About Thurber House

Thurber House is based in the restored 1873 home of humorist, cartoonist, author, playwright, and journalist James Thurber, widely considered one of the foremost American humorists of the 20th century. Thurber House programs include author events featuring nationally bestselling authors and local authors, creative workshops and writing groups for children and adults, a historic home museum, the Thurber Prize for American Humor, and more.

“Thurber House is genuinely one of my favorite places in the world.” —Mason, student and intern

“I finally found my people.”

We hear these words all the time—and they always bring tears to our eyes. Thurber House is proud and fortunate to be a place of connection, inspiration, and joy.

Right now, people of all ages and walks of life are struggling to authentically engage, learn, grow, express themselves, and belong. Thurber House remains a safe space where creativity thrives, gatherings feel alive, and we celebrate diversity of thought, identity, and lived experience.

However, we’re troubled to see arts programs vanishing from K-12 schools. We’re encountering kids and young adults who are falling behind in reading, writing, and critical thinking. So, we ask ourselves, “What more can Thurber House do to make tomorrow better?”

The answer? So much. With your gift, we will continue to be an inclusive and empowering space for people of all backgrounds to come together, learn from each other, find belonging, and return that positive impact to the world. This is our commitment as a beacon of community, creativity, enrichment, and hope.

Thank you for taking a moment today to donate to Thurber House. Your support sustains our work and strengthens our impact when people need us most. We can't do this without you.

Our 2025 Impact — Children's/Teen Programs

2,670 kids and teens attended workshops, summer camp, and school visits; submitted their writing and art to our teen literary journal Flip the Page (350 submissions); and completed 1,600+ service hours as interns and docents (95 students)
139 days of educational instruction provided for kids and teens at Thurber House, in 47 school classrooms, and at 8 libraries
33 full scholarships awarded to kids and teens to attend Summer Writing Camp and Young Writers’ Studio ($11,000+ in free tuition)
Restored beloved children’s programs for the first time since 2019 and 2022: Young Docents for grades 5-6, plus Pen and Tell It! for grades 2-8
Launched our NEW Teen Summer Writing Intensive program that employed teachers, published authors, actors, and Ohio State students
Partnered with: Ohio State, Columbus City Schools, Columbus College of Art and Design, King Arts Complex, Columbus Museum of Art, Franklin Soil and Water Conservation District, Schooled on Poetry, Poetry Out Loud, Profoundly Gifted Retreat, Mouth of the Wolf Productions, Liberty Mutual, and many more

Our 2025 Impact — Adult Programs and Museum

1,400 adults attended events/workshops
92 creative workshops and writing group sessions held for adults (including new programs Adult Writers’ Studio and Laughter Wellness, plus 16 library visits)
15 events—Book Bar social mixers, the Thurber Prize, author events with John Kenney, Scott Woods, Hanif Abdurraqib, Linda Castillo, Tom Toro, and more
Partnered on adult programs with: Green Lawn Cemetery, The Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum at Ohio State, Cartoon Crossroads Columbus, and more
1,300+ people visited our museum from as far away as Croatia and Hong Kong—including Mr. Elvis Costello!
Another epic signature in James Thurber's closet: "Elvis Costello: The Singer Who Bit People!"

What's Next?

Expanding year-round programs for kids and teens in grades 2-12
Building new interactive activities for adults, like Laughter Wellness
Revitalizing the Thurber House museum as a creative gathering place and maximizing its potential
Adding more partnerships with schools, libraries, and community centers
Launching more programs to bring kids, teens, and adults together in joyful, creative, and enriching community experiences

Winter 2025-2026 Fundraising Campaign

Founded in 1984, Thurber House is a nonprofit literary arts hub, James Thurber museum, historic landmark, and gathering place for readers, writers, and artists of all ages.

Team Members