A Walking Tour of Poe's Providence

Edgar Allan Poe came to Providence, Rhode Island in 1845 and returned in 1848, drawn by the magnetic presence of Sarah Helen Whitman: poet, essayist, critic, and spiritualist. What followed was no ordinary courtship, but a tempestuous affair ignited by the black flames of two gothic literary souls.

This 1.5 mile tour is owned and operated by native Rhode Islander, creator of edgarallanpoeri.com, and author of the recent title Edgar Allan Poe: The Master of the Macabre (Adams Media—imprint of Simon & Schuster), Levi Lionel Leland. Discover Poe's Providence through a real expert on the topic! This is the only tour that covers Poe's full time in the city and digs into the life and works of Sarah Helen Whitman—a mysterious and often misinterpreted woman in Providence's history. Leland also happens to be a distant relative of Whitman's...

The tour begins and concludes outside of the Sarah Helen Whitman House at 88 Benefit Street. Parking is usually easy and widely available along Benefit Street. The tour has a few slight hills and varied terrains (sidewalks, stairs, cobblestones, bricks, and graveyards) so be sure to wear appropriate footwear. Note that the tour touches on topics of death, horror, alcohol use, and suicide.

This is A Walking Tour of Poe's Providence's FIFTH year! I'm so grateful for the continued support. This endeavor has only grown over the years and gotten better! If you've taken a tour with me in the past, you will find a slightly different experience this year. So, usher in the autumn season with the Master of the Macabre and his ties to our Creative Capital!

Host or Publisher Levi L. Leland