2022 Jack Kerouac Centennial Tour
Beat Museum cofounders Jerry & Estelle Cimino are on the road in the Beat Museum on Wheels, traveling across America to share the story and legacy of the Beat Generation—how it came out of World War II, influenced by jazz, spirituality, and nonconformity. The Beat Generation captured the wayward energy and restlessness of youth in postwar America, and created a renaissance of American art, literature, music, values and ideas that continue to inspire.
Follow our adventures:
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Announcing: The Beat Museum on Wheels II
After a long hiatus, the Beat Museum on Wheels hits the road again, coming soon to a town near you!
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A Visit to John Natsoulas Gallery
The new Beatmobile makes a visit to the John Natsoulas Center for the Arts in Davis, CA.
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Visiting the Harker School in San Jose, CA
We visited the Harker School in San Jose to deliver a new presentation called “Jack Kerouac Centennial 1922-2022.”
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The Beat Museum on Wheels
Starting in August 2022, the Beat Museum on Wheels hit the road in celebration of Jack Kerouac’s centennial. Read more about our adventures here!
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Henry Miller Memorial Library, Big Sur
Our Kerouac Centennial Tour kicked off in Big Sur, with an event at the Henry Miller Memorial Library
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Eisenhower Library & Museum
You can’t run a museum about the Beat Generation without a deep understanding of what Dwight David Eisenhower meant to America in the post-WWII era.
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The Bob Dylan Center, Tulsa
The highlight of Oklahoma was the new Bob Dylan Center.
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The Jim Irsay Collection
Some highlights from our visit to the Jim Irsay Collection at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis!
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American Writers Museum
We presented ‘Kerouac@100: The Man vs The Myth’ at the American Writers Museum in Chicago.
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Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
We rolled into Cleveland for a presentation at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
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Jack Kerouac’s Lowell
The Beatmobile arrived in Jack’s hometown, just in time for Lowell Celebrates Kerouac.
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Our Presentation in Lowell
Wherein we present to our most knowledgeable (and formidable) audience yet…
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Beat Angel Gets Its Due at LCK
Amongst the festivities at Lowell Celebrates Kerouac 2022, Brian Hassett gave a presentation on the many portrayals of Jack on the silver screen.
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St. Peter’s University, Jersey City
When Allen Ginsberg appeared with his father Louis Ginsberg at a Jesuit College in Jersey City, NJ in 1969 there was no predicting what was about to unfold. So, in 2022, when The Beat Museum on Wheels was invited by the school’s librarian, Mark Graceffo, we knew we had to go in memory of Allen.…
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Kerouac on Cape Cod
In 1966, Kerouac bought a home for he and Mémère in Hyannis, on Cape Cod.
Purchase the books mentioned in our presentations on Bookshop.org!
For further reading about the people and topics referred to in our stage presentations with the Beat Museum on Wheels, browse our Bookshop store:
We’re officially kicking off our 2022 Jack Kerouac National Centennial Tour with the Beat Museum on Wheels!
Our first stop is Big Sur, where we’ll be joining our friends at the Henry Miller Memorial Library for a special event honoring Kerouac@100. Festivities will include:
- Steve Edington, president of Lowell Celebrates Kerouac, will read “Big Sur—Jack Kerouac’s Last Train to the Coast,” a chapter in Steve’s forthcoming book “The Gospel According to Jack.” Q&A to follow.
- A screening of the acclaimed film Big Sur,based on Kerouac’s novel, presented by director Michael Polish.
- A panel discussion with Michael Polish, Magnus Toren, Steve Edington, and Beat Museum director Jerry Cimino.
- Kerouac centennial exhibition provided by the Beat Museum.
Part Mobile Museum, Part Stage Presentation
Our programs include:
- Jack Kerouac@100:
The Man vs the Myth - Women of the Beat Generation:
A Woman’s Perspective - The San Francisco Renaissance:
The 1950s Ethos of the Left Coast
Our live presentation includes:
- Literary perspective on the meaning and development of Kerouac’s “bop spontaneous prose.”
- Historical perspective of the times, including WWII, the Cold War, McCarthyism, and the changing culture of postwar America.
- The influence and importance of jazz.
- How the Beats influenced later cultural movements.
- The values of the Beat Generation, including tolerance, inclusiveness, authenticity, and compassion.
- Encouragement for young people to pursue their passions and their dreams.
Please Contribute to our Gas Fund
Months ago, when we planned this tour, gasoline was $4.59 per gallon in California. Today it’s $6.79! If you’re so inclined, we would appreciate your assistance along this journey. Help get us to the next town by donating to our gas fund. We’re eternally grateful for your support!
The History of the Beat Museum on Wheels
The Beat Museum was born in Monterey, California, in April of 2003. In 2004 and 2005, founder Jerry Cimino and Beat Generation progeny John Allen Cassady traveled the country in what they affectionately called The Mighty Beatmobile and known to the world at large as The Beat Museum on Wheels. During the fall of both 2004 and 2005 John and Jerry drove from California to Maine to Florida and back for a three month period. They performed their live show “This is the Beat Generation” at universities, high schools and community centers for thousands of Beat fans from coast to coast. Many great adventures were had along the way. Upon their return to California just before Christmas of 2005 the Beat Museum on Wheels was retired and The Beat Museum moved to its permanent location in San Francisco’s North Beach neighborhood in January of 2006.
Read more about the past adventures of The Mighty Beatmobile >