About

Tales of imaginary places have been inspired by many motivating factors. Some were penned as explanations for the as yet unknown in the natural world on maps, while others were created to describe desirable or fantastical worlds that enabled the reader to escape reality. And yet, other fictional locales were invented by authors to disguise the settings of narratives and dramatic works to create an alternate reality and divert attention from real places. 

In this Special Collections exhibit that offers an open invitation to “Visit Imaginary Places!”, travelers will have the opportunity to see “utopias, Atlantis, Lilliput, Camelot, Wonderland, and More” - all with no passport required! These imaginary places are available for discovery in this exhibit and in Lehigh’s Special Collections. 

Please travel with us to visit these imaginary places, taking a trip from antiquity to current popular fiction with stops along the way in the Renaissance, Enlightenment, Victorian period, and today. The complete exhibit is online, with selected works, including utopias and journeys, on display in Linderman Library. Examples from the university archives representing “Lehigh: Proposed, but Never Built” are on display in EW Fairchild-Martindale Library. Please see the libraries’ website for information regarding hours and access policies: https://library.lehigh.edu/faq-library-resources-during-covid-19

We hope that you find some respite and relaxation as you embark with Lehigh’s Special Collections on a visit to imaginary places.