A conversation centered on North Woods through the lenses of history, literature, and lived experience.

Daniel Mason’s award-winning novel, North Woods, traces the lives of the inhabitants of a single home over 400 years, where the wilderness serves as both a source of healing and a reminder of what has been lost or displaced. It has inspired deep thinking and conversation on how landscapes hold layered histories – – stories of loss, resilience, and renewal – – alongside evolving perspectives on stewardship, settlement, and the region’s long human history.

On Monday, June 15, as part of our NEA Big Read series, Mechanics’ Hall will present Land & Place, a conversation centered on North Woods through the lenses of history, literature, and lived experience. Joined by Maulian Bryant, Betsy Cook, Darren J. Ranco PhD, and Lucas St. Clair, we will consider how land shapes identity, how it has been cared for and contested over time, and how current efforts are expanding recognition of the thousands of years of complex and layered relationships connected to the North Woods.

LEARN MORE & REGISTER HERE

Monday, June 15 at 7:00 PM (doors 6:30 PM), approximately 75 minutes with Q&A. Free to the public; donations encouraged.

All donations received for this event will be used for NEA matching funds for Mechanics’ Hall.