Memorial Art Gallery Story Walk and Poets Walk

The Poets Walk and Story Walk are interactive sidewalks along University Avenue and North Goodman Street, honoring poets and local authors as artists of the written word. They feature Rochester stories, memoirs, and family histories from community members. Below, I’ve featured a selection of ones that I have enjoyed. You’ll find the stories and poems on the Memorial Art Gallery’s website, where you can listen on-site or from the comfort of your home.

Story Walk

THREE

Bill Davis, Pied Piper of the Genesee, by Lois Davis

“After that, the city took responsibility and renamed the fall event River Romance.”

GHOST

Love is a Myth by Elaina Stover

“Mine is not a typical love story; it is one part love, one part ghost, and proof that Rochester is more than it seems.”

BAKERY

Mr. Eastman Would Like to See You by Mike Calabrese

“My grandfather walked out, and George Eastman opened the car door.”

BREEZE

A Great Gift by JiaXiao Li

“I learned from him that giving your warm hands to someone if you can, will make the world different.”

ENGLISH

More than English by Chensheng Jiang

“However, one guy completely changed my thoughts. His name is Hassan and he comes from Somalia.”

TEMPLE

The Temple by John Lovenheim

“Our dining room is where the Temple Bima (altar) was. I had my Bar Mitzvah in what is now my living room.”

HUMAN

Lines Of Descent: A White Girl Discovers Her Black And Indian Roots by Celeste Schantz

“I do not feel like a member of a race. I feel like thread woven together in a pattern known by my name.”

Poets Walk

Hurry

Continue around the corner along University Ave to find poems like Hurry by Marie Howe.

Which is your favorite story along the Memorial Art Gallery Story Walk?

I’d love to hear from you—please reach out and share your thoughts and experiences.