American Writers Museum to open in downtown Chicago

A new museum celebrating American writers from Kurt Vonnegut to Dr. Seuss will open in downtown Chicago in early 2017, it was announced Tuesday.

The American Writers Museum will be the first and only museum of its kind in the United States dedicated to past and present American authors, poets and playwrights.

Located in an 11,000-square-foot space at 180 N. Michigan Avenue, the high-tech museum will feature themed galleries, educational programs and special events for all ages. Interactive exhibits will teach visitors about the writers' lives and literary works, as well as their influence on history, identity and culture.

People can accompany roving writers, such as Jack Kerouac and John Steinbeck, on their literary travels. Or they can "visit" writers' homes and fictional sites, such as Tara from "Gone With the Wind" or "The House of the Seven Gables."

Other exhibits will demystify famed writers' lives and methodologies. There also will be a Readers Hall where the museum will host films, talks, readings and presentations to school and other groups.

For more information, see americanwritersmuseum.org.