About Letteracy Deck

Dear Readers, Wonderers, and Thinkers,

​

Welcome to Letteracy Deck! It is a free — and screen-free — public letter writing park located on Lake Superior in two different deck locations in downtown Grand Marais, Minnesota.

​

Why?

Our purpose is to help people be, not do; to reflect, connect, notice. Attend. Be present to each other and the wonder of our world by writing, drawing and mailing letters. 

​

We aim to give you a pause from screens, and the loneliness and addiction that can lead to. (Read Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation: The U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory on the Healing Effects of Social Connection and Community.)

Who?

All ages and abilities are welcome to use our free stationery, pens and stamps. 

​

We are funded by generous foundations and individuals who support our movement of applied literacy and its celebration of handwriting letters and reveling in words.

Creating the Kindness Commons

We create a kindness commons of shared purpose and community when we pause, reflect, connect, put down our devices, stop scrolling, and pick up pens and pencils to write and draw by hand.

Pack Your Portmanteau With A Neologism

Our mission is embodied in the neologism (= new word we made up) of “letteracy”, which is a specific kind of neologism known as a portmanteau. A portmanteau is a word that carries meaning—as a suitcase carries clothes!—derived from the two words that form its parts:

• “LETTERS” are the historic medium of correspondence.

• “LITERACY” is the masterful state of communicating by reading, writing, and speaking. 

• Toss them in the suitcase together and we have LETTERACY—a literacy of letters.

Find Us In Two Places

Come write and draw with us every day from June 12-October 15, 2025 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

• On SUNDAYS and MONDAYS, come to Lake Superior Harbor behind the TRADING POST store. The Museum Letteracy Deck is closed.

• On TUESDAYS and WEDNESDAYS, come to the COOK COUNTY HISTORY MUSEUM back deck on Superior’s East Bay. The Trading Post Letteracy Deck is closed.

• On THURSDAYS, FRIDAYS, and SATURDAYS, both Deck locations are open—bring plenty of addresses and visit each one!​​

​

We all have lots to think about, draw, write and share. Let’s do it together! Create the Commons!

Love, 
Letteracy Deck