The Grave of Edgar Allan Poe

A Bit about Poe

Edgar Allan Poe was a much celebrated American poet, writer, literary critic, and editor who was best known for his dark writings. Poe famously wrote short stories which were considered to be quite macabre. He made his living from writing, starting out with penning poems and moving on to short stories, articles, and reviews for literary journals. As a writer, Poe gained a wide and adoring following, largely attributed to the success of published poem The Raven.

In Life and Death

As a wandering writer, Poe moved around a lot of cities in the US, including Philadelphia, New York City, and Baltimore. It seems that in his heart, Baltimore was his real home; it was where he married his young wife, where she died, where he lived when he was recognized as a successful writer, and eventually, where he himself found his final resting place. It’s why today, visitors flock to Baltimore to visit Edgar Allan Poe’s grave.

The Death of Poe

Poe does on October 7th 1849. The circumstances surrounding his death are quite mysterious and somewhat suspicious. He was found on the streets in a delirious state and taken to hospital where he later died. Poe’s grave was initially in the Westminster Hall and Burial Ground. His remains were moved to their new spot in 1875 when a monument was also erected to mark the place that would now be Edgar Allan Poe’s grave.

Visiting the Grave

Poe’s grave still lies in the Westminster Burying Ground. The cemetery is open from 8am until dusk every day and visitors can enter at any time without an admission fee. There is a tour at the burying ground, twice a month, which includes a visit to Poe’s grave, which is free to join. The burial ground is on the corner of Fayette Street and Greene Street. Directions mark the way to Poe’s grave. For more information on Poe, visit Poe House and Museum which is located on Amity Street.

Myth and Legend

Apparently, there is a black glad figure that visits Poe’s grave every year on the anniversary of his death and lays three red roses and a bottle of cognac. If your visit to Baltimore and Poe’s grave happens around the 19th of January you might just get to see this mysterious person.

When you’ve seen all you can of Poe’s grave, check out some Baltimore’s other attractions. To sample some top Baltimore food, try some of the city’s best crab cakes.