The Wren's Nest

Me outside the Wren's Nest. The Wren's Nest got its name by the first owners of the museum for the wrens who built their nest in the mailbox. Wrens still nest there and around the property to this day.

National Historic Landmark sign outside of the Wren's Nest

Brer Rabbit, Brer Fox, Brer Bear and Tar-Baby

Our storyteller, Curtis Richardson, retelling one of Joel Chandler Harris' stories

Outstanding storyteller, Curtis Richardson, spent an hour retelling stories of Brer Rabbit's adventures to a packed house of young and old alike.

Joel Chandler Harris' bedroom virtually untouched since his death. The bed is where he passed away on July 3, 1908. Visitors are not allowed inside this room, and our tour guide said that it wasn't even cleaned until recently when the dust levels became unbearable. The crib in front of the bed is on loan from the family.

Dolls in his daughter's bedroom

Joel Chandler Harris' First Day of Issue Stamps along with a photo of his children located in the dining room.

Dining Room

Photo of Joel Chandler Harris' children in 1948, four decades after his death.

First Day of Issue stamp honoring Joel Chandler Harris, postmarked in his hometown of Eatonton, GA. His stamp also belongs to the same series as the stamp of his favorite author, Edgar Allen Poe.

Joel Chandler Harris' Family Tree. It even includes his great-great-great grandson, Lain Shakespeare, the Executive Director of the Wren's Nest.

The indoor bathroom Joel Chandler Harris refused to use.

Canaries were kept throughout the house to help detect carbon monoxide. If a bird died, they would open all of the windows of the house and wait a few days before returning inside.

Old record player. Our tour guide even played a bit of an original record on it, so the children in the group could hear a sample of the music of the time.

The stained glass windows were extras from the neighborhood Catholic church

Original Coca Cola bottles from Joel Chandler Harris' time before they were shaped into their famous contour bottle design.