Edgar Allan Poe National Historic Site
The Edgar Allan Poe National Historic Site at 532 North 7th Street in Philadelphia is where the Edgar Allan Poe (1809-1849) lived for six years, and presents as the ideal spot for a writer of haunting tales. According to its website: “The Poes and Mrs. Clemm moved to New York City in 1837 with the hope of Edgar finding work in the literary field. The city, as well as the rest of the country was in the midst of a depression caused by the financial ‘Panic of ’37.’ Unable to find work, Poe moved to Philadelphia in 1838. The six years he spent in Philadelphia proved to be his most productive, and perhaps the happiest years of his life. He worked as an editor and critic for one of the nation’s largest magazines, Graham’s Magazine. Some of his most famous stories were written in Philadelphia, including the ‘Fall of the House of Usher,’ ‘The Murders in the Rue Morgue,’ ‘The Mask of the Red Death,’ and ‘Ligeia.’”
When you visit his home, check out the staircases, the basement, and the Gothic furnishings. Ask about the cat and pose with the raven before you leave. (Also see his Maryland, New York, South Carolina, and Virginia pages on our site.)
About the Writer
An excellent biography about Poe can be found here: https://www.nps.gov/people/edgarallanpoe.htm.
Watch our YouTube video about the writer here: https://youtu.be/lrUt4TIM4do.
His Writing
You can find many of his works available online for free at https://www.gutenberg.org. Poe was not only a master of scary plots but also of writing short stories, with most published between the 1830s and 1850s.
This national historic site is the fourth stop on our Pennsylvania Author Adventures Trail.
Patricia Smart
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