Q: What is the Wren’s Nest?
A: The Wren's Nest, which opened in 1913, is the oldest house museum in the city.
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1962, the home is located on Ralph David Abernathy Boulevard in Atlanta.
The Wren’s Nest was the home of Joel Chandler Harris from 1881 until 1908, who is one of the South’s most treasured authors, according to the New Georgia Encyclopedia. He gained national prominence for his numerous volumes of Uncle Remus folktales, according to the New Georgia Encyclopedia.
“Harris’ long-standing legacy as a ‘progressive conservative’ New South journalist, folklorist, fiction writer and children’s author continues to influence our society today,” the encyclopedia reported.
Harris died in 1908.
Originally a simple farmhouse built in 1870, Harris bought the building and surrounding snap bean farm in 1883 for his wife and children (six of nine survived to adulthood), expanding and adding Queen Anne Victorian-style architectural flourishes. It got its whimsical name when wrens built a nest in the mailbox, according to the AJC.
“Our goal is to make the Wren’s Nest a center for the preservation of African-American folk tales and slave narratives, as well as promoting storytelling on a larger scale,” Melissa Swindell, the museum executive director, told Living Intown magazine in October.
The monthly literary series “Beyond Books,” in partnership with Literary Atlanta podcast host Alison Law, features author readings, Q&A and book-signings, the AJC reported earlier. The Wren’s Nest Scribes Program pairs writer mentors with eighth graders at Brown Middle School in southwest Atlanta. The students pen personal stories, which are collected into an annual anthology, with this year’s theme being life along the Westside BeltLine.
There are guided tours (10 a.m.-3 p.m.) on Saturday and Sunday. Highlights include Harris’ writing desk from the Atlanta Constitution, gifts from President Teddy Roosevelt, a Br’er Rabbit and Fox carved wooden humidor and book cases featuring different editions of his books.
The Wren’s Nest is located at 1050 Ralph David Abernathy Blvd. (404-753-7735, wrensnest.org).
Actual Factual Georgia runs on Sundays. If you’re new in town or have questions about this special place we call home, ask us. E-mail your request to atlactualfact@gmail.com.
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