The Big Read is back!

Join us as we delve deep into the Great Tales and Poems of Edgar Allan Poe. Get ready for book discussions, programs, and special events that all celebrate the works of this giant in the literary world.

For a complete list of events, visit The Big Read Hopkinsville.

What’s happening at the Museum for the Big Read:

A Peek Inside the Casket: An Exhibit to Die For
Pennyroyal Area Museum
From the depths of the Museum’s underground have been unearthed the artifacts of the undertaker. From the days when services for the deceased were held at home, these morbid objects show how the ritual of the funeral was performed before the advent of modern funeral homes.

Oct. 14: Dream a Little Dream with Poe and Cayce
Pennyroyal Area Museum, 6pm
Emily Fox-Hill, a scholar of both Poe and Cayce, weaves together both Edgars’ perspectives of dreams & their interpretation.

Oct. 15: Dream Interpretation Workshop
L&N Depot, 10am
In an encore presentation, Emily Fox-Hill hosts an interactive dream workshop based on the Edgar Cayce readings at 10am on Saturday, October 15 at the L&N Depot. Participants will learn how to read their own dreams for guidance. Limited to 20 participants; call the Museum at 270-887-4270 to register.

Oct. 19: Psychological Thriller vs. Misuse of Mental Illness: What Poe Got Right & Many Modern Novels & Movies Get Wrong
Pennyroyal Area Museum, 6pm
Edgar Allan Poe wrote psychological thrillers, or mysteries and tales of horror that play on psychological vulnerabilities shared by most people. What did Poe get right? What do modern descriptions get so wrong? Dr. Susan Vaught, Western State Hospital, hopes to answer these questions.

Oct. 22: Decode Poe!
First clue given at  Peace Park, 10am
Just like William Legrand in “The Gold Bug,” you will need your best decoding skills to decipher the cryptographic clues to find the location of the treasure. Crack the clues on your own – or in a team of up to 4 people. Call the Museum at (270) 887-4270 to reserve your spot!

Oct. 28: Supper in the Cemetery
Riverside Cemetery, 4:30pm
Tour the tombstones with the Museums of Hopkinsville and learn more about the art and history of this final resting place. After a delicious supper from the Pioneers, convene in the chapel to hear from local folks who made their way to the cemetery in ways that only Poe could have imagined. Tours start at 4:30; supper will be served at 5:30; and the show starts at 6:30pm. Call the Museum at (270) 887-4270 to reserve your spot! $12/person

Oct. 29: Torchlight Tales with William Turner
Jeffers Bend Environmental Center, 6pm
It’s sunset in the river bottom below the cemetery, and Halloween is in the air. With the tales of Poe lurking in our minds, we can’t think of a better way to share a spooky story with a little local flare. Join Mr. William T. Turner at Jeffers Bend as he shares our favorite campfire tale – The Legend of the Bell Witch.