Mice on Main - a scavenger hunt

It’s the little things that make Greenville such a wonderful town to live in; in this case, really little things – mice! (Warning: If you haven’t already found the mice, this post contains pictures and information of the mice and their locations.)

 

“Goodnight Moon” is one of my boys’ favorite books, it was written by Margaret Wise Brown, author of “The Runaway Bunny.” They both enjoy searching for the little mouse that appears in nine different scenes in the book… but maybe it isn't the same mouse, instead a consortium of mice?

 

A boy named Jimmy Ryan also loved searching for the mice in “Goodnight Moon,” and when it came his turn to do a high school senior project, he came up with the idea of creating a special scavenger hunt in downtown Greenville. Because he imagined it to be a family of mice that appear in the story, South Carolina artist Zan Wells created nine bronze mice which were then hidden along Main Street between the Hyatt and Westin Poinsett hotels. We enjoy searching for the mice every time we stroll down Main Street, and we recently even brought our mommy-toddler group downtown to introduce them to the Greenville mouse family.

Millie might be the hardest to spot... unless you're shoulders above the competition!

 

The first mouse, Marvin (they’ve all been named) poses next to a bronzed sculpture of the book “Goodnight Moon”, which used to be adjacent to the fountain in front of the Hyatt. When NOMA square was revamped, the mouse was been moved to a large boulder; the hint now reads "Begin your search on North Main where the water flows in and out of the hotel. You'll find the father mouse, MARVIN, reading his book. He can't hide - take a good look!" 

Update 6/23/2022: Clue #7 is incorrect on the website, as the health food store has since closed. An alternate hint reads "Melissa is always a happy sight; you'll see her when the light's just right! Have a seat, and the two of you will likely meet."  I suggest searching between Dark Corner Distillery and Crêpe du Jour...

The cousins with Marvin the mouse before the remodel of NOMA square

 

For the hints that will lead you on a successful mouse hunt, be sure to take a look at the website before your visit to downtown. You can always run into Mast General Store for a free scavenger hunt fact sheet as well. 

Advice from a local: don't search for the mice in order! If you start with Marvin and then follow the hints 2-9, you'll end up crossing Main Street 8 times - especially not fun with small children. We like to search counterclockwise, starting with hint #1, then crossing Main St. at the pedestrian crosswalk to pick up #2, heading south for #4, #7 & #8. Then cross the street for #9 and head north for #6, #5 and #3. 

Līga checks another one off the list

 

Fun fact: There used to be a tenth mouse, which was not part of the official Mice on Main series. It used to sit at the feet of General Greene in front of the Greenville News building, drum in paw. However, that entire city block was razed to make way for the Camperdown development... 

 

So now that you know Greenville doesn’t have a rodent infestation, please know that there are many more cool things to do and see in this town: while looking for the Mice on Main who knows what else you’ll find!