“Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered weak and weary...” — Edgar Allan Poe

What To Know Before You Go

Poe House is OPEN for tours every Thursday thru Sunday from 11AM to 4PM (Wednesdays in May thru October.) Reservations are REQUIRED. Click here to visit the booking page. Walk-ups are only permitted when space allows, so please book ahead.

 

NEW in SPRING of 2024: The Poe Death Exhibit and Carroll Mansion/ Phoenix Shot Tower Tours. Poe Baltimore will offer a new exhibit and tours of the historic Carroll Mansion during weekends. Please read rules for entry and book here. 

Please check our events calendar for holiday, inclement weather closures, and/ or special events.

Summary of House Rules and Safety Protocol

Before booking a tour, please read the following:

  • Poe House is OPEN for tours every Thursday thru Sunday from 11AM to 4PM (also Wednesdays in May thru October.) Reservations are REQUIRED. (See the links above to visit the ticketing site.) Walk-ups are only permitted when space allows, so please book ahead.

  • Upon arriving at Poe House, guests must line up outside to await entry to Poe House. There is no seating or waiting area inside the museum. Please observe expected weather conditions and bring proper cover on days of high heat or precipitation. All members of your party must be present before entry.
  • Visitors inside Poe House are limited to no more than sixteen (16) people at a time. Larger parties must book additional tour times, with each tour limited to no more than sixteen individuals, including small children. Rotating entry is NOT permitted and will result in your tour being ended without refund.
  • Re-entry is not permitted.
  • Staff will break intermittently to re-sanitize handrails, doorknobs, and other surfaces in the House. Guests may experience wait times between entries.
  • Walk-ups are not permitted, including to individuals who wish to only peruse the gift shop. Please visit our online store for purchases.

Regarding COVID and other public health safety measures:

Poe House RECOMMENDS face masks for all attendees entering the historic site for reasons of ventilation and space. Please bring your own, or request one at the front desk.

House staff and volunteers have been advised to follow all health protocols provided by the Centers for Disease Control, the State of Maryland and the City of Baltimore, and to stay at home if they have any flu-like symptoms. In the event of emergency absence of key personnel, Poe House may be closed without prior warning. We will update the website and social media as soon as we learn of pending closure; all reserved tours will be notified as soon as possible before their visit.

We continue to monitor www.cdc.gov, www.maryland.gov, and baltimorecity.gov for guidance. Poe Baltimore programming continues and there are no other schedule changes or canceled events at this time. Thank you for supporting Poe Baltimore/ The Edgar Allan Poe House & Museum.

Are children allowed in the house?

Yes, but must be under the close supervision of a responsible adult. Children may not enter Poe House unaccompanied, and if the parent leaves the building, they may not leave their children behind. Paid tickets are required for entry; an unaccompanied child will be barred from entry without refund.

Is photography allowed?

Yes, but for personal use only. Any use of photographs for merchandise, commercial purposes, publishing or any other revenue generating products or services must have written permission from Poe Baltimore, Inc. (Fees may apply)

Is it safe to visit the Edgar Allan Poe House National Historic Landmark?

Each year, thousands of visitors have safely walked and driven to the Edgar Allan Poe House National Historic Landmark and the museum has been in operation in this location for nearly 75 years. Baltimore is a large, busy city. People unfamiliar with an urban environment should use their own best judgement about the best mode of travel to and from our location.

Security cameras operate 24-hours a day inside and outside Poe House. Street parking is available close to Poe House and drivers are encouraged to keep personal items out of sight. Users of rideshare services life Lyft/Uber or taxis should follow the safety precautions laid out by these services to check license plate AND photo of your driver before entering a vehicle.

Visitors should exercise the same precautions as they would in any city– and we feel confident you’ll discover what so many others have: that our Poppleton neighbors are proud of their affiliation to Poe and if you ask for assistance with directions, our neighbors can explain how to find our parlor door.

When are you open? Holidays? Do you have an inclement weather policy?

Poe House is open every Wednesday (May -October,) Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, 11am-4pm, throughout the year. Tours are offered at the top of every hour. Reservations required.

Check our events list to learn about Holiday schedules or planned closures.

Poe House follows the City of Baltimore for guidance on closures or delays on days of inclement weather or emergencies. If City offices or schools are closed or delayed, Poe House will also close or delay that day.

We also plan special events throughout the city year round, so please check our website for news, or follow us on Facebook or Twitter for even more frequent updates.

YOU can help make a difference, via visits, purchases from our museum (or online) shop, and tax-deductible donations. Thank you!

Are there any restrooms at the House?

There are NO public restrooms on site. (Even Poe used an outhouse and it is no longer here either.)

Are reservations required?

Yes. Due to limited space of the historic site, reservations are required to tour Poe House. Each person in your party is required to have a ticket, including children ages 3 thru 12. Your reservation will be added to a small group tour and you may be joined by other parties during your tour time. Groups larger than 16 should book additional tour times. Re-entry/rotating entry is not permitted.

Face coverings over nose and mouth (i.e. masks) are recommended for the entire duration of your visit, even if you are vaccinated.

You may be barred from entry or your tour ended without refund for failure to follow House safety protocols.

Tour dates are released on a rolling basis; we do not book dates beyond 30 days in advance. Please check back thirty days before your desired tour date if you wish to book ahead.

COVID-19 UPDATE and Reservation Procedures

Poe House is open for timed, small-group tours; each person in your party is required to have a ticket. Reservations are required and walk-ups are only permitted when space allows.  Please visit our ticketing site to book a tour time.

Due to limited space and the importance of protecting this precious historic site, guests will be required to wait outside the house for their tours to begin. No one is permitted to enter Poe House without a ticket and there is no space within to wait. Please prepare and dress for inclement weather.

NOTE: Poe House is an extremely small space. Guests are encouraged to wear a face-covering over nose and mouth (i.e. a mask) for the entirety of the visit, regardless of mandate or vaccination status.

What is your refund policy?

All sales are final.

Tour fees are non-refundable. Request to move or transfer your tour at least 24-hours before your tour time (subject to availability) by texting 443-327-9789.

Same-day purchases cannot be changed or refunded, so please check your tour time before you book.

Late arrivals will not be extended, transferred or refunded for any reason. Please be respectful of other parties who have scheduled tour times.

How many visitors can you accommodate?

**NOTE: COVID-19 health and safety protocols dictate that we must limit visitors inside an already limited space. Tour parties are limited to 16 people, and this includes children.**

The House is extremely small and can only accommodate small groups at a time, including staff.

Why must guests wait outside Poe House? What if I just want to buy gifts?

The historic site is a small space with limited capacity and therefore walk-ins are not permitted. Poe House is a restricted space until your tour begins. For people who only wish to shop, please visit our online store; we offer flat-rate domestic shipping for your convenience. We recommend wearing proper rain/inclement weather attire.

Everyone who enters Poe House is required to have a ticket. Tours are timed. Early entry is not permitted. Please be respectful of other visitors who have booked tours at Poe House, and also of Staff who may be conducting tours are preparing for our next group. For people waiting outside who have questions, we offer a text line for you to communicate with House staff (the number is posted on several signs outside during days the museum is open.)

PLEASE NOTE: Tours are conducted by House staff and volunteers who are charged with both conducting tours and protecting/preserving Poe House. Please follow posted instructions, for your own safety as well as ours. Museum tour guides and docents, similar to Librarians and Park Rangers, have the authority to end your tour or bar entry at any time.

How do I book tickets? / Why can’t I buy tickets at my preferred date & time?

Book tickets via our booking page, here. Select the date you wish to visit. Wait for available times to load in the dropdown menu, then select your preferred time. Proceed to book.

Note: there are only a set number of available tickets per hour and reservations fill quickly. You will see the “Available” number of tickets populate or change when you select/change the date and time. If there are “0” available, we are sold out or closed. Please try another time/date.

Large parties will have to book separate tour times–rotating or re-entry is NOT permitted.

How do I get to Poe House?

203 N Amity Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21223

Public Transportation: To get between Baltimore’s Inner Harbor and the Poe House, the Charm City Circulator Orange Line is a free bus service offered by the city. Click here for a map of the Orange Line. Stop 210 is the closest to the Poe House. This site will let you know when the buses are due to arrive.

For all public transportation needs in Baltimore, please visit www.mtamaryland.com.

Train Service: Visit www.Amtrak.com or www.mta.maryland.gov/marc-train  for rail service information.

Driving Directions: Located at 203 North Amity Street, Baltimore, Maryland, 21223. The House is approximately ten minutes from Baltimore’s popular Inner Harbor area and is easily accessible from Interstate 95 and the Baltimore Beltway, I-695.

From the North (I-83, Towson, York, Harrisburg)
I-83 (Jones Falls Expressway) south to St. Paul Street exit. Follow St. Paul St for 3 blocks. Make a right turn onto Chase Street, which becomes Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. Follow MLK Blvd South to West Fayette Street and turn right. Turn right on North Schroeder Street. Turn right on West Saratoga Street proceeding one block. Turn right on North Amity Street. The House is at the end of the block on the left. Street parking is available.

From the East (Delaware, New Jersey & New York)
South on I-95 through the Fort McHenry Tunnel to Exit 53 to I-395 North. Follow signs to Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard. Once on Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd, turn left on West Fayette Street. Turn right on North Schroeder Street. Turn right on West Saratoga Street proceeding one block. Turn right on North Amity Street. The House is at the end of the block on the left. Street parking is available.

From the West (Western Maryland)
I-70 east to I-695 south to I-95 North. Take Exit 53 to I-395 North. Follow signs to Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard. Once on Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd, turn left on West Fayette Street. Turn right on North Schroeder Street. Turn right on West Saratoga Street proceeding one block. Turn right on North Amity Street. The House is at the end of the block on the left. Street parking is available.

From the South (Washington)
I-95 North to Exit 53 to I-395 North. Follow signs to Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard. Once on Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd, , turn left on West Fayette Street. Turn right on North Schroeder Street. Turn right on West Saratoga Street proceeding one block. Turn right on North Amity Street. The House is at the end of the block on the left. Street parking is available.

Walking Directions from Inner Harbor – 1.5  miles (passing Poe Grave on the way) – Starting on Pratt and Calvert, head west on Pratt Street. Take a right onto Charles Street. Turn left onto Fayette Street. Westminster Hall and Burial Grounds and the Poe Grave will be on the left-hand side of the road at Fayette and Greene. After a few more blocks, you will cross Martin Luther King Boulevard. Continue on Fayette then turn right onto N Amity Street. The Edgar Allan Poe house is on the right, north of Lexington Street.

Dining in the Area: Zella’s Pizzeria at Hollins Market is open for lunch and dinner. If you visit on a Saturday, we suggest you stop by the Lexington Market after visiting Poe’s grave. After all, the historic market that was established in 1782 was one of only two neighborhood sources of groceries for Poe and his family. (Unfortunately, it’s closed on Sundays.)

What holidays are you closed?

Schedules may change throughout the year, but guests may expect Poe House to be closed on the following holidays/dates :

Easter Sunday, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day

Special Dates: Wednesday immediately following Poe Festival Weekend (October)

Look for announcements on this website and social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram.)

Should Poe House need to close unexpectedly for staff emergencies or other events, Poe House staff will be in contact with ticket-holders via email and text. Please be sure we have correct contact information for you when you purchase tickets. 

Question not here? Feel free to contact Poe Baltimore.