Curious George Cottage

Coordinates: 43°56′44″N 71°30′2″W / 43.94556°N 71.50056°W / 43.94556; -71.50056 Curious George Cottage was the summer home of H.A. Rey and Margret Rey, creators of the Curious George series of children’s books, located in Waterville Valley, New Hampshire.

The Reys first came to Waterville Valley in the 1950s. Hans was revising his popular astronomy book The Stars: A New Way to See Them and needed a place away from the glare of city lights to do observation. Waterville Valley, an "inland island" surrounded by hundreds of acres of national forest, was the perfect location for stargazing and the many outdoor activities the Reys loved. They spent the next twenty summers there, and wrote several Curious George stories while in Waterville Valley.

The Reys’ cottage soon became an intellectual center for the town, hosting book clubs, discussion groups, and the opportunity to watch a children's author at work. Hans was known for his chalk talks, in which he would entertain visitors as he drew. Well-behaved children got to take a drawing home with them. At other times, he would take local children on nature walks, which often included conversations with imaginary people, thanks to his ability to throw his voice.

After the Reys died, the cottage was donated to the town of Waterville Valley. It is now managed by the Margret and H.A. Rey Center, dedicated to providing educational and recreational programs for children and families, including nature walks, literary groups, writers workshops, discussion clubs, a monthly lecture series, art shows, and activities for children. The center hosts regular astronomy nights under the same dark skies that first drew Hans Rey to the valley. All activities are open to the public.

External links

• Margret and H.A. Rey Center
• Town of Waterville Valley
• Visit Waterville Valley

References

• The Journey That Saved Curious George: The True Wartime Escape of Margret and H.A. Rey, Louise Borden, Houghton Mifflin, 2005
• "Check into Curious George's summer home in N.H," USA Today
• "Once upon a time, Curious George lived here," Concord Monitor, Concord, NH