You are here

What Would Longfellow Say About Ghosts and Halloween?

Share

What ghosts did Henry Wadsworth Longfellow contact in his Cambridge, Massachusetts home? NPS photo.

Not only was Henry Wadsworth Longfellow an incredible poet, but he also believed in the supernatural. That second part is of particular interest this week, as the folks at the Longfellow National Historic Site are offering special Halloween tours to explore what they call "19th century America's fascination with death and mourning."

On Thursday and Friday, Ranger Rob Velella will be leading the tours at 6 p.m. each night. As you wander through Longfellow's home you'll learn about how the poet believed "all houses wherein men have lived and died are haunted houses," and how he tried to contact those spirits.

If indeed spirits do exist, there no doubt are quite a few at this house in Cambridge, Massachusetts. According to the National Park Service, "It was here that George Washington took command of the Continental Army during the American Revolution. The first use in the United States of anesthesia for childbirth was administered to Fanny Longfellow at the house. Famous literary figures such as Charles Dickens and Nathaniel Hawthorne were visitors, as were politicians, actors, musicians, and others."

If you want to attend one of these tours, don't hesitate. Call the park today at 617-876-4491 as reservations are needed. The cost is $3 per person for visitors age 16 and up.

Add comment

CAPTCHA

This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.

Image CAPTCHA
Enter the characters shown in the image.

The Essential RVing Guide

The Essential RVing Guide to the National Parks

The National Parks RVing Guide, aka the Essential RVing Guide To The National Parks, is the definitive guide for RVers seeking information on campgrounds in the National Park System where they can park their rigs. It's available for free for both iPhones and Android models.

This app is packed with RVing specific details on more than 250 campgrounds in more than 70 parks.

You'll also find stories about RVing in the parks, some tips if you've just recently turned into an RVer, and some planning suggestions. A bonus that wasn't in the previous eBook or PDF versions of this guide are feeds of Traveler content: you'll find our latest stories as well as our most recent podcasts just a click away.

So whether you have an iPhone or an Android, download this app and start exploring the campgrounds in the National Park System where you can park your rig.