The Marion E. Wade Center - Wheaton, Illinois

Luke Storer

I had such a delightful visit! When my friends suggested I check this place out, I had no idea what an amazing place it was.
The most exciting things to see at the Marion E. Wade Center are the writing desks of C. S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien and the wardrobe that Lewis and his brother played in as children. Yes, this is the wardrobe that inspired the magic one in the Chronicles of Narnia. The center has other lovely displays on the works of Tolkien and Lewis and other writers who influenced Lewis's life. It's not large or extensive, but it is worth the stop. You can just come in and look around, or you schedule a tour. I hear there is also a sort of scavenger hunt activity where you are given a sheet of things to find in the displays.
Another main feature of the center is the library. It is the perfect place for anyone doing research and writing on these great authors.

dt. haase

What a place! Come see the desk that Tolkien wrote The Hobbit on and the wardrobe the inspired Lewis's way into Narnia. Included are a few wonderful displays about the Inkling authors. The garden is also worth the visit.

Gordon Govier

A small museum and a large library dedicated to C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien and five of their Inkling colleagues and influences. Well worth the time.

Samuel Chestnutt

A must for any Lewis fan! Didn't know this place existed. Well worth the visit. The level of access to books written by and about Lewis & others is extensive. The owners really want us, the general public, to have access to these resources. Excellent, wonderful, amazing, nostalgic!

Steven Duran

This little museum is one of the best kept secrets in all of Chicagoland! Tucked away on Wheaton’s campus, this is the perfect place for fans of C.S. Lewis and G.K. Chesterton to visit 📚 . The Narnia series has some of my favorite literary characters, both as an adult and as a kid. This location has the actual wardrobe that inspired the famous “Lion, Witch, and the Wardrobe” book 📖 .

The only drawback to this museum is how small it is. Most people can visit here for 30-45min and see everything there is to see. Definitely worth the trip if you haven’t been though!

Kevin Doerksen

Wade Center is for anyone who appreciates the authors Tolkein, Lewis, Chesterton, MacDonald, Sayers, Barfield and Williams. It is an amazing repository of literature and wonderful artifacts. It is appropriate for all ages.

JHJ Dindinger

Wow. This place is unbelievable for any George McDonald or CS Lewis or Chesterton or Tolkien fan. I absolutely loved perusing the library and checking out all the memorabilia they had there. I will make it a point to come back here again and spend another few hours. Thank you to all who work there and made it so special!

Jonathan Goetz

An astonishing treasure and a wealth of scholarship in those curating and running the center. We were immediately offered a tour as we entered, and heard fascinating information as we enjoyed the exhibits. I believe anyone with a literary bend will enjoy a visit, especially of course those who enjoy Lewis, Tolkien, Chesterton, MacDonald, Sayers. The reading room was a complete surprise--a marvelous collection in a beautiful, quiet atmosphere.

Note they are open midday hours Mon-Fri (only a couple of Saturdays a year). While you don't need tickets in advance, the staff is very interested in helping you and I recommend reaching out in advance via their website to describe your plans.