46df0ad68628fe32d475990cf275ce1f

Atlanta Travel Guide powered by advice from Real Travelers

 Get Real Deal alerts »

Wren's Nest House Museum

See more attractions in Atlanta »
Wren's Nest House Museum
1050 Ralph David Abernathy Blvd SW, Atlanta, GA 30310
+1 404 753 7735
site: Wren's Nest House Museum
#128 of 596 things to do rated by Real Travelers

More information on Wren's Nest House Museum

Named for a family of wrens that once nested in the mailbox, Wren's Nest is the former home of Joel Chandler Harris, who chronicled the wily deeds of fictional African characters Br'er Rabbit and Br'er Fox. It's been open to the public since 1913, when Harris's widow sold it to the Uncle Remus Memorial Association.Harris's literary career began at the age of 13, when he apprenticed on the Countryman, a quarterly plantation newspaper. During the 4 years that he spent learning at the Countryman, young Harris spent many an evening hanging about the slave quarters, drinking in African folk tales and fables spun by George Terrell, a plantation patriarch who became the prototype for Uncle Remus. Sherman's army put the Countryman out of business, and Harris went on to other newspapers, working his way up to editorial writer at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution by age 28. There, plagued by writer's block one gloomy winter afternoon, he remembered the plantation stories of his youth and evoked Uncle Remus to fill his column. Enthralled readers clamored for more, and the rest is history.The house itself is an 1870s farmhouse with a Queen Anne-style Victorian facade added in 1884. Harris lived here from 1881 until his death in 1908, doing most of his writing in a rocking chair on the wraparound front porch. On the 30-minute tour, including a slide presentation about Harris's life, you'll see a good deal of memorabilia: the stuffed great horned owl over the study door (a gift from Theodore Roosevelt, whose White House Harris visited); the original wren's-nest mailbox on the study mantel; and all of Harris's books, along with signed first editions from major authors of his day (Mark Twain and others) displayed in a bookcase. Guided tours are offered every half-hour on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday.The house is interesting, but the best part is the storytelling. Call ahead to find out when the storyteller-in-residence will be telling stories culled from African and African-American folklore; it's a real treat. Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.

Price

Admission $8 adults, $7 seniors and children over 13; $5 children age 4-12; free for under age 4

Credit Cards Accepted

none accepted

Directions

Take I-20 West to Ashby St., turn left on Ashby, then right on Ralph David Abernathy Blvd.; Wren's Nest is 2 long blocks down on the left. MARTA: Bus no. 71 from West End rail station

Area

2 blocks from Lowery Blvd

Hours

Tues-Sat 10am-2:30pm. Storytelling Sat at 1pm or by appointment

Information by Frommers

Things to do near Wren's Nest House Museum

 more Atlanta hotels »
  • Wren's Nest House Museum
    Attractions

    Wren's Nest House Museum

    Named for a family of wrens that once nested in the mailbox, Wren's Nest is the...

    Popularity #128 of 596
  • Hammond House Gift Shop
    Attractions

    Hammond House Gift Shop

    Located in a beautifully restored house that dates to 1857, these galleries are dedicated to the mission of preserving the work and herit...

    Distance 0.3 miles away
    Popularity #77 of 596
  • Martin Luther King, Jr. International Chapel
    Attractions

    Martin Luther King, Jr. International Chapel

    Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was a leader of international fame. Following the footsteps of his father, he has contributed substa...

    Distance 0.7 miles away
    Popularity #264 of 596
  • Spelman College Museum of Fine Arts
    Attractions

    Spelman College Museum of Fine Arts

    Located in the Cosby Academic Center on the campus of Spelman College, the Spelman College Museum of Fine Arts features one of the finest...

    Distance 0.8 miles away
    Popularity #82 of 596
  • PS Warehouse
    Attractions

    PS Warehouse

    If you're looking for a good night out with a dash of healthy music, this is where you should head. PS Warehouse is famous for the wide r...

    Distance 0.9 miles away
    Popularity #334 of 596
  • Outdoor Activity Center
    Attractions

    Outdoor Activity Center

    This 26-acre 10.5-hectare) facility is designed with kids in mind. Located just a few miles from downtown, the center provides a hands-on...

    Distance 0.9 miles away
    Popularity #115 of 596
  • Clark Atlanta University Art Galleries
    Attractions

    Clark Atlanta University Art Galleries

    Set on the campus of one of the city's most renowned and respected universities, this handsome gallery serves as the permanent home of Cl...

    Distance 1.0 miles away
    Popularity #332 of 596
  • Davage Auditorium
    Attractions

    Davage Auditorium

    Located in Clark Atlanta University, this auditorium is a venue for many local as well as national events. From musicals and theatrical p...

    Distance 1.0 miles away
    Popularity #270 of 596
  • Booker T. Washington High School
    Attractions

    Booker T. Washington High School

    This downtown high school is the alma mater of many of Atlanta's most famous citizens, including Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Built by arc...

    Distance 1.1 miles away
    Popularity #10 of 596
  • Fountain Hall
    Attractions

    Fountain Hall

    Constructed in 1882 on the campus of Morris Brown College, this building is one of the oldest surviving structures on the original site o...

    Distance 1.4 miles away
    Popularity #129 of 596
 more Atlanta things to do »
  • Ashby Street Rib Shack
    Restaurants

    Ashby Street Rib Shack

    This is an authentic rib shack such as you used to find in every little town from Richmond to New Orleans. You can eat barbecue in a nice...

    Distance 1.2 miles away
    Popularity #150 of 442
  • Busy Bee Cafe
    Restaurants

    Busy Bee Cafe

    Hanging tough at its original location downtown, the Busy Bee is a hometown favorite for no-nonsense, down-home cooking. The locals outnu...

    Distance 1.3 miles away
    Popularity #24 of 442
  • Paschal's Restaurant
    Restaurants

    Paschal's Restaurant

    Located in the heart of the historic Castleberry Hill Neighborhood you will find Paschal’s Atlanta Restaurant, an icon complete with a ri...

    Distance 1.4 miles away
    Popularity #187 of 442
  • No Mas! Cantina
    Restaurants

    No Mas! Cantina

    Since more than a decade, No Mas! Cantina have been decorating the Atlantic homes with their stylish furniture, accessories and Mexico ha...

    Distance 1.5 miles away
    Popularity #319 of 442
  • Alley Cat (The)
    Restaurants

    Alley Cat (The)

    Sneak out to this sly hideout named The Alley Cat. This hip place provides the right ambience to hangout with friends or chill out in you...

    Distance 2.1 miles away
    Popularity #354 of 442
  • 30 Tables
    Restaurants

    30 Tables

    Now Open!

    Distance 2.2 miles away
    Popularity #242 of 442
  • STATS
    Restaurants

    STATS

    Are you ready for some "food play?" Concentrics Restaurants has introduced the city of Atlanta to the premium, food-focused, sports-cente...

    Distance 2.2 miles away
    Popularity #192 of 442
  • Ruth's Chris Steak House
    Restaurants

    Ruth's Chris Steak House

    If its your first visit to this place don't even think of eating something other than steak. Renowned countrywide for the most juicy and...

    Distance 2.3 miles away
    Popularity #17 of 442
  • Legal Sea Foods - Atlanta
    Restaurants

    Legal Sea Foods - Atlanta

    For three generations, Legal Sea Foods has served only the highest quality, freshest fish at a great value. We select the finest and most...

    Distance 2.3 miles away
    Popularity #196 of 442
  • Peasant Bistro
    Restaurants

    Peasant Bistro

    Peasant Bistro, the newest of Atlanta's favorite Peasant Restaurants is conveniently located Downtown overlooking Centennial Olympic Park...

    Distance 2.3 miles away
    Popularity #191 of 442
 more Atlanta restaurants »

Hotels near this attraction

Atlanta Travel Experiences

Where have you been lately?

Share your travels with friends & family

Free travel blog
  •  Free Travel Blog
  •  Stunning maps
  •  Share experiences
  •  Automatic emails
  •  Unlimited photos
  •  Unlimited entries
Sign up for a free travel blog

Traveler Photos of Atlanta

The Dogwoods, in full bloom. mlk's birthplace home In New Orleans Food in NO
 See all photos in Atlanta »

Hotels near Atlanta