Baltimore celebrates Edgar Allan Poe’s bicentennial birthday

2009 marks the bicentennial of the birth of Edgar Allan Poe, one of the world’s greatest writers. To honour his strong links with the city, Baltimore is planning a series of birthday celebrations throughout the year, ‘Nevermore 2009 in Baltimore’ in which visitors can participate and commemorate the life and words of this beloved author.

Signature events of the Nevermore 2009 festival include:

• Baltimore City’s Edgar Allan Poe Bicentennial Birthday Celebration – 17, 18, 31 January and 1 February
• Edgar Allan Poe: More Than a Poet exhibition at the Enoch Pratt Free Library – from 19 January
• Cask of Amontillado Wine Tasting Among the Bones in the Westminster catacombs, with a theatrical performance – 27 March
• The Fall of The House of Usher – 13 June
• Art of Darkness exhibition inspired by Poe at the Baltimore Museum of Art – open throughout 2009
• Public Viewing of Poe’s Body on the Anniversary of his Death – 9 October
• Re-enactment of Poe’s Funeral Service – 10 October

Visitors will also find many opportunities to experience Poe’s Baltimore. The Edgar Allan Poe House and Museum, on Amity Street in West Baltimore and his graveside at Westminster Hall Burying Grounds are the two most well-known sites. The Horse You Came in On in Fell’s Point and Annabel Lee Tavern in Canton, are two popular watering holes which both provide ‘spirited’ Poe experiences.

Baltimore is home to Edgar Allan Poe’s deep-rooted past and the city watched as he found success and acclaim in his career, moving from poet to writer. The beloved poet was laid to rest at Baltimore’s Westminster Burying Ground and each year, on the anniversary of his death, a red rose is found on his grave, mysteriously placed by a well wisher.

The Holiday Inn Baltimore Inner Harbor is offering a Poe Museum package which will include overnight accommodation, admission for two to the museum, 2 glasses of red wine accompanied by a red rose on their pillow top and one coupon for 15% off breakfast for 2 the following morning. The package, priced from $194 per night, is available Wednesday to Saturday, April until November. For more details, see holiday-inn.com/bal-downtown.

In Virginia, the Edgar Allan Poe Museum celebrates with a Year of Events in Poe’s Virginia with a series of ‘Unhappy Hours’, exhibitions and a candlelight walking tour from St. John’s Church Cemetery to the museum, which is located on East Main Street in Richmond’s Church Hill Historic District. Other Virginia locations with connections to Poe will have special events to commemorate his birth. For full details visit poe200th.com.

For more information on travel to the Washington, DC, Virginia and Maryland visit CapitalRegionUSA.co.uk.

For more information on the bicentennial birthday celebrations, see Nevermore2009.com.