Maryland Vacation and Travel Ideas for Literary Tours
Edgar Allan Poe in Baltimore
The Edgar Allan Poe Society of Baltimore
m/o Mr. Jeffrey A. Savoye
1610 Dogwood Hill Road
Towson, MD 21286
Website: http://www.eapoe.org/
Email: - none listed
Phone: (410) 821-1285 (no calls after 10pm)
Edgar Allan Poe (1809 - 1849), widely known for his macabre stories, is considered the father of today's detective fiction. Born in Boston, Poe lived in Baltimore, Richmond, New York, and Philadelphia during a tumultuous and troubled life. He died and was buried in Baltimore at the age of 40.
The Edgar Allan Poe House and Museum is home to the Edgar Allan Poe Society. It is believed that Poe lived here between 1833 and 1835. On display in the five-room house are a number of pieces related to the author, including glassware and china belonging to his father, a telescope he reputedly used, his sextant, a traveling desk he presumably used at the University of Virginia, and a full-sized color reproduction of the only known portrait of his wife, Virginia, done at her death in 1847. A set of Gustave Dore's 1884 illustrations for Poe's "The Raven" is also on display. The site also features series of videos relating to Poe's life.
Visitors to Baltimore may also visit Poe's grave, the hospital where he died, and Sir Moses Ezekiel's statue of Poe. More information about each of these sites may be found at the website, http://www.eapoe.org/.
Other noteworthy Poe sites include:
The Edgar Allan Poe Museum in Richmond, Virginia. For more information, see: , visit: http://www.poemuseum.org/, or call: (804) 648-5523.
The Edgar Allan Poe Cottage in the Bronx, New York. For more information, see
visit: http://www.bronxhistoricalsociety.org/about/poecottage.html, or call:: (718) 881-8900. Additional information about Poe in Baltimore is available at: http://www.eapoe.org/, or by calling: (410) 821-1285.
The Edgar Allan Poe National Historic Site in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. For more information, see , visit: http://www.nps.gov/edal/, or call: (215) 597-8780
Baltimore is home to Edgar Allan Poe and a variety of sites bear his name. The first is The Baltimore Poe House and Museum at 203 Amity Street. The tiny duplex has walls and ceilings made of horsehair plaster. Displays include: Poe's telescope, lap desk and Gustave Dore's 1884 illustrations for The Raven. In late January "The World's Largest Celebration of Poe's Birthday" is held here. It is suggested to call for more details (410-396-7932). Poe's grave is a short distance away, located at Westminster Hall. The biggest attraction is the Halloween tour of the cemetery and catacombs. It is best to call for more information (410-706-2072). Church Hospital is the site of Poe's death, in which the doctor on hand recalls the writer in his last moments. Since no autopsy was performed, there are many theories to how the writer died, including consumption, a beating, carbon monoxide poisoning and others. Tours are not available, but one can take a look at the exterior. The last site is the Sir Moses Ezekiel Statue of Poe. Moses was a great American sculptor who donated half of his own money to create the statue. It has survived vandalism and weather, and now stands in the University of Baltimore's Law School plaza. The students have embraced Poe by putting a flower in his lapel, and giving him a helium balloon to hold on special occasions.
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Francis Scott Key Monument
Baltimore, MD
Website: http://www.saveamericastreasures.org/profiles/key.htm
Email: - none listed
Phone: 866-MDWelcome (Maryland Office of Tourism)
Francis Scott Key was the writer of the Star-Spangled Banner, our nation's anthem. The monument was rededicated in 1999 due to an extensive restoration. It is worthwhile to see this statue while in Baltimore due to its beauty and elegance, and also it resemblance to many of the old monuments seen throughout Europe, especially in the ex-Soviet republics.
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