Can you find the “Tell-tale heart” hidden under the floorboards in the Poe House? Run by the National Park Service, this is the only surviving house that Poe lived in during his 6 years in Philadelphia – and is where he wrote “The Black Cat,” “The Gold Bug” and other stories. In addition to the house, there is a small museum highlighting Poe’s many influences on the literary world, and a reading room where you can listen to recordings of Poe’s works. The site is free, but is only open Friday-Sunday. Poe fans should also check out the collection at the Free Library (Kathy’s Favorite “Secret” Philadelphia Museum – The Rare Book Department At The Free Library), which houses a lot of Poe memorabilia – including Charles Dickens’s pet Raven, which may have (in a roundabout way) inspired the famous poem.
Tobey says: Not bad for a “school” trip.
Field Trips: The site offers free ranger led programs. During our study of Poe, we did the class that included a guided visit through Poe’s home focusing on his life, literary accomplishments and legacy. The kids really enjoyed the program, which included searching for the “tell-tale heart” and the black cat hidden in the basement. After the program, my kids actually requested to read more Poe!
Secrets of Philadelphia 