SOURCE: MASSLIVE
One of America’s greatest literary giants died 136 years ago, yet the fascination and adoration of Emily Dickinson has never been greater than it is today.
A recent and popular TV series added new fans to the legendary poet’s already huge global base. That makes the August reopening of the Emily Dickinson Museum in Amherst, on a date to be determined, a cause for excitement as well as celebration.
Closed by the COVID-19 pandemic in March of 2020, the restored Dickinson Homestead will offer a new look that is really an old look. During the 29 months of closure, a major renovation was dedicated to making Dickinson’s home almost an exact replica of what it looked like more than 160 years ago.
Some authentic furnishings were brought out of storage. A remarkable collection of original artifacts, many of which had already been on display, remain.
In other cases, detailed descriptions allowed a recreation of patterns and settings. The museum will bring culture, history and literature to life, and also tell of the journey of a complex woman whose compelling life story absorbs the attention of her followers to this day.
Dickinson was never truly appreciated during her lifetime, partly because she never sought it. All but 10 of her 1,800 poems were published after her death in 1886, but as with all truly great work, hers has stood the test of time, and its influence has grown.
Hopefully, absence will make the heart grow fonder. During the museum’s closure, visitors from 70 countries kept in touch through virtual means. That online presence will be maintained.
As its reopening nears, a feeling of anticipation is in the Amherst air. Never has the homestead, which was built in 1813, been better positioned to reflect the life and environment of Emily Dickinson in the mid-1800s.
Modern museums thrive only if they attach modern relevance to the history they represent. The Emily Dickinson Museum has always done that, and the restoration makes this local treasure better than ever.
Once it reopens, this walk back in time will be steps well taken, to better appreciate an Amherst woman whose gift to the world was the genius and creativity of her own mind.