John Greenleaf Whittier Home

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The John Greenleaf Whittier Home is a historic house located at 86 Friend Street, Amesbury, Massachusetts. It was the home of American poet and abolitionist John Greenleaf Whittier from 1836 until his death in 1892, and is now a nonprofit museum open to the public May 1 through October 31; an admission fee is charged.

Whittier moved to this house in 1836, where he lived with his mother, aunt, and sister Eliza. Whittier wrote most of his poetry and prose in this house, including his classic "Snow Bound" written in the Garden Room. During his 56 year residence, he enlarged the house several times, raising the original building at the left up and adding another story, then adding the section to the right. Since 1918, the house has been owned and maintained by the Whittier Home Association.

The house and its furnishings essentially unchanged from the poet's death, including living rooms, bedroom, and Whittier's writing study with all its furnishings.

Whittier's birthplace in nearby Haverhill, the John Greenleaf Whittier Homestead, is also open to the public.

To hear an excerpt from Whittier's masterpiece "Snow-Bound" go to http://www.two17records.com