This year actually marks the 200th anniversary of Poe's birth and the city of Baltimore has been toasting the writer all year with it's Nevermore 2009 celebration.
Why Baltimore? Well, Poe lived and worked in Baltimore for a good part of his life. In addition to his grave site at Westminster Hall, traces of Poe's life, and death, can be found throughout the city. Poe also wrote his first horror story in Charm City.
One of the Poe-related special events in Baltimore is the funeral that Poe deserved but never had. You can visit these landmarks, such as the Westminster graveyard where Poe's grave is located and participate in these events:
- All Night Vigil at Poe's Grave - begins at midnight, one hour after the Poe House closes, until 7 am on Thursday, Oct 8th. Held at the Westminster graveyard on Fayette and Greene Streets. It is a public opportunity to offer tributes to Poe.
- Poe Funeral Procession - On Sunday, Oct 11th, leave the Poe House at 203 N. Amity Street at 11:30 am and arrive at the Westminster graveyard at 12:00 pm. You will be able to view and follow an antique horse-drawn hearse escorted by the Loch Raven Drum and Pipe Unit with a police escort.
- Poe Funeral Services - Held at Westminster graveyard, the service is first held at 12:30 pm and again at 4:30 pm. See musical tributes with eulogies by actors playing people who knew Poe, and writer's influenced by Poe include Sir Alfred Hitchcock, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, H.P. Lovecraft, Charles Baudelaire, Walt Whitman, and more. The beloved Addams Family icon, John Astin, will officiate over both services.
Additional details about these Funeral events and services can be found at Poe Bicentennial.com.
Some other ideas for Edgar Poe fun and interest while in Baltimore include:
- Westminster Hall - a converted Gothic church built on arches above Westminster Burying Ground, creating catacombs. Poe, his wife, and his mother all found their final resting place within the Burying Ground, each having been previously buried elsewhere.
- The Edgar Allan Poe House & Museum - The 5 room, 2 1/2 story home, displays some of Poe's personal effects, portraits of the writer with his family, and mementos of Poe's life.
- Poe Collection at the Enoch Pratt Free Library - Home to many personal letters, images, poetry, and memorabilia. The collection includes a lock of Poe's hair, a piece from his coffin, and important letters regarding his mysterious death in 1849.
For more information on the Poe experience in Baltimore, visit Harbor Magic's Poe Celebration!
This October, on Your Memorable Moments, we celebrate 31 Days of WEIRD! $31 off any Discover Weird US Getaway package at one of our participating hotels, booked in October. Come celebrate with us!
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10 comments:
Wow, I so wish I could go to the Poe Vigil! One of my ancestors is actually buried in the same churchyard, as Poe is (Allegedly). Well, I hope to get to spend Halloween in Fells Point soon. I've been there the weekend before, and wanted to stay in the "Poe" room at the Admiral Fell Inn. I've heard the Admiral Fell Inn is haunted too! Perfect place to spend Halloween!
I heard the Admiral Fell Inn is haunted too, but I also heard the staff uses this to create cool experiences for folks who stay there. A couple steps away from the hotel is another cool place called The Horse You Came In On. Many say it was the last place Poe was seen alive. They leave a shot out for him nightly.
Just a heads up - the name is spelled Edgar "Allan" Poe (or just call him by the name he went by: Edgar Poe).
Fells Point in Baltimore is a great place to spend the weekend in the Fall. Cobble stone roads, cool pubs and the Historical Admiral Fell Inn. This Inn has so much character and charm.
they say that Poe haunts the Horse You Came in on...but really he haunts the hospitial where he died which still stands and is also pretty close to the Admiral Fell Inn. oooooh can you imagine being haunted by Poe? super creepy!
one of my favorite authors/poets!!
such an interesting story-
Poe's funeral procession in Baltimore is the biggest Poe Bicentennial event in the country that marks Poe’s death! That's pretty cool!
The Poe funeral reenactment was tremendous! Very realistic, wonderul acting and MC by Gomez Adams himself - John Astin!
This week is the Great Chesapeake Bay Schooner Race with over 50 schooners and 20 tall ships for the Parade of Sail on Wednesday afternoon 10/14
when we come unexpectedly upon poet what a delight he gives. One night we switch on the wireless and instead of portentous talk, a halfwits joke or erotic laments from the swamp, we hear with up-rising hair the tales of Poe.
Hey if you start hearing a heart beat at the admiral I would definately look under the floor boards!
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