Rhode Island’s capitol city of Providence is home to hundreds of amazing historic attractions and gorgeous old buildings! While beauty is one thing most of these old landmarks have in common, the other is much spookier. Places with a lot of history tend to also have a lot of paranormal activity. If you’re the type that believes in this sort of thing, you probably also know that the more emotionally charged of a past, the more likely it is to be haunted.
Emotionally charged is an understatement when it comes to the well documented romance between the late great writer Edgar Allen Poe and poet Sarah Helen Whitman. Though their relationship eventually ended, it is said the ghost of Poe lives on inside the walls of this Providence member run library.
Flickr/Matt The Providence Athenaeum dates back to 1836 when it first opened as a member run library out of the Providence Arcade in downtown.
Flickr/freda Aside from its famous literary ghost, the library has a rich history and houses many historic texts.
Flickr/Providence Public Library It was formed after the Providence Library Company and former Providence Athenaeum dissolved and combined their collections.
Flickr/Matt The library moved to its current location on Benefit Street in 1838 and is housed in a beautiful Greek Revival style building pictured above. It is this current location that has been the site of reported paranormal activity.
Wikimedia/American Bookmen Edgar Allen Poe spent time in Providence during his romance and brief engagement with poet, Sarah Helen Whitman. The two had a passionate, yet turbulent relationship rooted in a mutual admiration for one another’s literary works.
Wikimedia Sarah Whitman, a well renowned poet, was a Providence local and spent much time at the athenaeum where she eventually brought Edgar Allen Poe.
Flickr/freda Individual portraits of both Poe and Whitman hang in the Athenaeum’s art room and many have reported ghostly sightings of Edgar Allen Poe here.
Flickr/Josh McGinn It is presumed that his ghost is drawn to the Athenaeum as it is where he and Whitman spent much time together prior to the end of their engagement.
You can visit the Providence Athenaeum at 251 Benefit Street in Providence between Monday and Thursday from 10am to 6pm, Friday from 9am to 5pm, and Saturday from 10am until 2pm. Visit their website here to learn more about the library’s fascinating history and special events.
Flickr/Matt
The Providence Athenaeum dates back to 1836 when it first opened as a member run library out of the Providence Arcade in downtown.
Flickr/freda
Aside from its famous literary ghost, the library has a rich history and houses many historic texts.
Flickr/Providence Public Library
It was formed after the Providence Library Company and former Providence Athenaeum dissolved and combined their collections.
The library moved to its current location on Benefit Street in 1838 and is housed in a beautiful Greek Revival style building pictured above. It is this current location that has been the site of reported paranormal activity.
Wikimedia/American Bookmen
Edgar Allen Poe spent time in Providence during his romance and brief engagement with poet, Sarah Helen Whitman. The two had a passionate, yet turbulent relationship rooted in a mutual admiration for one another’s literary works.
Wikimedia
Sarah Whitman, a well renowned poet, was a Providence local and spent much time at the athenaeum where she eventually brought Edgar Allen Poe.
Individual portraits of both Poe and Whitman hang in the Athenaeum’s art room and many have reported ghostly sightings of Edgar Allen Poe here.
Flickr/Josh McGinn
It is presumed that his ghost is drawn to the Athenaeum as it is where he and Whitman spent much time together prior to the end of their engagement.
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