Poe, Edgar Allan, House, National Historic Site
Also known as: Edgar Allen Poe National Historic Landmark; Edgar Allen Poe N
Why it's listed
Brick houses on North Seventh Street in Philadelphia, built in the early 1840s, form the core of this site. The rear Poe House, a three-story brick dwelling with two rooms on each floor, was constructed by plumber and real estate investor William M. Alburger between 1840 and 1842. Edgar Allan Poe, his wife Virginia and his mother-in-law Maria Clemm rented it from about September 1842 until April 1844, when the family left for New York. During those years Poe produced some of his most famous tales, including The Gold Bug and The Black Cat, and worked as an editor for Burton's Gentleman's Magazine and Graham's Magazine. The house is the only surviving residence of the four Poe occupied in Philadelphia. Its significance rests on that connection to his literary career and to the city's place in American letters, and the site was later established by Congress to commemorate Poe.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the Poe House is the only surviving one of the four residences Poe occupied during his years in Philadelphia (1838-44), a period in which he produced some of his best-known tales and editorial work. It is presented as a tangible link to Poe's accomplishments in the city and is associated with the literary importance of his life and work.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 66000689, listed October 15, 1966. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 530-532 N. Seventh St., Philadelphia |
|---|---|
| County | Philadelphia |
| Listed | October 15, 1966 |
| Reference number | 66000689 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1840-41 |
| Architect / builder | Poe Cottage: William Alburger; 532 N. 7th St.: John Evans |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Literature |
| Level of significance | National |
| National Historic Landmark | Yes, designated December 29, 1962 |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Restored and operated as a National Historic Site after a 1978-80 renovation; the Park Service opened the site to visitors in 1981. |
| Acreage | 0.5 |
| Coordinates | 39.96195, -75.15000 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary for a privately owned home: it does not by itself restrict what an owner may do with their own money, and it does not require public access. Restrictions come from local landmark or historic-district ordinances, which are separate (how they differ).
Owner-occupied houses are not eligible for the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit, which applies to income-producing buildings, but many states offer credits for homeowners. Listing also opens the door to preservation easements and to buying a plaque. Start with what listing means for homeowners, renovating a listed house and selling one.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 66000689.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q1092659
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.