The Fight For Edgar Allan Poe

The Baltimore Sun reports Poe kin to have say on city with best claim to legacy.

Richmonder's have long wondered why Baltimore claims fame as the home of Edgar Allan Poe. Sure he spent his last days there and is buried there, but Richmond has a strong claim to Poe as the place where he was raised, married, wrote and lived half his life. The Poe Museum resides in Shockoe Bottom in the oldest building in the city.

From the Sun:

Surely, the great poet and author's surviving relatives should be able to decide, once and for all, whether Baltimore, Boston, New York, Philadelphia or Richmond has the greatest claim to their illustrious ancestor.

Then again, given that the Poe descendant who will be making the announcement is president of Richmond's Poe Museum - well, maybe next weekend's decision won't be as unbiased as it might seem.

Just the fact that Richmond is hosting this event says a lot. Great great nephew Harry Lee Poe states:

"We have to think about Richmond, where he spent half his life. He always said that he was a Virginian, he identified himself that way"

The competition includes:

1. Boston, where he was born.
2. Charlottesville, where he attended the University of Virginia.
3. Richmond, where he spent his early years and returned to to be married and publish a literary journal.
4. New York City, where he lived for three years before his death.
5. Baltimore, where he lived for several years and is buried.

Poe was a literary wanderer and lived in many different cities. He is an iconic American writer who remains popular to this day. Whatever his relatives decide, Richmond can and should take pride in its Poe connections.

The Poe Museum is located in Shockoe Bottom at 1914-16 E. Main St Richmond, VA 23223.

There will be a 24 hour Birthday Bash this Saturday and a new film exhibit, "Poe Goes To The Movies".