Edgar Allan Poe Museum (Richmond, Virginia) facts for kids
Entrance to the museum in July 2020
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| Established | 1922 |
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| Location | 1914 E. Main St., Richmond, Virginia, U.S. |
| Type | Biographical museum |
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Old Stone House
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| Area | 0.4 acres (0.16 ha) |
| Built | 1750 |
| Architectural style | Colonial |
| NRHP reference No. | 73002222 |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | November 14, 1973 |
The Poe Museum, also known as the Edgar Allan Poe Museum, is a special place in Richmond, Virginia. It's dedicated to the famous American writer Edgar Allan Poe. Even though Poe never lived in the museum building itself, it celebrates his time living in Richmond.
The museum has one of the world's biggest collections of Poe's original writings, letters, and personal items. It also shows what Richmond was like in the early 1800s, when Poe lived and worked there. The museum uses pictures, old objects, and poems to tell the story of Poe's life and career. It focuses on the many years he spent in Richmond.
Contents
The Old Stone House: Museum Home
The Poe Museum is located in a building called the "Old Stone House." This house was built around 1740. It's considered the oldest original home still standing in Richmond. A man named Jacob Ege built it after moving from Germany. He built it as a "Home for the Bride" for his fiancée, Maria Dorothea Scheerer.
In 1824, a French hero named the Marquis de Lafayette visited Richmond. A group of young Richmonders, including 15-year-old Edgar Allan Poe, rode in a parade. Poe even stood guard outside the Ege house while Lafayette visited the people inside. The Ege family owned the house until 1911.
How the Museum Started
Around 1909, a group of people in Richmond wanted to honor Edgar Allan Poe more. They asked the city to put up a statue of him. But the city said no. So, this same group decided to create the Poe Museum instead.
In 1911, an organization called Preservation Virginia helped save the Old Stone House. They opened it as the Poe Museum in 1922. The museum is very close to where Poe used to live in Richmond. It's also near the grave of his mother, Eliza Poe.
The museum was first called the "Edgar Allan Poe Shrine." It was officially finished on October 7, 1921. This date was also the 72nd anniversary of Poe's death.
Famous actor Vincent Price, who starred in many movies based on Poe's stories, loved the author. He visited the museum in 1975 and took a picture with the museum's famous stuffed raven. In 2014, his daughter, Victoria Price, also visited. She said Poe felt like an uncle to her because he was such a big part of her life. Victoria Price returned to Richmond in 2016 for a film festival that featured Poe's movies.
What You Can See: Museum Exhibits
The Poe Museum has three buildings, and each one shows different parts of Poe's life and his impact.
Old Stone House Parlor
The main room of the Old Stone House displays furniture from the homes where Edgar Poe and his sister Rosalie Mackenzie Poe lived. You can see a piano that belonged to Poe's sister. You can also see Edgar's childhood bed.
Elizabeth Arnold Poe Memorial Building
This building has many first and early copies of Poe's books. This includes a copy of "The Raven" from 1845. It also has one of only 12 known copies of Poe's very first collection, Tamerlane and Other Poems. You can also see original writings and rare old photos of Poe here.
North Building: Poe's Mysterious End
The North Building explores the mystery surrounding Poe's death. Here, you can see some of Poe's personal items, like his vest, trunk, and walking stick. There's even a lock of his hair! Many theories exist about how Poe died. The museum suggests that a 19th-century practice called Cooping might have played a role.
The Enchanted Garden
Behind the museum, there's a beautiful courtyard garden. It was inspired by Poe's poem "To One in Paradise." The Enchanted Garden has a fountain and several smaller gardens. These gardens are inspired by Poe's stories. For example, there's a rock with a character's name from ""A Tale of The Ragged Mountains"" carved into it. There's also a brick wall like the one described in "William Wilson."
The garden is also home to two friendly black cats named Edgar and Pluto. They were found as kittens behind the museum and have lived there ever since. This garden is also a popular spot for weddings!
Other Poe Sites to Explore
- Edgar Allan Poe House and Museum in Baltimore, Maryland
- Edgar Allan Poe National Historic Site in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Edgar Allan Poe Cottage in The Bronx, New York
