Guest post by Jamie Rhein
Edgar Allan Poe may not have spent all his life in Baltimore, Maryland, but the time he lived here was significant. There are several Edgar Allan Poe travel related points that you should not miss, covering various aspects of this 19th-century Gothic writer.
First stop: Edgar Allan Poe House and Museum– Poe lived in this humble redbrick duplex from 1832 to 1835 with his aunt, grandmother and two cousins. One of the cousins, Virginia Clem later became his wife. The front room of the house is a gift shop with Poe inspired souvenirs, books and T-shirts. The rest is dedicated to displays that tell about Poe and his family, focusing mostly on his life in Baltimore.
Although most of the house isn’t furnished, the floors and plaster walls are original. These are the floors where Poe walked. Poe’s writing desk and chair are part of the display. So is a telescope and china that he used when he lived with family in Richmond, Virginia.
A fun part of this stop is the trip up the winding stairs to the third floor bedroom. The stairs are so narrow that only one person can go up at a time. The bedroom is set up to look like it may have when the family lived here.
Edgar Allan Poe Travel Tour
Second stop: Westminster Hall and Burial Ground. The next stop on my Edgar Allan Poe important places tour is within walking distance of the house. The walk took me to the University of Maryland campus. The restored historic church and cemetery is right next to the campus. Poe’s grave is right inside the cemetery’s gates.
This is not Poe’s original grave. When he died in 1849, he was buried in an unmarked grave. He was exhumed and reburied in 1875 to the current location. Poe’s wife is buried here as well. The original grave now has a tombstone as well. Head to towards the back of the church to find it.
The Horse You Came In On Saloon
Third stop: The Horse You Came in on Saloon. Established in 1775, this is Baltimore’s oldest saloon. It’s also the only bar in Maryland to exist before and after Prohibition, and is the oldest continuously operating saloon in the United States. When it first opened the bar was called “The Horse.” Located in Baltimore’s Fells Point, this is the last place Edgar Allan Poe was seen before he died.
Step inside and it’s not hard to imagine Poe nursing a drink on one of the bar stools. The pressed tin ceilings and other features are original. These days, the bar serves up local craft beer, a wide selection of drinks, pub style food and live bands.
Along with exuding history, The Horse You Came In On is a fun place to hang out and grab a bite to eat. The food is typical American pub fare. On my first visit, I went for the Mahi Mahi Tacos. The second visit, friends and I opted for the Maryland Crab Dip which was also quite good.
Plus, Fells Point is worth visiting for its cobblestone streets, upscale shops, eateries and its next to the wharf location. I would definitely come back to this part of Boston. Thinking about Edgar Allan Poe’s travels here made it that much more intriguing.
Edgar Allen Poe Travel Tour post and photos by Jamie Rhein.