Tom1955
Finally was able to visit Whitman's Home. The tour hours are vey sporadic and you must call to make an appointment. Taking the tour will teach you more about this great poet and his family history. The tour take about an hour. His burial tombstone is about ten minutes from the house. Worth a visit if you love Whitman.
DeadAuthorsRoadTrip
This was our 8th stop on a road trip to visit the homes of great American writers, and it was the house I was most looking forward to. We had just been to the Whitman birthplace the day before, so we were anxious to book end the experience where he died. Oh, my GOODNESS, we weren't disappointed.What struck me first about the house was its lack of ropes, cases, and signs to read. The house looked as though Walt had just stepped out and was going to return at any moment. Pictures of the house in his era showed the impeccable eye for detail the curator had, and it was amazing to be able to walk around the house and just feel him there. His chair in the parlor actually vibrated as I looked at it. Well, to me.But my favorite was his bedroom upstairs, the room where he took his last breath. His hat was laying on the bureau, his boots by the chair as though he just took them off. I couldn't believe how close we could get to the intimate every day items of such an extraordinary man.Our guide was very knowledgable, and it was clear that he had a great respect for Walt and what he stood for. I loved that he seemed to love him just as much as we did. He was also very helpful with directions to his grave and statue at Rutgers. The guide kept discussing hopes and plans for a visitors center, so I couldn't get my money into the donation box quick enough. However, I hope and pray they don't touch the house or put his things in glass cases. I think they would lose so much energy divorced from their context, and visitors wouldn't have the same feeling of Walt being in just the next room, preparing a cup of tea for his guests.
EThomas7
I have wanted to visit this historic place for some time, but as is the usual, if you live by an historic place, its usually the last place you visit!!!It was recommended you call before visiting, as the house is not necessarily open the hours it lists on the internet. We called and made a reservation two to three days in advance and a guide met us at the house as planned. The guide spent a good deal of time filling us in on the background of Walt Whitman and the history of the house. He was extremely knowledgeable. He then took us on a tour of the house and gardens. Miraculously, the house contains almost all of Walt's belongings, many of which were brought back to the house through the efforts of a dedicated volunteer who made it her life's mission to locate and bring back these items. There are photos of the house and its contents in each room which show that indeed, the belongings are there, and I understand more show up from time to time.It really gives you a feel of Walt's life in his later years, and what Camden may have looked like in the late 19th century. It was fascinating, I recommend to all fans of Walt Whitman, and history buffs as well. There is no charge for admission, but donations are welcomed and put to good use in maintaining the house. I know Camden is not a great place to hang out, but there is plenty of on-street parking by the house, and we did not feel uneasy in any way being there.Go!
ironista
Visiting the Walt Whitman House is so real it's almost surreal, because I've never been to a house museum where it felt so much like the person had just stepped out for a quick errand and might be back momentarily. Whitman's furniture, papers and artifacts are all just where they were, and visitors don't just peek in the doorway, they're right in the middle of it all. Adding to that very intimate feel is the very well-versed (so to speak) guide. Be sure to call in advance, as hours can be sporadic. For Philadelphia visitors without a car, it's a short walk from the ferry that goes to the aquarium and Battleship New Jersey, and the neighborhood seemed safe enough to walk through in mid-day.
brianm926
After lunch with the family we decided to drive around and find the Walt Whitman house. It is not in a bad section at all, just an empty part of town. Luckily the place was open but it did take a little knocking and ringing of doorbells until the docent (Matt) came out. The tour was totally, unexpectedly fantastic…true serendipty. The docent was very knowledgeable and took us all over the charmingly restored house. The restoration and original furniture takes you back in time. You almost think you are going to bump into Walt Whitman as you walk about. I think we spent almost 2 hours there. Also, don't miss the garden in back of the house. This is a must see if you are anywhere near Camden. Always call ahead though to ensure it's open and someone is there who can take you on a tour. AND DON'T FORGET TO PUT MONEY IN THE PARKING METER. I didn't and got a $29 ticket. The only sad thing was how much of his original neighborhood has been lost. Prior to our wiping out our inner cities, Mickle Street appeared to be just a small narrow side street of brick and wooden houses. You wouldn’t know that today. Now back to reading “Leaves of Grass”.
Historietrip
My family and I recently visited Walt Whitman's House in Camden NJ and we were really surprised to see how well it is preserved and taken care of. We were given an excellent tour by the guide who was very knowledgeable and friendly. We visited several historic houses on our trip to the Philadelphia area and capped it off with a stop at the Whitman's house which turned out to be the highlight of our tour. We also enjoyed our visit to the Edgar Allan Poe house in Philadelphia. It is just a short drive (10 to 15 minutes) from Whitman's house.
historiccamden35
THE TOUR GUIDE OF THE HOUSE IS VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE AND THERE ARE NO ROPES SO YOU CAN GET UP AND PERSONAL IN THE ROOMS OF THE HOUSE THE HOUSE IS AUTHENTIC OF THE ERA A GREAT HISTORY LESSON THAT IS FUN AND ENJOYABLE DEFINITELY VISIT THE HOUSE the area is very safe it is in downtown camden and you can usually park very close to the house i didnt find the area unsafe at all i wouldnt worry joseph m. ott , a.s.,b.a.,m.a.,c.c.h. of saint petersburg florida 33702 have a great time and enjoy your visit to this very historic house and the very very interesting poet walt whitman the best contact me at www.jjosephss@aol.com i can give you very honest reviews of other places to see in historic camden and philadelphia
maisiegirl
We drove over to Camden from Philly to visit The Walt Whitman House. It was a quiet Sunday and we arrived just after lunch when the House reopens. The caretakers did not respond to our ringing of the doorbell. On the 4th try, a hand came through the blinds of the front window and posted a clock with a message that read "Next Tour at 3 pm." We were very disappointed as there was nothing else of interest to us in the nearby area, which is also quite "iffy" to boot. As we sat in our car we watched another vehicle pull in. The caretaker opened up the doors for them and escorted them in immediately. Only one publication had recommended calling ahead but apparently that is not the case. We didn't wait around and it pretty much was a waste of time but to other visitors who are interested, we recommend calling ahead and setting up/confirming an appointment.
448viktoru
um local totalmente unico, sem explicaçao. voce tem que ir para saber. no walt whitman house voce conhece como o famoso poeta viveu e onde dedicou grande parte de sua vida, ate sua morte. é muito interesante esse tipo de local para se visitar