I knew that Dr. Seuss grew up in Springfield because years ago I’d been to a small exhibit there about his childhood. When I read that a whole museum is now dedicated to him, I had to see it. Part of a larger complex that includes art, history and natural history museums, the Dr. Seuss exhibition is the most unusual and visited.
Part playground for young (and old) children, part storytelling about Seuss’s childhood and part artifacts from his life, there is something for everyone. In keeping with the spirit of the books, it is bright, fanciful and has some real sparks of humor. In the garden are enormous sculptures of some of his best-known characters. Next time I will bring kids along.
Right next door at the art museum was an exhibit of Ai Wei Wei’s work. I’ve long been an admirer of his. He combines social activism with art in a way that has captured attention for many situations and causes that might otherwise have been hidden by the Chinese government.
While I could have spent a lot more time there, I was on my way home and wanted to break up the driving time. So, I headed south to Hartford’s Elizabeth Park home to a lovely garden. The heat and humidity remained crushing, so I settled for a late lunch at the Pond House Café and a brief walk.
From there, it was all highway driving—with lots of traffic and sporadic, intense thunderstorms.