Beyond the Meeting: Information of Interest for Attendees

Wendy Woloson has prepared two excellent sources for attendees. The first, detailing historical sites of interest, contains not only links to nearly all the area's historical attractions from Independence Mall to the Automotive Museum, but also a useful guide and contact information for the many places of research in and around the city. The second, a dining guide, is divided geographically and provides links, price ranges, and short descriptions.

In addition, attendees should be aware that, during the dates of the BHC meeting, the Philadelphia Museum of Art will be hosting a major exhibit, "Van Gogh Up Close." Note that the exhibit does require tickets, issued for a particular date and time, which can be purchased on-line. For a review, see the New York Times article of February 3, "In the Eye of His Storms," which notes that the exhibit "examines van Gogh's relationship to nature at its most intimate, cutting a narrow path through his achievement. . . . In doing so it manages to lead us to the fullness of his achievement along a fresh and eye-opening route."

And those interested in Charles Dickens or literary history in general might be interested in the Dickens Exhibit at the Free Library of Philadelphia, part of the celebration of the 200th anniversary of the author's birth. (Note that parts of the exhibit are not open on the weekend.) Further, there is an Edgar Allan Poe National Historic Site, commemorating the years Poe lived in Philadelphia. Some believe that Poe's poem "The Raven" was suggested by a bird owned by Dickens.