Literary Places

This database of writerly destinations—places writers can visit for inspiration, to promote their writing, for research, and to discover community—includes historical sites, reading venues, literary collections, writing centers, and writers spaces. Save your selections to My P&W and populate a personal Google Map that can be used to plan reading tours and visits to literary meccas, or just to keep track of your favorite literary locales.

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Literary Place	City	State
The Poetry Foundation	Chicago	Illinois
The first space in Chicago dedicated solely to the art of poetry, the Poetry Foundation building houses a 30,000 volume poetry library (which... Literary Archive
Thurber House	Columbus	Ohio
Thurber House was the home to James Thurber and his family when he attended Ohio State University (from 1913-1917), and today it serves as a ... Historical Site
The Carson McCullers Center for Writers and Musicians	Columbus	Georgia
The Carson McCullers Center for Writers and Musicians operates a museum in McCullers's childhood home, presents extensive educational and... Historical Site, Writing Center
Louisa May Alcott's Orchard House	Concord	Massachusetts
Louisa May Alcott’s Orchard House (circa 1690) is most noted for being home to the Alcott family. The house is also where Louisa May Alcott wrote... Historical Site
Walden Pond and Thoreau Cabin	Concord	Massachusetts
Henry David Thoreau lived at Walden Pond from July 1845 to September 1847. Today, Walden Pond has been designated a National Historic Landmark and... Historical Site
Ralph Waldo Emerson House	Concord	Massachusetts
Built in 1828, this square frame house served as the home to Ralph Waldo Emerson and his second wife, Lydia Jackson, from 1835 to his death in... Historical Site
The Old Manse	Concord	Massachusetts
Built in 1770 for patriot minister William Emerson, The Old Manse, a National Historic Landmark, became the center of Concord’s political,... Historical Site
Hotel del Coronado	Coronado	California
Founded in 1888, the Hotel del Coronado has been a setting in literature, film, and legend. The most famous work of literature involving the hotel... Historical Site
Bent River Books & Music	Cottonwood	Arizona
Founded in 2010, Bent River Books & Music is an independent bookstore located in the historic Verde Valley of Arizona between Sedona and... Indie Bookstore
William Cullen Bryant Homestead	Cummington	Massachusetts
The William Cullen Bryant Homestead is the boyhood home and later summer residence of William Cullen Bryant. Currently operated by the nonprofit... Historical Site