and Enrica Jang, Executive Director from Poe Baltimore, in conversation with AWM’s Cristina Carrera.
A special spooky edition of the AWM’s Little Squirrels Storytime with their Storyteller Matt reading Susan Montanari’s The Halloween Tree will premiere on YouTube at 10:30 am, and then will be available on AWM’s Little Squirrels Storytime playlist on YouTube.
This month, the museum’s blog is featuring spooktacular and fictional travel spots such as Sleepy Hollow, Prince Prospero’s Abbey, The Haunted Mansion, and The Overlook Hotel in its AWM Destinations series.
About American Writers Museum
The American Writers Museum is the first museum of its kind in the United States. 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, and our daily lives. The museum is located at 180 N. Michigan Ave. Chicago, IL 60601, and offers something for every age group including permanent exhibits and special galleries highlighting America’s favorite works and the authors behind them. Tickets to the museum are $14 for adults, $9 for seniors, students, and teachers. Free for members and children ages 12 and under. To inquire about discounted rates for groups of 10 or more, including adults, student travel groups, and University students, visit AmericanWritersMuseum.org/visit/groups/ or call 312-374-8770. Museum hours are Wednesday – Sunday 10 AM – 5 PM. For more information visit AmericanWritersMuseum.org or call 312-374-8790.