The Walt Whitman Birthplace State Historic Site is a state historic site in New York in the United States, listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The site preserves the birthplace of American poet Walt Whitman.
History
Walt Whitman was born in 1819 in a farmhouse (now a part of the museum) built by his father in the town of Huntington, New York on Long Island. Whitman worked at various times as a printer, a schoolteacher, a journalist, a volunteer nurse during the Civil War, and a newspaper publisher. He eventually authored a book of poetry, Leaves of Grass, which sold poorly when first published but has over time come to be considered a masterpiece of world literature. The museum's web site says: "By the end of his life, Whitman had become the first American poet to achieve international acclaim. Today his poetry is available in every major language and inspires people world wide who find in Whitman the voice and vision of a truly international humanist."
Museum today
The museum is managed by the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation.
The museum offers guided tours, exhibits, an audio-visual show, events, a poet-in-residence program, and an annual poetry contest for local grade school students. The museum has nineteenth century furnishings, 130 Whitman portraits, original manuscripts and letters, artifacts, Whitman's voice on tape, and his schoolmaster's desk.
The museum is open every day June 15 through Labor Day except for major holidays. In the winter it is open Wednesday through Sunday. There is a museum shop. Tours for school classes and other large groups should phone ahead of time.
References
External links
Media related to Walt Whitman House (West Hills, New York) at Wikimedia Commons
- Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS) No. NY-541, "Walt Whitman Birthplace, Amityville Road (State Route 110), West Hills, Suffolk County, NY", 20 photos, 12 measured drawings, 6 data pages, 1 photo caption page
- Walt Whitman Birthplace State Historic Site and Interpretive Center, administered by the Walt Whitman Birthplace Association