About the Birthplace

Stands the lilac-bush tall growing with heart shaped leaves of rich green,
With many of the pointed blossom rising delicate, with the perfume strong I love….
“When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloom’d” by Walt Whitman

In 1957, the New York State Education Department undertook the first efforts to restore and furnish the house to an early 19th century appearance. In 1998, acting on the initiative of WWBA staff, State Parks Bureau of Historic Sites at the Peebles Island Resource Center (PIRC) conducted microscopic paint analysis. It was then discovered that the Prussian Blue color that you see on the trim today reflects the true 19th century color.

If you have visited the Birthplace prior to this date, you may notice several significant changes to the building. On the exterior, the rough shakes that once covered the house have been replaced with smooth wooden shingles to create a more historically accurate interpretation. The new shingles were nailed at the bottom edges as were the original. Based on photographs from the late 1890’s, a front porch and shutters have been reconstructed. The 1958 connector between the historic house and the caretaker’s cottage, constructed in 1958, has been removed as well as foundation plantings around the house that dated to the 1950’s. The lilac bushes were retained since photographs from the 1890’s show them in the same location.

It is remarkable that the interior of the house retains such a high degree of integrity. In fact, as part of the recent restoration work, a second floor bathroom installed by the Watson family in 1917 was removed to recreate the bedroom that was part of the house’s original floor plan. Aside from this early 20th-century modification, the floor plan has remained largely unaltered.

There was a child went forth every day,
And the first object he look’d upon, that object he became,
And that object became part of him for the day or a certain part of the day,
Or for many years or stretching cycles of years.
“There Was A Child Went Forth” by Walt Whitman

In 1997, staff from Walt Whitman Birthplace Association and the PIRC formed a team to conduct research and made recommendations regarding restoring the historic house and implementing a furnishing scheme that accurately reflected the lifestyle of a rural family of modest means. Walt Whitman’s parents were in the early stages of establishing their household in the 1820’s. Since primary sources related to the Whitmans are scarce, staff turned to census records and probate inventories to determine the appropriate furnishings for the young Whitman family. Curators selected furnishings that reflect Walter and Louisa’s economic status. In conducting research, staff noticed that the Long Island inventories of this period generally do not include floor or window coverings, carpets, sofas, settees, or decorative pictures. Therefore, the rooms are simply decorated and simply furnished and include pieces that would have been available to a couple with limited resources.

The spinning-girl retreats and advances to the hum of the big wheel…
The one-year wife is recovering and happy having a week ago borne her first child…
And peruse manifold objects no two alike and everyone good…
“Song of Myself” by Walt Whitman

Step back in time to a cold, mid-winter afternoon in February 1821. You will discover that the Whitman household is in a pleasant disarray caused by the birth of baby Mary Elizabeth the previous week. Using the 1820 census, WWBA and PIRC staff were able to determine who was living at the house at that time. Based upon that information, interpretive scenarios were developed for each room in the Whitman house. In February 1821, the most likely inhabitants were: Walter Whitman, age 31; Louisa Whitman, age 25; Jessie Whitman, age 35 months; Walt Whitman, age 21 months; Amy Van Velsor (Louisa’s mother), age 60; Hannah Brush Whitman (Walter’s mother), age 65; Walt’s Uncle Tredwell and his family.

Houses and rooms are full of perfumes, the shelves are crowded with perfumes…
“Song of Myself” by Walt Whitman

As you tour the Birthplace, it was common to close the doors off the front hall to conserve heat on cold winter days. The front parlor is neat and tidy in contrast to the rest of the house. Here you will see the family’s best furnishings since this is where guests would have been received. The rear parlor, probably used as a “family room” for sewing, card playing, tea, reading, etc., was transformed temporarily for Louisa when recovering from childbirth. There is evidence of children’s activities underfoot and signs of household tasks that the grandmothers might have performed when not tending to the recuperating new mother.

In the other front room, which was used for food preparation, ironing, and dishwashing, you will discover a carpentry box like the one used by Walter Sr. Here, there are more clues that children are at play and that a meal is being prepared.

On the second floor, the doors to the  bedrooms would be closed, to conserve heat. The back bedroom has been furnished to reflect the living quarters of Uncle Tredwell’s family. It includes a large spinning wheel, which Hannah Whitman, Walter’s mother, would have used to  spin wool.

The master bedroom is most likely where young Jesse and Walt slept beside their parents. These rooms contain such effects as towels, clothes, and toys.

The small front bedroom may have served as a bed chamber for Louisa’s mother, Naomi Van Velsor, has been furnished as a space. The garret over the Dining Room serves as a storage and work area.  It was once only accessible by the back stairs.

Enjoy your visit to the restored Walt Whitman Birthplace. The story of this historic house provides us with much insight into the poet’s early childhood years, which had a profound influence on his poetry.