John Greenleaf Whittier House

John Greenleaf Whittier House
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
U.S. National Historic Landmark
John Greenleaf Whittier Home, Amesbury, Massachusetts
Location:	Amesbury, Massachusetts
Coordinates:	42°51′20″N 70°56′8″W
Built:	1811
Architect:	Unknown
Architectural style:	Other
Governing body:	Private
NRHP Reference#:	66000792
Significant dates
Added to NRHP:	October 15, 1966
Designated NHL:	December 29, 1962

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.

History

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.

See also

• List of historic houses in Massachusetts

External links

• Whittier Home - official site
• Visiting information