The romance between Edgar Allan Poe and Sarah Helen Whitman initiated a wild and distracted story here in Providence, Rhode Island.

It was here that Poe procured two ounces of laudanum as his poison of choice for a poorly attempted suicide. It was also here that Poe sat on two separate occasions to have a daguerreotype taken, one of which would become his favorite likeness of himself, the other becoming his most infamous photo to this day. While Poe never did live here, his visits marked some of the most incredible and unforgettable moments in his biography. His relationship with Sarah Helen Whitman proved vital, as she became his most staunch defender after his death in 1849, leading up until her own in 1878.

This 1.5 mile tour created by native Rhode Islander and independent Poe scholar Levi L. Leland will guide you through the sites highlighting Poe and Whitman’s courtship as we trace their footsteps in Providence and hear the tragic story of their brief romance.

This tour is FREE of charge! Tips are appreciated if you feel so inclined.

The tour begins and concludes outside Sarah Helen Whitman’s home at 88 Benefit Street (it’s the red house on the top corner of Church Street and Benefit Street, overlooking St. John’s Cathedral and adjacent churchyard). Parking is usually easy and widely available along Benefit Street (and is also free on the weekends). The tour lasts about two hours.

So join me to hear Rhode Island’s story of The Raven in our Renaissance City!

If you’d like to go ahead and book a tour, please fill out the information below and let me know your availability. I will do my best to accommodate you!

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