American Writers Museum Admission Ticket

This museum is filled with relevant and inspiring information about local and American authors displayed in interactive exhibits that encourage going deeper. Something for everyone!

Walked in here to kill time while we waited for our hotel room. What a hidden gem of a place right on Michigan Ave especially if you’re a literary nerd! You can try an old fashioned type writer and play word games or learn about American writers who have made a huge impact.

This was our second visit to the American Writers Museum. I used a pass available through our local library via Explore More Illinois. This place is a gem; you can visit more than once and have new experiences each time. We enjoyed the "jukebox" with samples of songs/lyrics. The typewriters are fun for those who are younger than me! The museum is inspiring and interactive. It is very accessible for wheelchair users. We stayed just under an hour. It was not crowded. It's a nice diversion after seeing the Bean, etc... We will be back!

As an avid reader for 55 years, and a huge fan of niche museums, I expected to love this museum. The children’s section was fun with displays and back stories on the authors of childhood favorites. The”which March sister are you?” was worth looking at. Learned that the illustrator for Charlotte’s Web also illustrated the Little House on the Prairie series. Wonderful mural of a tree featuring many childhood favorite books amongst the branches. The section on adult books, however, I found boring. It was somewhat interesting to consider that advertising slogans, song lyrics and screenplays are all “writing work products “too. But the interactive pieces didn’t hold my attention and my friend and I gave up after looking at a half dozen of them. The museum was crowded this Saturday but few people were looking at the adult book displays. While both my friend and I are well educated and lifelong readers, we guesstimated that we had read <5% of the books featured. There is a 1950’s soda shop booth with a tabletop jukebox and a “menu” with song lyrics. This might have been engaging but one of the buttons was stuck and it wasn’t working well. The gift shop was tiny but well stocked with several amusing things for sale like a spiral notebook mocked up to look like a Nancy Drew book and a purse that resembled a typewriter. Guests were invited to take a complimentary bookmark featuring their favorite author which was generous. Who knows what the mission of this museum is, but I would recommend skipping it.

Lots of fun ways to interact with the work of American writers and see what their inspiration and influences were. If you like reading and literature, this is the museum for you.

Fascinating museum about writers in American. Stayed much longer than we expected. Free tours on the hour - highly recommend.

The staff gave a helpful 3 pm tour that explained the organization and features of the many exhibits. Inspiring. Especially enjoyed the section on Chicago writers as an out-of-town tourist.

Vet informative in a very creative presentation.. you learn what an art writing ia. Great value too.

There is so much packed into this small space. Great reminders of the literary legagy of many writers. Interactive, including gaming, LARP, and a children's room. An unexpected gem.

A dream for book lovers (and probably writers as well). We were there for three hours, but could easily have stayed much longer. Exhibits are extremely interactive, so children and teens will love this place, too. Try typing on a manual typewriter! (It’s not easy!) School teachers should consider bringing students here. New exhibit on video games! A hidden gem. Highly recommended!

I loved how the museum presents the information about many great American writers. I was glad to see some of my favorites represented: Hemingway, Chandler, Hammett, among others. The museum shop is also nice. There are many interactive displays and stations, which made the experience even better. The building and the museum itself is beautiful. Also, really close to many restaurants and other places of interest.

What a great museum this is. The most of the writers whom story was told don’t live anymore. But it gives a great history of the development of writers in the USA. Some exhibits are interactive, You can type a letter on a classic typewriter if you like. There is a little store with nice items which are of course writer related. We considered the museum as a hidden gem.

Had a wonderful time. Very interesting. Not exactly my type of thing but I actually had a very good time. Plenty of room to roam. Alot of interactive things to do.

It was very informative. Love the displays and presentations. Great history on American writers. I highly recommend!

Really enjoyed our visit and spent about 2 hours here. There’s a timeline with various authors represented that was highly informative. There are some interactive exhibits as well. Though small in scale it was well worth a stop

It's difficult to represent the written word in a visual medium like a museum, but they've done an adequate job. The exhibits were all professionally designed and installed. What I enjoyed most about my visit (and what I imagine most visitors enjoy) was witnessing my favorite authors represented-- a kind of validation of my own opinions. I spent an hour touring the exhibits, and, though I was pressed for time, don't think I'd have wanted to spend much more than that. The $16 admission seems kind of steep for what it is, but they are located in an expensive part of Chicago. If you're an avid reader, you'll enjoy this (I can't imagine a non-reader even bothering to read reviews of AWM!).

Interesting idea. There were some cool interactive things to do. I was hoping for more, especially about authors I wasn’t familiar with.

This museum was even better than I anticipated. If you have a passion for literature, language, and the creative writing process, then you should visit this Chicago museum. It is filled with books (from children to adults), interactive games, and beautiful exhibits that celebrate the heritage of authors as well as their contributions. We spent about an hour but if you find a nice book to read, you may be tempted to sit and stay longer. I recommend this tour for educators, students, history buffs, and travelers who seek a unique cultural experience.

It's a cute, small museum. There's so much information contained within I got a little overwhelmed. I loved the interactiveness of the exhibits, especially the old typewriters they had for public use. It was very quiet when I went, with only a small handful of people around

The most underrated museum I've visited. Most locals I've spoken to haven't heard of it, and I went there not expecting much and to be in and out in an hour. I spent three hours there as it was just so well set-up and was incredibly interesting with exhibits on modern writing, older writing, poetry, novels, and speeches. Strong representation of Black American writing too which was something I had little prior knowledge on, and this was a real highlight. Even had old school typewriters for people to practice on and type up letters. Really well worth visiting.

Not a very big museum, but very much worth the time and visit. If you love reading and history make this a stop on your Chicago trip! Unique presentation and interactive design make this spot a must see!

Beautiful, thoughtful museum curated to inspire and educate. Small footprint, but hours of thoughtful information and reflection. Worth a visit.

How to communicate the contributions of American writers? Not a visual medium. But the American Writers Museum has done it, with creative and interactive exhibits. Definitely worth seeing. Hard to find though. It is on the second floor of a building in downtown Chicago, right across the street from Nutella and Stan's Donuts. There is a sign displayed on the building front but it is hard to see.

Amazing diversity of writers and thought. Immersive and interactive. I was introduced to many new writers and also basked in the company of old friends.

We enjoyed the American Writers Museum. I picked this museum because my daughter is a songwriter and screenwriter. She was inspired at the museum to begin another script.💻

I spent a few hours reading everything! The timeline, the interactive exhibits, and the film we all curated to appeal to a wide audience. I loved typing on the classic typewriters and reading the first lines from famous authors as well as ideas written by visitors from all over the world.

I was inspired by all the writers I learned about. The museum was free to visit with my Chicago public library card.

It's a small museum, but it has a great amount of information. I thought it wouldn't take too long to go around the museum. I was wrong. There's a lot to see and read. All writers of any genre should visit.

I had a really nice time. Variety of information presented. I enjoyed the interviews about Black Joy and the exhibit that followed along! There were many fun interactive activities and if I could, I would spend the entire day here!

This museum is hands down the most fun! Everything is educational and there are interactive games to play!

Amazing find! If you love literature, this place is for you!!! The exhibits have unique ways of sharing info.

This was my second visit, because I was in a hurry the first time I went and I wanted more time to read and absorb all the exhibits. I love the various selection of writers showcased as well as the gift shop items. This is a must for educators and book lovers!

We found this little gem just walking down Michigan Avenue on our recent trip to Chicago. It is extremely well done and appropriate for anyone who loves American literature. Very interactive, professionally done and has things for kids and adults. Highly recommend.

What an excellent experience! We did a nice 15-20 minute Poe-tour through the museum that exposed us to all the high-tech exhibits. Then we were free to explore on our own. It is such a pleasure, so informative, and chockful with so much to do that after two hours, I left only from hunger. In those two hours, I'd learnt about history of American writers, created bookmarks with my favorite authors and novels, heard snippets of James Brown and Nina Simone singing, seeing first lines in writers' own handwriting (Joyce Carol Oates, Marilynne Robinson, and others...), typed on old-school typewriters, stamped and posted my family's immigration history.... Oh! I could go on. I only wish I lived in downtown Chicago so I could visit this museum everyday. Can y'all please give me a job?

This visual and tactile experience was definitely worth the price of admission! The typewriters were vintage and provided a unique look into how writers used to compose their stories. Also - I bought a repurposed journal that was put to use immediately.

This museum is worth around 90 minutes or so visit, more if you want to take a in a few extra details. The museum makes you think its going to cover all major writers with some depth, but instead its the narrowest depictions, often either biased or flat out wrong summary of some writers (for instance citing the Kraken as the influence for Cthulhu by H.P. Lovecraft). Some notables seem missing or downplayed, such as those in critical writing or journalism, such as Hunter S. Thompson. No focus on the evolution of writing in terms of thinking as a whole with various schools of thought, an odd take on some writers, and a preoccupation with black writers and civil rights focus (it is Chicago after all). One expects a museum on the writers, the vast majority who are white or other than black with past population demographics and writing, but that is not what the museum is focused on. Worth a visit once but it's sad that so much potential is wasted with such a narrow focus, it felt a bit like a bait and switch.

We lucked into a reading by Ziggy and Orly Marley on our visit. What a treat to meet them and have them sign the book we purchased. Very cool!

Very interactive with tons of interesting information about writers of all genres and art forms. Not as big as expected - it’s a few floors up in a building with other offices - but packed with valuable info.

What an amazing little space! If you have ever enjoyed reading a book, you will love this place. It’s so deeply and thoughtfully interactive, detailed, beautiful, and fun. We only had an hour to visit which was not nearly enough to do everything we wanted to do! The person at the front desk offered for us to come back later in the day on our same admission ticket if we had extra time. If you’re visiting downtown Chicago, this is a great place to stop, including with children! Highly recommended!

Do this! If you are a fan of literature, reading, or just history in general, this is the place for you. I, a lit PhD student, loved it just as much a my mom, a casual reader. There is something for everyone and the interactive side of the museum ensures that everyone will have something to do.

It was great visiting American Writers Museum when it was opened several months ago, because I am also a professional writer. And many decades ago I taught English and journalism in Chicago Public High Schools. My memoir won two 1st-place awards for non-fiction 13 years ago, and WGN TV reviewed my memoir. My novel, BEYOND THE GREEN, was now written and edited by me, Francine Pappadis Friedman, and it was read by Rick Kogan, a columnist of the Chicago Tribune, and he said "It's a fine piece of writing." And he told me that I could put his quote on my novel's back cover, so I did.

Outstanding. While not all exhibits would be suited for children, there are many interactive and maneuvering activities. The displays are "just enough," so you don't become board.

Prepare for a historical experience that contextualizes America as a series, a process, of written consciousness.

American Writers Museum may be the best thing to do in Chicago, if you love reading it’s a must see!

So creative, so hands-on, such variety, nice size. It was so fun to see my 22 year old figure out how typewriters worked. “Mom, where is the #1?” I had to stop a remember that one. Haha. Something for everyone.

For a retired newspaperman, the American Writers Museum is a treasure trove of literary history and interactive displays and fascinating exhibits that document and highlight authors and writings from more than five centuries. Located on the second floor of an office building at 180 North Michigan Avenue in Chicago, not far from Millennium Park and the Art Institute of Chicago, the 11,000-square-foot museum was established in 2010 and opened in 2017, the brainchild of Malcolm O'Hagan, a retired executive from Washington D.C. After visiting the Dublin Writers Museum in his native Ireland in 2009, O'Hagan began to wonder why there wasn't a similar museum in the United States. He chose Chicago for his new museum because of its strong tourist traffic and rich literary history. In fact, that's the subject of one of the most interesting galleries in the venue, Chicago: A City of Writers. It recalls the brilliant work of Carl Sandburg, Nelson Algren, Ben Hecht, James T. Farrell, Ernest Hemingway, Sherwood Anderson, Scott Turow, Gwendolyn Brooks, Edgar Rice Burroughs and Mike Royko. Don't look for manuscripts, first editions, rare books and artifacts. Instead, there are interactive touch screens and high-tech multimedia installations galore. I always am enamored by the table of vintage typewriters. I remember when I used a Smith-Corona in college. Also the 85-foot-long interactive wall that highlights 100 notable writers chronologically. Minds of a Writer focuses on creativity and process. Surprise Bookshelf offers 100 memorable phrases, including Timex's "Takes a licking and keeps on ticking" advertising slogan. There's an interactive touch-screen table where visitors can dig deeply into the history and meaning of 25 masterworks, including The Great Gatsby. And another interactive display allows you to compare your writing habits and skills to those of the greats. See how you compare to the writings of Melville, Hemingway, Hawthorne, Mark Twain, John Steinbeck, Jack Kerouac, Norman Mailer, Harper Lee, W.E.B. DuBois, James Baldwin, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, James Madison, Laura Ingalls Wilder, even Prince, Bob Dylan and Tupac Shakur. The museum is a celebration of American literature, a great way to recognize the enduring influence of American writers on our history, culture and daily lives.

If you love writers, quotes, and books you'll be so happy you stopped here. Short descriptions and key facts of every American writer are highlighted as well as some key "writer" artifacts - like typewriters. So cool.

I really enjoyed this Museum, I like the way it's set out with writers shown in historical sequence. A terrific display of Bob Dylan's writing and awards, (this is a changeable display). This is great for keen readers or people interested in History and how it informs the writing at each historical event. There's also an interactive room where I found many suggestions from visitors of books to read. I spent about two hours here but really could have spent many more hours. I liked the little Museum shop also, a good place to get mementos. The staff were very friendly and helpful. The museum is easy to find and is in a grand and lovely building.

Attended with sons and found the museum very informative. Self paced exhibits and small gift shop area. Loved seeing the various typewriters used by famous people as well as actual typewriters that the young people can use. Very good exhibit of American authors. Will come back with other family members.