There’s something at once confusing and comforting about the Edgar Allan Poe Cottage, the tiny home where the author lived the last few years of his life. Poe moved to the four-room house in 1846 with his wife, Virginia Clemm, and was happy here until Virginia died less than a year later. The Bronx was a rural suburb at the time, providing a change of pace that allowed Poe to write some of his most famous poems. Join other fans on the pilgrimage to see how the master of the macabre once lived his life.
Stand outside, noticing the small size of the white home. Listen to the wind whistling through the trees and imagine how the building once stood in a sleepy farming community. Before beginning the tour, get immersed in the history of Poe and the Bronx with a video that explores his connections to the place and includes recitations of some of the poems that he wrote here, including The Bells, Annabel Lee and Eureka.
Join knowledgeable and enthusiastic guides on a short tour through the four rooms, providing information about the author and his life. See the bed that Virginia died in still sitting in one of the rooms, a potent symbol of Poe’s disappointments. Examine the reproduction of the famous daguerreotype of Poe on the way up the stairs. Stand in his study on the second floor and picture him at a desk much like the one here today, letting his imagination flourish.
The Edgar Allan Poe Cottage is located in the Fordham neighborhood of Queens, within a few minutes’ walk of the nearest subway station. Take the subway from Penn or Grand Central Station in about 40 minutes. Drive from Midtown Manhattan in about 30 minutes. The New York Botanical Garden is a 10-minute drive or 25-minute walk away. Walk from Fordham University’s main campus in about 10 minutes.
The museum is open from Thursday to Saturday from morning to late afternoon and on Sunday afternoons. There is a small fee for admission.
