Walt Whitman Birthplace Association
The Walt Whitman Birthplace Association is located in the Town of Huntington. It was established to preserve the birthplace of Walt Whitman, a poet born in 1819. The association's mission is to preserve and promote Whitman's legacy with educational programs. The birthplace is a State Historic Site and Interpretive Center. It features a library with approximately 1,800 volumes, focusing on Whitman's poetry and life. The site also includes a classroom, offices, and a gift shop. The association offers various programs, including monthly poetry readings and a student poetry contest. It also collaborates with the Long Island Poetry Collective to expand regional writing opportunities. The site's educational programs were inaugurated in 1987. The Walt Whitman Birthplace Association is operated in partnership with the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. The site has undergone restoration and renovation, including the construction of an Interpretive Center and the renovation of the Barn, now known as the Gathering House. Visitors can tour the birthplace, which is open on certain days of the week. The association also offers membership, which includes free admission to the site and exclusive newsletters. Donations can be made online, by phone, or by mail to support the association's mission.
