United for Libraries to designate the Edgar Allan Poe House & Museum (Md.) a Literary Landmark

EXTON, Pennsylvania — United for Libraries will designate The Edgar Allan Poe House & Museum in Baltimore, Md. as a Literary Landmark™ in honor of the esteemed poet’s 211th birthday on January 19th, 2020. The Poe House will be the first Literary Landmark in the State of Maryland.

The dedication ceremony will take place at Poe House, 203 N. Amity Street, in Baltimore, on Sunday, January 19th, 2020, 1:00 PM. The date coincides with the celebration of Poe’s 211th birthday. The event is free, and the public is invited to attend.

The Edgar Allan Poe House was established as a museum in 1949 and designated a National Historic Landmark in 1971. It is the last remaining home in Baltimore where the author lived (from 1833-1835), and it was here that Poe wrote some of his early stories. Poe, best known for his gothic tales and poetry, is also credited with inventing the detective story. Tales and poems written at 203 N. Amity Street include MS. Found in a Bottle (the author’s first paid work), Berenice, Morella and The Coliseum.

A number of organizations showed interest in partnering on this project. Poe Baltimore drafted information needed for the nomination. Citizens for Maryland Libraries revised and submitted the nomination to United for Libraries. Two additional partners, Maryland Library Association and Maryland Humanities supported the application and will assist with upcoming festivities.

Edgar Allan Poe House & Museum

The Edgar Allan Poe House, a National Historic Landmark, is open to visitors throughout the year. Poe’s home is in an excellent state of preservation with much of the exterior and interior original fabric from the 1833-1835 period when Edgar lived there with his aunt, grandmother and two cousins. Exhibits tell the story of Edgar Allan Poe’s life and death in Baltimore and significant artifacts such as Edgar’s portable writing desk and chair, and a telescope, china and glassware used by Edgar when living with the Allan family in Richmond, Virginia.

United for Libraries: The Association of Library Trustees, Advocates, Friends and Foundations, is a division of the American Library Association with approximately 4,000 personal and group members representing hundreds of thousands of library supporters. United for Libraries supports those who govern, promote, advocate, and fundraise for libraries, and brings together library Trustees, advocates, Friends, and Foundations into a partnership that creates a powerful force for libraries in the 21st century. To join, please visit www.ala.org/united or call (800) 545-2433, ext. 2161.