The Wren's Nest: home of the Brer Rabbit
It wasn’t really a bird that drew President Theodore Roosevelt to the Wren’s Nest in Atlanta. It was a rabbit: a Brer rabbit, to be exact.
Over 100 years later, the former home of author Joel Chandler Harris – named for the wrens that made a nest in the home's mailbox, twice - still draws fans and admirers of the beloved Brer Rabbit tales.
Because of that success of his still-popular children's stories, the Harris home, a grand Victorian structure located on Ralph David Abernathy Boulevard, is still a sort of mecca for admirers of these much-loved tales. It’s not hard to imagine Harris seated in his rocking chair on the shady front porch scribbling away on a sketch pad and brainstorming new plots for his stories.
Harris’ great-great-great grandson, Lain Shakespeare, is the current executive director of the museum, passing down family folklore from personal knowledge.
A visit to the well preserved home takes guests on a journey through the lives of a turn-of-the-century family and gives insight into how Harris was able to capture the Brer Rabbit stories in such a distinct way. A beautiful garden in the back of the museum depicts the very backdrop in which Harris wrote his famous stories.
A recent restoration project breathed new life into the original fixtures and enhanced once dilapidated décor. Touring visitors will see the actual desk Harris used at the Atlanta Constitution; wood carving of several of his characters sent to him by fans in Germany; and much of the original furniture, lighting, decorations and stained glass windows. His own bedroom has remained practically untouched since he died in July of 1908.
Weddings and other events can be booked at the museum. For more information, call (404) 753-7735.
Posted on Apr 22, 2011 by Christine Foster
