The Walt Whitman Birthplace

The great American poet and visionary, Walt Whitman, was born on May 31,1819 in a farmhouse constructed by his father in the West Hills area; Walt Whitman Sr. was a Quaker and built the house himself in 1816. The Walt Whitman Birthplace is a New York State Historic Site and is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places. In 2001, the House was restored to its original state. 

The Walt Whitman Birthplace has an Interpretive Center that houses manuscripts, original letters, artifacts, and portraits of the poet, and provides guided tours to thousands of visitors each year. Throughout the year, the Center is busy hosting events such as poetry reading sessions, talks by distinguished literary figures, educational programs for students, and poetry contests. The Center is gearing up for Whitman’s Bicentennial celebration, “Whitman@200: Where It All Began,” starting in May 2019.