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PHOTO: The Joshua L. Chamberlain Museum in Brunswick, where Henry Wadsworth Longfellow lodged when he was a professer at Bowdoin College from 1829 to 1835. Tours will be given Feb. 18 as part of Longfellow Days in Brunswick. (Pejebscot Historical Society photo)
BRUNSWICK – Longfellow Days – a month-long celebration of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow – has returned with full programming for the first time since 2020.
All events in the month-long celebration of everything Longfellow are free.
Longfellow attended Bowdoin college from 1822 to 1825, and taught there from 1829 to 1835, when he lived in the house on Potter Street that is now the Joshua Chamberlain Museum.
The theme of this year’s event is travel. Maine poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow was inspired by traveling, whether internationally or close to home. His adventures shaped his writing, even when his subject had nothing to do with journeys or locales – thus providing evidence that travel can happen over great distances or within our thoughts.
Events begin Feb. 2, with an exhibition excursion led by two docents through two Bowdoin College Museum of Art exhibitions illuminating aspects of Longfellow’s time in Italy.
Other events over the month include readings, including with former Maine poet laureate Wesley McNair; parsing a poem; movie showings; an ecumenical service; a Longfellow trivia challenge; a tour of the Joshua Chamberlain Museum, which is now in a house where Longfellow lived when he taught at Bowdoin; and a community poetry reading.
The month culminates on Feb. 27 with a Longfellow 216 birthday celebration.
Longfellow Days is an annual program of the Brunswick Downtown Association, with support from Bowdoin College, Nathaniel Davis Fund, Eveningstar Cinema, OneSixtyFive: The Inn on Park Row, Union Street Bakery, and the Unitarian Universalist Church of Brunswick.
A full schedule and more information will be posted soon at brunswickdowntown.org or facebook.com/longfellowdays.
