I’m just back from a weekend at the fascinating Georgia Writers Museum (https://www.georgiawritersmuseum.org/) in Eatonton, Georgia, near Lake Oconee. I’m all charged up to write!
Who knew that 3 famous authors – Flannery O’Conner, Alice Walker and Joel Chandler Harris– lived within 20 miles of Eatonton? These three are honored with lovely displays in the museum. There is also an exhibit of the over 60 members of the Georgia Writers Hall of Fame. I’m talking about Pat Conroy, Margaret Mitchell, Eugenia Price, Celestine Sibley, Roy Blount, Jr., Jimmy Carter, and WEB Du Bois, to name a few. These authors’ books are available for purchase.
Most writers museums honor only one writer. Think Papa Hemmingway, Walt Whitman, Edgar Allen Poe, John Steinbeck. There are only 2 museums that honor multiple writers (the other one is in Chicago). And this one is only an hour and a half from Atlanta!
The active and creative staff of the museum have a busy calendar of events, book signings, writers’ workshops and special events. The building is on the cute town square, across the street from the historic courthouse, and only a few miles from beautiful Lake Oconee. I’m already thinking how fun a day trip to Andalusia (Flannery O’Conner’s home ( https://www.gcsu.edu/andalusia ), the Uncle Remus Museum, (http://www.uncleremusmuseum.org/ ) coupled with a trip to the writers museum, capped off by some time at the lake, will be.
I’m so glad we had a chance to spend time there and meet with dedicated people who have made it happen.