Vegetarian Museum

The Vegetarian Museum is a cyber-museum dedicated to telling the history of vegetarianism in the United States, from the 18th century to today. It was founded by Karen and Michael Iacobbo, the authors of Vegetarian America: A History.

The Web site is still in development and promises lots of additions, but there are already some fascinating and educational items in their "rooms." I was unaware of the role that was played by A. Bronson Alcott -- an abolitionist, the father of Louisa May Alcott and one of the founders of the American Vegetarian Society. In 1843, he helped start a small community called Fruitlands in Harvard, Mass., devoted to such ideas as veganism, animal rights and women's equality.

Other exhibits include an article about an 1853 vegetarian festival in New York; a 1953 article about vegetarian muscle-men; information about vegetarian socialite Maude Russell Lorraine Sharpe and The Millennium Guild; 18th-century folk hero Johnny Appleseed; and turn-of-the-century Thanksgiving postcards.

I look forward to seeing more additions at this site!