Return to Menokin by Juliana Grassia

by Juliana Grassia, Director of Visitor and Community Engagement

My desk at Menokin faces a big window overlooking the landscape. I witness storm clouds rolling over the fields. I watch crops get planted, then harvested, each season. Cardinals and robins visit on winterberry branches. I also get to see people as they start their visit to Menokin, walking by with dogs and children, with family or solo. Over the past few weeks, more and more people have passed my window as the world opens up again after a long winter- and a long two years.

In March 2020, I posted a photo to Menokin’s social media accounts and shared how I was handling the early days of the pandemic. I encouraged you to find solace in our landscape during troubling times. Since then, you’ve hiked, kayaked, toured, and walked Menokin. Though “normal” is hard to define now, there was a sense of normalcy in serving you and our entire community through it all.

Today, I invite you to return to Menokin. Whether you visit weekly to walk your dog or haven’t had a chance to visit yet, Menokin will always be a place to which you can return and be welcomed. Our landscape tells a story, and you’re as much a part of it as the people who lived here centuries ago.

The staff has worked hard to improve and expand Menokin’s offerings, so that you can enjoy your experience here to the fullest extent. Over the next few weeks, we’ll share more about what you can expect during your visit, from how you can build an itinerary to the stops featured on guided tours. Menokin also has an exciting lineup of programs and events this summer, both in person and online. Whether you visit Menokin for the history, the environment, or the architecture, everyone will have an opportunity to be a part of the story of this place.

It’s time to return to Menokin; we look forward to welcoming you back.