Walt Whitman Birthplace

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The Walt Whitman Birthplace Museum, or officially the Walt Whitman Birthplace State Historic Site and Interpretive Center, commemorates the man who is lauded as America's greatest poet. The museum is located in the town of Huntington on Long Island, New York. It is managed by the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation.

Walt Whitman was born in 1819 in a farmhouse (now a part of the museum) built by his father. 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."

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 except for major holidays. There is a museum shop. Tours for school classes and other large groups should phone ahead of time. It is located 30 miles east of Manhattan, New York City, about two miles north of the Long Island Expressway, Exit 49N.