Secrets of The Poe House

No one lives in the Poe house. It is simply too small and obvious that there is no space for someone to live on the premises. it is owned and operated by the City of Baltimore.

There's no truth that Poe's grave is in the basement of the house. Poe is buried in the Westminster Graveyard at Fayette and Greene Streets, approximately 9 blocks east of Poe's house.

Walls on the Poe's house are stressed and has moisture damage which is very difficult to prevent and repair.

The Poe house doesn't have a climate control because there is no place to install it. A window air conditioning is the best option.
If you enter the house, you'll notice that "old" house smell and with the age comes the tell tale odor which only an old house has. Even with limited air conditioning, this odor will appear and then vanish. It is usually more noticeable after it has been raining.

The basement is not allowed for accessibility because of its limited space. The ceilings are low and there are pipes running through the walls making it difficult and hazardous to navigate the basement. Three thrash pits were discovered during the 1979 renovations.

You will notice that there are no toilets in the house because people used chamber pots or detached privies in the back of the house way back then.

Driving Directions to the Poe Grave From the Poe House:
If you're parked on Amity Street, turn left onto Lexington Street, then make an immediate right onto Poppleton Street. Go 2 blocks and turn left onto Baltimore Street.

Go to the 3rd traffic light and turn left onto Paca Street and stay in the left lane.

Turn left onto Fayette Street. The Poe grave will be on your left at the end of the block at greene Street. Look for a parking space.

The Poe House & Museum

The house was built around 1830. A few short blocks south of the Poe house was the new Baltimore and Ohio train station which was also opened in 1830 and now houses the Baltimore and Ohio Train Museum.

In 1930, the homes in the area were razed for the construction of the Poe Homes, a public housing project. The house was scheduled for demolition but public vigilance and the members of the Edgar Allan Poe Society forced the Housing Authority to spare the site. An exhaustive search of city registers, deeds and maps proved that Poe in fact did live in the house. And in 1949, it opened as a historic house museum managed by the Poe Society.

In 1979, the City of Baltimore took control of the museum and restored the building spending nearly $100,000 to preserve the site. It is now currently operated under the Commission for Historical & Architectural Preservation, a division of the Baltimore City Department of Planning.

The Edgar Allan Poe House & Grave (The Visit)

June 19, 2010

I and my husband, together with our cousin Tanya went to visit Edgar Allan Poe's house located at Amity Street in downtown Baltimore.

The house has small rooms and has crowded winding stairways. Poe was not wealthy during his time as you can witness his house that is too small, built for just a working class family.

Inside were just a few memorabilias that Poe used while he was still alive, displayed in glass boxes, one of which was a telescope.

On the other side of the room is where you can watch a video about his biography and his entire life existence.
There is a winding stairways going up the attic that are too narrow. This used to be Poe's room where he used to write; - a small bedroom, that is.

stairways going up the attic and me

He was a well known writer, but not much of his writings and letters are there. They say his writings are all scattered around the country in various libraries, colleges and in private collections.

At the Poe Grave:
Edgar Allan Poe's grave is 3-5 minutes away from Poe's house. It will be on your left at the end of the block at Greene Street.

At the entrance to the graveyard is the Poe Monument, so you won't miss it.

Follow the brick path to the rear of the graveyard to see the original Poe Grave.