Edgar Allan Poe: Rhode Island - A Walking Tour of Poe's Providence

88 Benefit Street,Providence RI 02904

05 November, 2022

Description

The romance between Edgar Allan Poe and Sarah Helen Whitman initiated a wild and distracted story here in Providence, Rhode Island. It was here that Poe procured two ounces of laudanum as his poison of choice for a poorly attempted suicide. It was also here that Poe sat on two separate occasions to have a daguerreotype taken, one of which would become his favorite likeness of himself, the other becoming his most infamous portrait to this day. While Poe never did live here, his visits later marked some of the most incredible and unforgettable moments in his biography. His relationship with Sarah Helen Whitman proved vital, as she became a staunch defender of his legacy after his death in 1849, leading up until her own in 1878. This 1.2 mile tour created by native Rhode Islander and independent Poe scholar Levi L. Leland will guide you through the sites highlighting Poe and Whitman's courtship with some focus on Sarah Helen Whitman and her legacy in Providence. This tour is FREE of charge! Tips are appreciated if you feel so inclined. The tour begins and concludes outside Sarah Helen Whitman's home at 88 Benefit Street (it's the red house on the top corner of Church Street and Benefit Street, overlooking St. John's Cathedral and adjacent churchyard). Parking is usually easy and widely available along Benefit Street (and is also free on the weekends). So join me to hear Rhode Island’s story of The Raven in our Renaissance City!