Walt Whitman Birthplace State Historic Site facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Walt Whitman House
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 Location in New York
Location in the United States
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| Location | 246 Walt Whitman Road, West Hills, New York |
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| Area | 1.3 acres (0.53 ha) |
| Built | 1816 |
| Architect | Whitman, Walter |
| MPS | Huntington Town MRA |
| NRHP reference No. | 85002549 |
| Added to NRHP | September 26, 1985 |
The Walt Whitman Birthplace State Historic Site is a special place in West Hills, New York. It is a historic site that helps us remember the famous American poet Walt Whitman. This site is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, which means it's an important landmark for the whole country.
Contents
Discovering Walt Whitman's Early Life
This historic site protects the very house where Walt Whitman was born. It's a great way to learn about his childhood and where his amazing journey began.
The Whitman Family Home
The Whitman family has lived on Long Island for a very long time, since the early 1600s! Their land used to be huge, about 500 acres. Walt Whitman's father, Walter Whitman Sr., built this farmhouse in West Hills in 1816. He was a Quaker and a carpenter, and he built the two-story house himself. It has cedar shingles, which are like wooden tiles on the outside.
Walt Whitman was born here in 1819. His three younger brothers and sisters were also born in this house. When Walt was five years old, his family moved to Brooklyn.
Walt Whitman's Amazing Journey
Walt Whitman had many different jobs throughout his life. He worked as a printer, a schoolteacher, and a journalist. During the Civil War, he was a volunteer nurse, helping injured soldiers. He even started his own newspaper!
When he was 17, Walt returned to Long Island to teach. He also started a newspaper called The Long Islander. Later, he wrote a book of poems called Leaves of Grass. At first, not many people bought it. But over time, it became known as a masterpiece of world literature.
By the end of his life, Walt Whitman was famous around the world. His poems are now available in many languages. People everywhere find inspiration in his words. He is seen as a voice for all people.
Inspiration from Nature
Near the end of his life, Walt Whitman came back to the area where he grew up. He rode around, looking at all the old places. He remembered so many things from 50 years before. The beautiful lilacs that grew on his family's property even inspired one of his most famous poems, "When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloom'd".
Visiting the Museum Today
The Walt Whitman Birthplace State Historic Site is now a museum. It also has an Interpretive Center. The Walt Whitman Birthplace Association (WWBA) helps run the site. This group was started in 1949 to save the home.
Becoming a Historic Site
In 1957, the birthplace became a New York State Historic Site. In 1985, it was added to both the New York State Register and the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's recognized as important by both the state and the country. The site works with the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation.
What You Can See and Do
The site has three main buildings. The historic Birthplace is the museum itself. There's also an Interpretive Center. This center has displays of portraits, letters, and original writings by Whitman. You can even hear Whitman's actual voice! He recorded a few lines of his poem "America" on an old Edison wax cylinder.
The museum offers guided tours, where someone will show you around and tell you stories. There are also exhibits, a video show, and special events. They even have a poet-in-residence program and a poetry contest for local students!
Inside the museum, you'll see furniture from the 1800s. There are over 130 portraits of Whitman, his original writings, and other items. You can also see the desk he used when he was a schoolteacher.
Planning Your Visit
The museum is open every day from June 15 through Labor Day, except for major holidays. In the winter, it's open from Wednesday to Sunday. There's also a gift shop where you can buy souvenirs. If you want to bring a school class or a large group, you can arrange a special tour ahead of time.
