35 Beautiful Literary Spots Across America for Every Reader

22. The Mystery and History of The Edgar Allan Poe House & Museum (Baltimore, MD)

For fans of the macabre and mysterious, a visit to the Edgar Allan Poe House & Museum in Baltimore, Maryland, is an unforgettable journey into the life of one of America’s most haunting literary figures. Poe, known for his eerie tales like The Raven, The Tell-Tale Heart, and The Fall of the House of Usher, lived in this modest brick home in the 1830s. It was here that he wrote some of his earliest works and began shaping the Gothic horror genre that would define his legacy. Inside the small yet atmospheric museum, visitors can explore rare artifacts, handwritten letters, and first editions of Poe’s works, as well as his desk and other personal belongings. The creaky wooden floors and dimly lit rooms add to the home’s hauntingly poetic aura, making it feel like stepping directly into one of Poe’s tales. The museum also delves into the mystery surrounding Poe’s untimely and controversial death, which remains one of the greatest literary enigmas to this day.