“Superstitious terror crept by degrees into the spirit of the old Swede, and my own soul was wrapped up in silent wonder” — Edgar Allan Poe

March Newsletter Header

Poe was Irish on his father’s side, his great-grandfather and grandfather having immigrated to Baltimore from County Cavan, Ireland. This month we’re celebrating those Irish roots and poetical tradition with a Pints for Poe: Dead Irish Poets Edition party to kick-off St. Patrick’s Day weekend. Dead Irish poet-ry readings and traditional Irish music are promised, and this event is sponsored by Baltimore’s own RavenBeer.

Poe Programs will continue at Carroll Mansion this season: we’ve partnered with Carroll Museums to open the historic Carroll Mansion & Phoenix Shot Tower for weekend tours from April thru November. Visit The Poe Death Exhibit and new Ghastly Galentine Pop-up Shop at Carroll Mansion starting April 6: each ticket includes the exhibit, a mansion tour and drop-in access to the Shot Tower. More events, parties, readings and chamber concerts TBA.

Springing forward, next month Poe House will open expanded hours once more, Wednesday thru Sunday. We’re also bringing back monthly bus tours of Edgar Allan Poe’s Baltimore. Stops include Poe House, the site of Poe’s Death, and Poe’s grave and monument at Westminster Hall. Add the Death exhibit and mansion/tower tours for only $6.

Read about all of this and more in this month’s newsletter.

Yours in Poe,
Enrica Jang
Director, Poe Baltimore

P.S. Our commemoration of the 75th Anniversary of the Poe House & Museum in Baltimore continues. Each month we’re sharing facts, points of interest, and hidden history of Poe House, from its savior from demolition in 1940, to the future of the museum as we look ahead to transformation and expansion. This month we delve deeper into the scholarly effort by May Garrettson Evans to research and save Poe House.

Last month we saw a huge outpouring of support from you, Poe Nation, at a time it was truly needed. This month’s newsletter is a Valentine to all the ticket-donors and supporters who exceeded our goal with $7K raised for Poe House for Poe’s 215th Birthday. It takes more than love to keep our mission going, and these wonderful people contributed.

Very special thanks to Chris Riehl at Baltimore Rent-A-Tour, Academy Buses, and Westminster Hall, as well as the team at the NSA’s National Cryptologic Museum and Poe’s Magic Theatre for rescheduling for next year!

One event that pivoted to virtal rather than reschedule was our awards ceremony to announce the Winners of the Young Saturday ‘Visiter’ Awards. Congratulations to Naima Gordon and Renee Yates! See interviews with the winners and all the nominees in Poe House’s mobile app.

Finally, the focus in February is on Valentines, but as we’ve seen, love comes in many forms, including friendship and inspiration. To that end, our Ghastly Galentine’s Pop-up Shopping Event is next week; tickets are moving fast. And call for entries has opened for the 2024 Saturday ‘Visiter’ Awards, recognizing a new generation of artists and writers inspired by Poe. If you are moved to support your literary love, be our Valentine this and every month.

Yours in Poe,
Enrica Jang
Director, Poe Baltimore

P.S. Our commemoration of the 75th Anniversary of the Poe House & Museum in Baltimore continues. Each month we’re sharing facts, points of interest, and hidden history of Poe House, from its savior from demolition in 1940, to the future of the museum as we look ahead to transformation and expansion. This month we explore the spark of idea to create the museum at Amity Street, plus what was happening on the pop culture front in 1949.

Undone by the weather, Poe House’s celebration for Edgar Allan Poe’s 215th Birthday is canceled. On this of all days, help us weather the storm.

Donate to support the Edgar Allan Poe House & Museum

 

Due to inclement weather and University advisory, we are very sad to cancel The Poe Toaster Murder Mystery & Poe Birthday Event. Our disappointment is profound, and we sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may cause our ticket-holders. This was a sold-out event just a day before the weather hit Baltimore. Ticket-holders will be offered refunds and/or the opportunity to donate their tickets. We also appeal to you, Poe Nation, to help us for Poe’s 215th Birthday.


Fellow lovers of literature, poetry, and history rightly imagine that working at an organization devoted to celebrating Edgar Allan Poe’s legacy is a dream position. It is also a weighty responsibility, as Poe Baltimore’s mission is to maintain and interpret the historic landmark and keep Poe’s chamber door open to visitors. Programs can be whimsical and fun, but our greater purpose is to raise support within our community. The dedication of museum funds and countless staff and volunteer hours invested in planning make this cancellation a financial setback.

Please help us recover funds lost to the storm. Our goal is $5000.

 

Common sentiment to feel a bit beleaguered after the mad season of the holidays and return to work and school. But beleaguered is bread and butter for us, Poe Nation. Plus there’s little time to feel weary as January is jam-packed with events as we close in on celebrations for Edgar Allan Poe’s 215th Birthday!

And finally, we’re very proud to kick off commemoration of the 75th Anniversary of the Poe House & Museum in Baltimore. Each month we’ll share facts, points of interest, and hidden history of Poe House, from its savior from demolition in 1940, to the future of the museum as we look ahead to transformation and expansion. We begin with a list of great events in literary history from 1949, the first year Poe House was opened to the public–read the newsletter here!

Yours in Poe,
Enrica Jang
Director, Poe Baltimore

P.S. We’re planning a “Ghastly Galentine” event at Carroll Mansion, February 13. Tickets on sale next Friday!

Baltimore, MD, July 31, 2023  – Today, Poe Baltimore, with the support of La Cite Development, announced that they have received a major investment from Wells Fargo Bank to support the Annual International Edgar Allan Poe Festival & Awards taking place October 7 & 8, 2023.  The commitment of $300,000 over a three-year period will provide for the Edgar Allan Poe House & Museum’s largest program, keeping the festival a free community event and premier tourist destination for Poe-lovers from all over the world.

“Wells Fargo’s investment to the International Edgar Allan Poe Festival helps to support and maintain an important institution that not only continues Poe’s legacy, it also promotes the significance of education, the arts, and literature. This is a great opportunity for Well Fargo to contribute to the preservation of a literacy heritage for future generations to appreciate and celebrate,” said Wells Fargo Vice President and Senior Social Impact and Sustainability Specialist, Traci N. Horne. “We believe this is an opportunity for Wells Fargo to help bring excitement and legendary entertainment to a city we have supported over the years. Baltimore has been a city where Wells Fargo has been a pillar for many local nonprofit organizations and now the International Edgar Allan Poe Festival can be a part of our legacy that reflects positive impact for our communities.”

The funds for the festival will assist Poe Baltimore in expanding educational components and providing the festival with additional ways in which to partner with the community to promote art, culture, and literacy.

“We are extremely honored to work with the City of Baltimore, Poe Baltimore, and our local partners to help implement our shared vision of making communities stronger and more prosperous,” said Dan Bythewood, La Cité Development’s President. “Equally so, we are thrilled to have worked closely with Wells Fargo in securing this substantial commitment and look forward to continuing our efforts to building a broader, more inclusive neighborhood.”

 

Enrica Jang, Executive Director for Poe Baltimore, the nonprofit that maintains and interprets The Edgar Allan Poe House & Museum, says this level of funding from Wells Fargo is transformative: “We are extremely grateful for Wells Fargo’s investment in our vision to highlight Baltimore history, gothic literature and art, as well as educational programming.”

 

The 6th Annual International Edgar Allan Poe Festival is set to take place this Fall, October 7 & 8, 2023. For information about the festival, visit https://poefestinternational.org.

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Poe Baltimore is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization created to fund, maintain and interpret The Edgar Allan Poe House and Museum, and to celebrate the legacy of one of Baltimore’s most famous residents.  The organization is dedicated to maintaining the museum as a vibrant experience for the thousands of visitors who come from around the world each year, and as part of a broader mission of city-wide events and educational opportunities celebrating Poe’s legacy in Baltimore and beyond.

Poe Fest Int’l Tickets On Sale July 1!

We’ve been a little quiet the last two months, preparing for a very, very big announcement about the future of The Edgar Allan Poe House & Museum. Final details remain a tantalizing distance away, but I can assure you we are looking forward to a very exciting festival season and anouncements in the coming weeks. Click to watch our sizzle reel!

For now, only three days left to see your Paver for Poe Fest at the festival in October as pre-sales for the International Edgar Allan Poe Festival & Awards are happening now thru Friday. 2022 festival merch is on sale now as we get ready to stock the store with all new 2023 festival gear! And this year’s exhibit at Westminster Hall is 2-for-1 and includes a PREVIEW WEEK: tickets for the Poe in Comics & Poe Death Exhibits are available now. See it for half off before the festival begins.

Festival weekend event tickets, Black Cat Ball, and Poe House tours go on sale to the public when the clock strikeds midnight July 1. But all you really have to do is SAVE THE DATE: Poe Fest International is for everyone, October 7-8, and General Admission is FREE! Click to read this month’s newsletter. 

Yours in Poe,
Enrica Jang
Director, Poe Baltimore

A WellSPRING at Poe

Wherever you are, Poe Nation, you too are more than likely experiencing some kind of maddening weather. Warmer temperatures in Baltimore = a rising pollen count + an uptick in visitors darkening Poe’s chamber door at Amity Street. The season has officially begun!

Festival weekend dates have been announced and pre-sales for the International Edgar Allan Poe Festival & Awards are happening now thru June 30. We are also very pleased to announce our 2023 Saturday ‘Visiter’ Awards Guest of Honor, Rodney Barnes, and our distinguished panel of Judges from Poe Places and Maryland Arts organizations. In May, look for changing hours (now open Wednesdays in May.) If you plan to stop by, be sure to pick up NEW “Legend of the Poe Toaster” Mystery Mugs in the Poe House gift shop! Read this month’s newsletter for all this and more details.

Yours in Poe,
Enrica Jang
Director, Poe Baltimore

 

Goodness! Keeping time, time, time is a task as Poe House is looking ahead to several wonderful events this month. To wit:

  • March 16, The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra invites Poe fans to an open rehearsal of Sergei Rachmaninoff’s adaptation of Poe’s last poem, “The Bells”
  • March 18, May the road rise to meet you and point your steps to Annabel Lee Tavern for a special “Pints for Poe” fundraiser to benefit Poe House
  • March 30, Join us online with 92Y New York’s Roundtable.org for a virtual course about the hidden histories of women in the Poe family.

Not fast enough for you? Snapping at the heels of March, you can expect several April 1 announcements, including the return of Edgar Allan Poe’s Death in Baltimore Bus Tours and Pavers for Poe Fest International Pre-Sales! Follow us on socials or watch PoeBaltimore.org for upcoming details.

Finally, because our annual Spring fundraiser falls in March once again, click to read our newsletter and see the newest page in the Poe House Yearbook is a spin through memories from Pints for Poe in years past. Enjoy these photos and then come on out next week to raise a pint for Poe!

Yours in Poe,
Enrica Jang
Director, Poe Baltimore

Edgar Allan Poe is without doubt one of the most beloved writers in the world, but there are only a few people who can rightly claim they love Poe the most: our volunteers! Over the last decade as stewards of The Edgar Allan Poe House & Museum in Baltimore it has been our honor to work with individuals who gift their time to help us preserve Poe’s legacy. Without pay (and sometimes only half a second to grab a quick bite to eat before our next tour or program) volunteers have worked countless hours to keep Poe’s chamber door open to visitors and ensure our mission’s success. This month’s page from the Poe House Yearbook is a valentine for their work, and invitation to our Poe Nation to join us in the coming year. Volunteer at Poe House and Poe Fest International in 2023!

Of course, love is on all our minds. Still in need of a gift for your Poe lover? We recently announced the return of Edgar Allan Poe’s Death in Baltimore Bus Tours. Poe Baltimore is also partnering with New York’s 92Y Roundtable.org for a series of virtual courses. And of course, Poe House offers tours weekly and tickets can be purchased on our website now. Printouts have saved more than one V-day at my house, just sayin’… (un)Happy Valentine’s Day to all!

Yours in Poe,
Enrica Jang
Director, Poe Baltimore

P.S. Next month we’ll announce our slate of judges for the 2023 Saturday ‘Visiter’ Awards. In case you didn’t know, call for entries is open now!

New beginnings are always “dreamy.” And 2023 is truly a dream come true for our Board and Staff as Poe Baltimore celebrates its tenth year as stewards of The Edgar Allan Poe House & Museum. Beginning this month we will share pages from our Poe House Yearbook, highlighting some of our best memories of the past decade even as we look ahead to exciting events and programs in the New Year.

Besides, January is always thrilling in Poe-land: (un)Happy Birthday to Edgar Allan Poe! Festivities will kick-off in Baltimore on January 19th for our Poe Birthday Celebration & Poe Toaster Murder Mystery at Westminster Hall. Stay for the Poe Mystery Weekend at The Lord Baltimore Hotel, or travel with me to other “Poe Places” in New York and Richmond as we celebrate Poe’s 214th: our Poe Death Exhibit will be part of the weekend celebrations in both cities and we’ll even be streaming live from The Poe Cottage on Saturday to share a toast to Poe! We look forward to seeing you at these Poe events–and of course, Poe House!–very soon. Read our newsletter to learn more!

Yours in Poe,

Enrica Jang
Director, Poe Baltimore

P.S. Call for entries for the 2023 Saturday ‘Visiter’ Awards opens at midnight, January 19!