Baltimore is where Edgar Allan Poe lived as a young writer, where he is buried and where he died in 1849, and the house at 203 North Amity Street is the one place in the city where you can stand in rooms he knew. He lived here from 1833 to 1835 with his aunt Maria Clemm and his cousin Virginia, at the stage of his life when he was winning a short-story prize and beginning to make a name. The house is preserved rather than dressed up. It is unfurnished, so what you see are the original floors and stairs, plaster walls and woodwork, with exhibits that tell the story of his life and death in the city. On display are objects associated with him, including his portable writing desk and chair, a telescope, and china and glassware from his years with the Allan family in Richmond. This is a small, intimate and slightly eerie stop rather than a grand museum, which is exactly why Poe fans love it. It sits west of downtown, in a rowhouse neighborhood a short ride from the Inner Harbor, and it pairs naturally with a visit to Poe’s grave and with an evening ghost walk.
Planning your visit
The house is open for guided tours on Wednesday through Sunday, with tours running through the day from 11:00 to 16:00, and reservations are required because the building is so small. Book through the museum’s ticket page before you travel, since walk-ups cannot be guaranteed, and check the page for the current price and any changes to the schedule. If you cannot visit in person, the museum offers a video tour and can arrange a live guided virtual tour led by a docent.
What to expect
This is a very small, very old house with tight, winding staircases, so it is not wheelchair accessible, and there are no restrooms on site. Tours are short and focused, led by someone who can talk about Poe’s years in Baltimore, his family and the mysteries surrounding his death. Do not expect period furniture; the power of the visit comes from the bare rooms, the exhibits and the sense of scale.
The neighborhood around the house has changed a great deal since Poe’s day, so treat the walk to and from the door as part of the experience and use a rideshare or drive if you are unsure about the area after dark.
Making the most of it
Combine the house with Poe’s grave at Westminster Hall and Burying Ground downtown and, in the evening, one of the Fells Point ghost walks that tell his story. Literature fans will get the most from it, as will older children and teenagers who have read The Raven or The Tell-Tale Heart.
For travelers with limited mobility or small children in strollers, the video tour is a sensible alternative. Allow around an hour including arrival, which makes it easy to fit into a morning before a Mount Vernon walk or an afternoon at the Walters.
What to expect
The experience
A guided visit to Poe’s preserved, unfurnished 1830s rowhouse, with exhibits and artifacts on his Baltimore life.
Best time
Any open day, Wednesday to Sunday, with a reservation made in advance.
How long
About an hour including arrival.
Tips
Reserve ahead, expect steep stairs and no restrooms, and pair it with Poe’s grave and a ghost walk.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Poe fans, literature lovers and anyone who likes small, atmospheric historic houses.
- Families
- Best for older children and teens who know his stories; the stairs are tight and there is no room for strollers.
- Couples
- A moody, memorable stop before a ghost walk or a dinner in Fells Point.
- Pair with
- Poe’s grave downtown, the Fells Point ghost tour or the Walters Art Museum.
- Time needed
- About an hour.
Good questions
Where is the Edgar Allan Poe House?+
At 203 North Amity Street in west Baltimore, in the rowhouse where Poe lived between 1833 and 1835.
Do I need a reservation?+
Yes. The museum requires reservations because the house is small, and tours run Wednesday through Sunday from 11:00 to 16:00.
Is the house furnished?+
No. It is preserved and unfurnished, so you see original floors, stairs and plaster, with exhibits and artifacts such as Poe’s portable writing desk and chair.
Is it accessible for wheelchairs?+
No. The house has tight, winding staircases and no restrooms. A video tour and a live virtual tour are offered instead.
Where is Poe buried?+
At Westminster Hall and Burying Ground in downtown Baltimore, which is easy to combine with a visit to the house.
