Walt Whitman Birthplace State Historic Site

This article is about the Walt Whitman House in West Hills, New York. For the Walt Whitman House in Camden. New Jersey, see Walt Whitman House.
Walt Whitman House
Location 246 Walt Whitman Road,
West Hills, New York
Coordinates 40°49′1.38″N 73°24′44.39″W / 40.8170500°N 73.4123306°W / 40.8170500; -73.4123306Coordinates: 40°49′1.38″N 73°24′44.39″W / 40.8170500°N 73.4123306°W / 40.8170500; -73.4123306
Area 1.3 acres (0.53 ha)
Built 1815
Architect Whitman,Walter
MPS Huntington Town MRA
NRHP Reference # 85002549[1]
Added to NRHP September 26, 1985

The Walt Whitman Birthplace State Historic Site is a state historic site in New York in the United States, listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The site preserves the birthplace of American poet Walt Whitman.[2]

History

Walt Whitman was born in 1819 in a farmhouse (now a part of the museum) built by his father in the town of Huntington, New York on Long Island. Whitman worked at various times as a printer, a schoolteacher, a journalist, a volunteer nurse during the Civil War, and a newspaper publisher. He eventually authored a book of poetry, Leaves of Grass, which sold poorly when first published but has over time come to be considered a masterpiece of world literature. The museum's web site says: "By the end of his life, Whitman had become the first American poet to achieve international acclaim. Today his poetry is available in every major language and inspires people world wide who find in Whitman the voice and vision of a truly international humanist."

Museum today

The Walt Whitman Birthplace State Historic Site & Interpretive Center is operated by the Walt Whitman Birthplace Association (WWBA) in collaboration with the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. The site consists of three structures: The historic Birthplace which is maintained as the Museum; the modern Interpretive Center which contains historic exhibits and a performance space; and the Gathering House which is used for exhibitions and a meeting space.

The site offers guided tours, exhibits, an audio-visual show, events, a poet-in-residence program, and an annual poetry contest for local grade school students. The museum has nineteenth century furnishings, 130 Whitman portraits, original manuscripts and letters, artifacts, Whitman's voice on tape, and his schoolmaster's desk.

The museum is open every day June 15 through Labor Day except for major holidays. In the winter it is open Wednesday through Sunday. There is a museum gift shop. Tours for school classes and other large groups may be arranged in advance.

See also

References

  1. ↑ National Park Service (2009-03-13). "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service.
  2. ↑ NYS Parks & Recreation (n.d.). "National Register of Historic Places Registration: Walt Whitman House". New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. Retrieved 2010-02-20.
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