Updike’s classmates sensed that the “Bard of Plowville” had a very good chance of becoming a famous artist or writer, so they saved scraps of paper, signed photos, and other memorabilia, many of which are displayed at The John Updike Childhood Home, 117 Philadelphia Ave., Shillington, Pa. You can visit and explore two floors of exhibits on most Saturdays from 12-2 p.m.

Email johnupdikeeducation@gmail.com before you travel to make sure the museum, a National Historic Place with a Historic Pennsylvania Marker, will be open. And be sure to let everyone know what items you connected with! Was it the Shillington High School basketball schedule from 1950—Updike’s senior year? Or the .22 rifle he wrote about in “Pigeon Feathers”? The main typewriter he used? His golf scorecards? Or maybe, if you’re looking to measure yourself against a two-time Pulitzer Prize winner, his high school transcript showing the grades he received?