Incorporating literary history destinations into an itinerary might seem like a challenge. Not everyone is a big reader, and those who are will likely not have very much crossover with each other when it comes to favored authors and genres. But, maybe we’re focusing a bit too much on the “literary” part instead of the “history” part.
Literary history destinations will of course tell you all about an author’s work, life, and the importance of the destination to both. Beyond the famous backstory, though, you’ll find historic homes in locales both iconic and off the beaten path—just the kind of experiences that fill out and enrich any group tour itinerary. It’s sort of like cracking open a book that contains much more depth than its cover might imply.
You can find these destinations from coast to coast. Writing can be a nomadic existence, with some authors leaving trails of their stories across the country. Some others are closely associated with a single place, allowing you to walk in the footsteps of their entire lives.
Take the story of acclaimed author Ernest Hemingway. His life would have many exotic chapters—driving a World War I ambulance in Italy, covering bullfighting in Spain, and living among expatriate artists and writers in Paris, where he completed “The Sun Also Rises.” But the book of life is incomplete without the very first chapter.
Credit: Rob O’Neal
HOMES & BIRTHPLACES
Hemingway was born a humble Midwest boy in the suburbs of Chicago in 1899. You can see the room he was born in on the second floor of his boyhood home in Oak Park, where Hemingway lived the first six years of his life. The Hemingway Foundation offers tours of the fully restored home, offering a glimpse into the beginning of young Ernie’s story.
After living in Paris, Hemingway decided to return to the United States. It was the novelist John Dos Passos who suggested Key West, Florida, where Hemingway and his family arrived in 1928. In 1931, they moved into a Spanish Colonial-style house on Whitehead Street, which was his primary residence until 1939. Hemingway continued to visit Key West throughout the 1940s and ’50s, and several years after his death in 1961, his home became a National Historic Landmark and remains open for tours.
“The Hemingway Home & Museum is one of Key West’s most iconic cultural attractions,” says spokesperson Alexa Morgan. “Guests stroll through the historic house and gardens, explore the rooms where [Hemingway] worked, and learn firsthand about his stories, personality, and impact on American literature.”
One of the highlights for groups is seeing the estate’s only permanent residents—61 six-toed cats, reportedly descended from one of Hemingway’s original pets. Besides this unique photo op, guests enjoy guided tours, a museum and bookstore, and proximity to Key West’s Old Town district with dining and activity options. Discounted rates are available for groups of 12 or more, with advanced reservations recommended.
While Hemingway was something of a global citizen, other writers are firmly associated with a single place. Edgar Allen Poe was born in Boston in 1809, later spending time in Virginia, Philadelphia—home of the Edgar Allen Poe National Historic Site—and New York. However, it is in Baltimore where he is most celebrated—so much so the city’s NFL team was named after the poet’s most famous work: “The Raven.” The Poe House on Amity Street is the earliest surviving home Poe lived in, today preserved on its original site and appearing much as it did back around the 1830s.
“This was the beginning of his professional writing life, and his blood connection to the city is an essential part of his biography,” says Enrica Jang, executive director of Poe Baltimore, which maintains The Edgar Allen Poe House and Museum along with other related attractions. “The family that sustained him and the opportunities he found here shaped the young writer who would go on to influence the world.”
Knowledgeable guides offer historical context and background to tours of the Poe House, which is one of many Poe sites in Baltimore but the only one that offers year-round tours and programming exclusively based around the author. The house also is located less than a mile from Poe’s final resting place in Westminster Hall and Burying Ground. Another mile or so to the east is historic Carroll Mansion, where Poe Baltimore is presenting a special exhibit in 2026 to tie in with America’s Semiquincentennial.
“Poe’s grandfather served in both the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812, and his grandmother’s work and perseverance helped make Poe’s literary career possible,” says Jang. “Our programming explores how his family’s place in early American history shaped the young writer who emerged in Baltimore.”
Tour operators are encouraged to contact Poe Baltimore directly to make arrangements for their groups. These historic buildings offer limited accessibility, and public tours are capped at groups of 16, but private tours can be arranged for groups large and small.
Other literary homes around the country to consider include Hellen Keller’s birthplace and home in Tuscumbia, Alabama; The Mark Twain House and Museum in Hartford, Connecticut; and the Sinclair Lewis Boyhood Home in Sauk Centre, Minnesota.
Credit: Stowe Center for Literary Activism
LITERARY CENTERS
Such was the influence of Harriet Beecher Stowe that the grounds surrounding the Hartford, Connecticut, home she lived in for the last 23 years of her life are now home to the Stowe Center for Literary Activism. Stowe was born in Connecticut but spent significant portions of her life in Cincinnati, Ohio, and Brunswick, Maine, where she wrote “Uncle Tom’s Cabin.” Her homes there are preserved for groups to visit as well.
The Hartford home was originally built in 1871, and Stowe and her family purchased the property in 1873. Stowe died in 1896, but the estate remained in her family’s possession. In 1968, it was renovated and opened as a museum. Today it is open for guided tours, and the grounds also feature a visitor center; research library; gardens inspired by Stowe, who was an enthusiastic gardener; rotating art galleries featuring local artists; and more.
“The Stowe tour experience encourages visitors to think, ‘What does it take to change your heart and mind?’,” says Mariangie Pena, director of marketing for the Stowe Center for Literary Activism. “The ‘Inspiring Stowe Tour’ is a tour that introduces visitors to the constellation of people who inspired Harriet Beecher Stowe to change the way she viewed the world around her.”
Groups are limited to 45, and the house permits groups of 14 at a time. Motorcoach parking is available on-site, and there also is a convenient drop-off location. The Mark Twain House and Museum is located right next door for groups wanting to visit both.
Elsewhere in New England, Springfield, Massachusetts is known as the home of Theodor Geisel—better known as Dr. Seuss. The home Seuss was born and raised in at 74 Fairfield Street isn’t open to the public, but downtown Springfield is home to a whole campus of attractions dedicated to the legendary children’s author. The Dr. Seuss National Memorial Sculpture Garden opened in 2002 and is an opportunity for fans to get up close with real-life representations of Seuss’ famous characters. The Amazing World of Dr. Seuss Museum opened in 2017 in response to public demand for a more in-depth display of all things Dr. Seuss.
“Visitors of all ages love the Dr. Seuss Museum,” says Larissa Murray, director of education for Springfield Museums. “For many, Dr. Seuss books have been shared across generations, and learning more about the author and his childhood and his family is quite interesting.”
Out west, the National Steinbeck Center in Salinas, California, is located just blocks away from the home where John Steinbeck was born in 1902. The home today is a restaurant and gift shop, open for tours just one day a month, but his literary center and museum is open year-round, Wednesday through Sunday. Groups can embark on a fascinating journey through Steinbeck’s life and work.
Whether you are stepping into the actual room where great works of art were created or taking a walk through a gallery dedicated to a writer’s life story, literary history places are an enriching addition to any itinerary. They offer a place to reflect on the lives of literary giants and the times during which their works were created.
By Todd Kortemeier
Main Image: Stowe Center for Literary Activism, Hartford, Connecticut; Credit: Stowe Center for Literary Activism, Hartford, Connecticut
