Poe Baltimore announced that a $150,000 donation from the Wells Fargo Foundation makes them the inaugural donor for the planned expansion and preservation of the historic Edgar Allan Poe House & Museum.
In April, the museum, which is stewarded by Poe Baltimore, submitted plans for the major expansion to the Baltimore City Urban Design and Architectural Planning Board (UDAAP). The expansion is expected to take place over multiple phases and several years.
The proposal involves up to 17,000 additional square feet for ongoing and special exhibits in multiple galleries, an auditorium, reading room, special collections and exhibits, a literary garden, and expanded space for museum operations and gift shop.
“We are proud to support this transformative expansion, which will add 17,000 square feet of new space and enhance the museum’s ability to inspire, educate, and engage the community for years to come,” said Traci Horne, Wells Fargo vice president and senior philanthropy and community impact leader, in a statement. “This collaboration reflects our commitment to preserving history, fostering cultural enrichment, and investing in spaces that bring people together.”
The Poe House is the historic home of Edgar Allan Poe in Baltimore, and the expansion and preservation plans will help cement its space while neighboring public housing developments are built around the site in Poppleton. The new spaces will allow the museum to better serve and engage the surrounding community, while welcoming the thousands of Poe fans from around the world who visit to learn about his life and works.
“We are excited to expand our ability to engage residents, neighbors, and visitors from around the world,” said Enrica Jang, executive director of Poe Baltimore, in a statement. “This once-in-a-generation project will allow us to honor Edgar Allan Poe’s legacy and inspire even more people through dedicated spaces for exhibits, programs, and education. We are deeply grateful to Wells Fargo for sharing this vision.”
Expansion planning began during the “Transform Poe” community study, which was conducted by the Housing Authority of Baltimore City for the redevelopment of the Poe Homes public housing adjoining Poe House. The report recommended more space for Poe House and Museum, and the plan was presented and approved by HUD in 2021.
Once the capital campaign is completed, construction will begin on adding gallery spaces, an auditorium and event space, and an enhanced visitor center. A second round of comment review from UDAAP is scheduled for late May.
