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The House at Pooh Corner by A. A. Milne | Purchase from Bookshop
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Based on the books by A. A. Milne, one might think Christopher Robin and his stuffed animals, especially the teddy bear named Winnie the Pooh, were inseparable pals. One might also think that to visit the famous Pooh-stick playing bear you would have to travel to Ashdown Forest, England, where the family once lived. Sadly, neither of these are true. Instead, the original stuffed animals that inspired Milne’s stories about Pooh and his friends in the Hundred Acre Wood permanently reside in the Children’s Room of the New York Public Library, in the United States.
New York Public LibraryThe Real History of Christopher Robin and Winnie the Pooh
If you’ve seen the recent Biopic, Goodbye Christopher Robin, or the more recent live-action, Christopher Robin film, you might assume that the real Christopher Robin had a falling out with his old friends, as any teenager is wont to do with his stuffed animals, but then rekindled his relationship with them later. The real story is unfortunately not so heartwarming. The real Christopher Robin disliked being only recognized as the five-year-old that inspired his father and was frustrated by the press and commercialization his toys generated. He was then bullied at boarding school for his fictional representation. Wanting to distance himself from Pooh and his story, in 1947 he donated the toys to his father’s American publisher. Around 1987 the publisher sent the toys to America for display to increase book sales. With no desire for them back in England, the toys were soon donated to the New York Public Library. In 1998 a British MP noticed the bear and friends in NYC during a trip and lobbied to have them returned home to Britain. In the end, Christopher Robin’s wish to maintain as much distance between him and his past as possible prevailed and the stuffed animals were left in the care of the New York Public Library.
The original Pooh Bear and friends are displayed in an alcove in the children’s room at the New York Public Library.Where to Visit the Former Inhabitants of The Hundred Acre Wood
To visit the former inhabitants of the Hundred Acre Wood, the easiest access is through the 42nd Street entrance to the library. Through this door, you’ll find the Children’s Room directly to your left down a short hallway. Inside, just past the desk, is an alcove built just for the stuffed animals’ display case. Behind the case is a large print of the map of the Hundred Acre Wood and off to the side is a small plaque directing you to an NYPL webpage for more information about the display.
New York Public Library Children’s RoomIn the large glass case, the original Winnie the Pooh, Eeyore, Tigger, Piglet, and Kanga are on display. The stuffed animal Roo, the younger kangaroo, was lost at some point, and the characters Owl and Rabbit were not based on original stuffed animals. If you walk to the back of the case behind the animals you can even see the tack holding Eeyore’s tail tenuously in place.
You can see the tack holding Eeyore’s tail, which often falls off in the stories.Much to my dismay, neither the webpage nor any wording on the wall indicates the reason the toys have ended up in America, and the librarian at the desk refused to divulge any such information either, telling us when asked, to go look at the website. She also didn’t seem that pleased by our excitement over the stuffed animals. I left feeling so sad that a bear that has brought such happiness to so many has been rejected by his owner, and now sits under the less than enthusiastic care of America. I hope someday to visit Ashdown Forest, England and play Pooh-sticks over a bridge in honor of this teddy bear, who may never get to go home.
Let’s Talk!
Did you know Pooh Bear and friends are in America? Do you have an opinion on whether the former inhabitants of the Hundred Acre Wood should return to England? Let’s discuss in the comments below!
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Elda says
I had no idea Pooh was in NYC!
A Suitcase Full of Books says
I was surprised when I found out! I don’t know how I never knew this!
Theresa DeSalvio says
I remember when Pooh and Friends were on display at the Donnell Library in NYC in the 1970’s. There doesn’t seem any mention of that.
A Suitcase Full of Books says
I was not aware they were at another library, so after googling, it looks like the Donnell Library was part of the NYPL and when the building was closed the children’s material was moved to where it is now. I mentioned that the toys were donated to the NYPL, I didn’t know sections of it had been housed in other buildings before.
Theresa DeSalvio says
Possibly they were on loan when they were at the Donnell years earlier than their arrival at the Main Library on 42nd Street.
And since you seem unfamiliar with the Donnell, it housed a large collection of art books and had a movie theater as well as the other collections you would expect in a library. Pooh and Friends were housed in an old fashioned glass case.
A Suitcase Full of Books says
That’s very interesting! However, it does seem that the Donnell was a branch of the NYPL, so they would not have been on loan, just housed at that particular branch until it closed. Thank you for letting me know.
Theresa DeSalvio says
Yes, it was the art library of the NYPL system.
Gwendolen Rowe says
I was very surprised after watching Goodbye Christopher Robin that Winnie the Pooh and his friends are in New York. I think this is very disappointing. They should be in the land of their burth. In England near to the Ashdown Forest. I am sad that as a lifelong fan of these characters that I will never get to see them.
A Suitcase Full of Books says
I agree, however I’m happy I was able to see them. I hope I get to visit Ashdown Forest one day and and play Pooh sticks. Will you never visit NYC?
Gwendolen Rowe says
Sadly my financial situation won’t allow for this. I shall have to content myself with the fact that I live in the land of tgeir birth and have been to the 100 Aker Wood.
A Suitcase Full of Books says
While that’s too bad, I would rather live in the U.K. than visit NYC any day!
Gwendolen Rowe says
I’m in my 60’s and apart from being physically struggling, I also would struggle to raise the funds for such a trip. Also, to be honest, visiting the Winnie the Pooh display would be the only allure for me to go to NYC as I have no desire to visit the USA at all, to be honest. It’s rather a lot of money just to go for this. I just think it is so sad when Winnie the Pooh still is loved over here in the UK for the original characters to be so far from their home. Bring them back here I say.
Hugh says
Wouldn’t it be great if the U.K. and the NYPL worked out a deal where the stuffed animals could go to its origin for display so folks in the U.K. could actually see them? Like a loan for a number of months in exchange for a loaner of something of significant value from the U.K.. Perhaps something American made that Americans would like to see?
Museums do it all of the time, why not the library systems? And what about a deal between the NYPL and a learning institution in the U.K. near where they came from?
The Winnie the Pooh stories are loved here in the U.S. also, as many of us grew up watching the films. At least you know the stuffed animals are in good care. I would even lobby for a better display case, something a little stronger, maybe with specialized lighting so as to protect them better from the elements? Just a thought for all of you folks. Maybe you can form a small society to get it going? A couple of letters here and there could bring the stuffed figures home for a bit?
Treena Saka says
I grew up with Winnie the Pooh(the Disney version) , I still have my small Pooh Bear that was I believe was part of a promotion for Sears. I knew that the original was at the library and I believe that it is high time Pooh and his friends were returned to England.
A Suitcase Full of Books says
I agree!
Donna says
I think the American children have had Pooh and friends long enough, bring them home and let the British and European children enjoy them for a while. As for Christopher Robin it’s sad I know but Pooh has brought so much joy to so many of us. Can someone start a petition again to bring them home….
A Suitcase Full of Books says
I think they should return to Ashdown Forest!
Lu says
Recently my niece visited with her 4 & 6 year old from Wisconsin. We took a 35 min train ride to NYC’s Grand Central station & then walked 3 or 4 blocks on a cold & blustery day to the NY Public Library. You cannot imagine my surprise to see Pooh & friends on display there! My grandnieces were tickled; I was gobsmacked! Having read all of AA Milne’s Pooh books pre-Disney, played Pooh sticks on a bridge over the “bonecreek” in my Champaign, Illinois neighborhood, & was ‘Rabbit’ in a 4th grade production, Pooh was a very important part of my school days as a child in a home devoid of children’s books. Along with the Narnia series, England gave this little 3rd gen. Irish American a taste for all things English as well as Irish. I imagine now that the adult Christopher Robin has gone on to even more Akers, it would only be appropriate to move Pooh & friends to London, where English schoolchildren can enjoy their patrimony–and the rest of the world can put it at the top of the list for our visit to London.
Elizabeth says
What a sweet story! But I actually disagree, I think Pooh and friends should go to the Pooh Corner museum in Ashdown Forest. It’s not too far from London by car, and there’s already a whole Pooh experience there! And it would be sending them home where they belong.
Elizabeth says
Hmmm….. For all the people saying the original toys should be returned to Britain since that’s where they came from – I’m curious if you are also petitioning for all the relics in all the British museums to be returned to the foreign countries from which they originally came. The original owner of these toys, Christopher Robin, through his own free will, and not because he was desperate financially, gave these away to an American. They were not taken without his knowledge, or against his will, or due to the fact that he was struggling to feed his family. This cannot be said of many of those museum pieces.
NYC Cabbie says
Pooh-Pooh? He should stay in New York. I’ll buy him.