The Poe Museum

Guided Tour: The Women in Poe's Life
2025-02-13 11:00 - 12:00 (America/New_York) | The Poe Museum, 1914 E Main Street, Richmond, Virginia, 23059, United States
Join the Poe Museum in a guided tour where we will explore the extraordinary lives of the women who shaped Poe’s life, his literature, and continued his legacy after his death.

A Tribute to Poe from Stavna Ballet
2025-01-19 13:00 - 13:15 | Poe Museum’s Enchanted Garden, 1914 E Main St, Richmond VA, Virginia, 23223, United States
Join us for a special performance from Stavna Ballet to honor the 216th birthday of Edgar Allan Poe.

Edgar's Sweet 216th Birthday Bash
2025-01-18 18:00 - 22:00 | Poe Museum’s Enchanted Garden, 1914 E Main St, Richmond VA, Virginia, 23223, United States
Admission tickets are SOLD OUT. There will be no tickets for sale at the door. Advanced drink tickets are still available for pre-purchase.

Join us on Saturday, January 18th for a sweet (2)16 party to die for. ADMISSION TICKETS ARE PRE-SALE ONLY FOR THIS EVENT.

Arnold's Raid Event at Chimborazo Park
2025-01-04 10:00 - 16:00 | Chimborazo Park, 3215 East Broad Street, Richmond, Virginia, 23223
For the last few years, Chimborazo Park has hosted an event called Arnold’s Raid, focusing on the 1781 raid on Richmond by Benedict Arnold. The goal of the event has been to expand its scope, make it the premiere Revolutionary War event in Richmond, and educate the public about the Revolution.

There will be re-enactors demonstrating historic clothing, foods, medicine, weapons, music, and more. There will also be children’s activities.

The Poe Museum will be on site tabling at this event.

Gallery5 First Friday Presents: A Midnight Dreary
2025-01-03 17:00 - 22:00 | Gallery5, 200 W Marshall St, Richmond, Virginia, 23220, United States
Part of Gallery5’s “Month of Poe,” A Midnight Dreary will feature art inspired by Edgar Allan Poe and his works.

Check back soon for more details!

Gallery5 Community Care Night Presents: Poe and the Evolution of Foster Care
2025-01-02 18:00 - 20:00 | Gallery5, 200 W Marshall St, Richmond, Virginia, 23220, United States
As part of Gallery5’s “Month of Poe”, we are excited to welcome UMFS’s Foster Family Outreach Specialist at Richmond Regional Center, Joshua S. Lewis, M.Div.Lewis will explore the complexities of “foster care” during Poe’s childhood and the evolution of care through the centuries to where it is today. Lewis will highlight the need that is still happening in the Richmond metro area for families to welcome children, like a young Edgar Poe.

Special thanks to UMFS & The Poe Museum for their support.UMFS is not just for kids. They are champions for children, teens, families and communities. Their guiding philosophy is to always do whatever it takes to help children and teens successfully overcome the toughest odds and create bright futures for them. They assist the child or teen by empowering the entire family to become stable, self-sufficient and caring members of their communities.

Joshua Lewis brings rich experience and heartfelt dedication to his role at UMFS. As a father of five and a former fictive-kin foster parent of teens, Joshua understands the impact of working with children and families. He believes that investing in people, places, and missions can create lasting positive change for generations.With 26 years of experience driven by his faith, Joshua has consistently supported those on the margins, fostering hope, healing, and the power of love. Outside of work, he enjoys reading, writing, and being a devoted husband and dad.

6PM-8PMFree to attend!Early Registration Suggested

Little Raven Reading Hour
2024-12-07 10:30 - 11:00, 2024-11-02 10:30 - 11:00, 2024-10-05 10:30 - 11:00, 2024-09-07 10:30 - 11:00, 2024-08-03 10:30 - 11:00 | The Poe Museum, 1914 E Main Street, Richmond, Virginia, 23059, United States
Join us for a morning of story time and crafts in the Poe Museum’s Enchanted Garden! Do you have a little one learning to read? The Poe Museum’s Little Raven Reading hour is perfect for rising readers looking to incorporate the fun (and not too scary) works of Edgar Allan Poe into their readings. A Poe Museum staff member will read a selection of Poe-inspired children’s books and Poe poetry. Following the reading, students will create a craft relating to their reading.

Our reading hour is recommended for 1st-5th grade students with readings available for older students as well.

October 2024 UnHappy Hour: Halloween
2024-10-24 18:00 - 21:00
Please check back soon to reserve tickets to this event.

Email Nicole Coppino at nicole@poemuseum.org for media inquiries or any additional information.

Poe's Enchanted Garden: Family Fall Festival
2024-10-12 10:00 - 14:00 | The Poe Museum, 1914 E Main Street, Richmond, Virginia, 23059, United States
Celebrate fall at the Poe Museum! Join us on Saturday, October 12th from 10:00am-2:00pm for an enchanted day of free Poe inspired arts, crafts, and programming brought to you by The Poe Museum.

Create your own haunted “House of Usher” craft, make a “Black Cat” and “Raven” puppet, and wear your own “Masque” at our face painting station. Enjoy garden games and storytime in our Enchanted Garden. Costumes encouraged!

We will also be joined by our community partners, Wilton House Museum, Art on Wheels, and Maymont who will be providing even more fun, kid-friendly programming to you and your family!

Cotton candy will be provided by O’How Sweet Cotton Candy. Drinks and other light refreshments provided.*

*Limited one cotton candy per child.

Please contact emma@poemuseum.org with any questions regarding this event.

Illumination Series ft. Stephen Smith
2024-10-09 18:00 - 21:00
The Poe Museum is pleased to welcome back Stephen Smith, acclaimed actor and artist director of Threedumb Theatre, as our final Illuminator of 2024! Stephen will perform his One Man Poe show in the Enchanted Garden and then discuss his creative process.

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About One Man Poe: Using Poe’s original text from the 1840s, one actor faithfully brings his words to life on stage, performing four of the most terrifying examples of gothic literature:

Act One: The Tell-Tale Heart and The Pit and the Pendulum

Act Two: The Black Cat and The Raven

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Winner of Best Horror Solo Show of Edinburgh Fringe 2024

Edinburgh Fringe 2024 – SELL OUT SHOW

★★★★★ “Powerfully moving ” Everything Theatre

★★★★★ “A compelling and repelling experience ” MyTheatreMates

★★★★★ “A terrifying horror experience that you will struggle to beat ” North West End

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Please check back soon to reserve tickets to this event.

Exhibits remain open. Wine available for purchase.

Limited parking available in the Poe Museum parking lot. Additional parking will be available at the Holocaust Museum’s parking lot, adjacent to the Holocaust Museum entrance at 2000 E Cary St.

Please email Nicole Coppino at nicole@poemuseum.org with any inquiries.

The Raven (1963) - Poe Museum Movie Night at The Byrd Theatre
2024-10-07 19:00 - 21:00 | The Byrd Theatre, 2908 W Cary St, Richmond, VA 23221, 2908 W Cary St, Richmond, Virginia, 23221, United States
The Byrd Theatre, 2908 W Cary St, Richmond, VA 23221

Join us on Monday, October 7th for a very special evening at The Byrd Theater! We will be screening a Poe Museum favorite: The Raven (1963) starring Vincent Price. We are thrilled to be joined by Victoria Price, who will be introducing the film as well as answering questions and signing books.

Please reach out to Nicole Coppino at nicole@poemuseum.org with any questions.

Purchase Tickets

Click Here

September 2024 UnHappy Hour: Poedown
2024-09-26 18:00 - 21:00
The Crooked Creek Misfits and Rachel Dunaway & Friends

Sponsored by The Veil Brewing Company, join us on Thursday, September 26th from 6-9 PM for the Poe Museum’s Poe Down UnHappy Hour! Admission tickets will also be available for purchase at the door.

Email Nicole Coppino at nicole@poemuseum.org for media inquiries or any additional information.

Illumination Series ft. Kris Spisak
2024-09-18 18:00 - 20:00
Sponsored by Fountain Bookstore, join us on Wednesday, September 18th from 6:00 – 8:00 pm for an evening with Kris Spisak!

This lecture is the sixth installment of our seven-part 2024 Illumination Series: Out of SPACE – Out of TIME.

TRICKSTER, FEMINIST, AND WITCH OF THE WOODS…

Whether you know Baba Yaga as a Slavic witch, an earth goddess, or a monster in modern media, she is a force with secrets to divulge. The roots of her stories stretch back over a thousand years, and her chicken-legged hut is only the beginning of her intrigue.

Darkness, fear, and instability sometimes inundate our daily lives, but folktale figures like Baba Yaga speak to the dichotomy of our existence—the hope and the horror, the magic and the mundane. She is at once an old hag and an enchantress, a demon and wish granter, a feminist and nothing more than a fairytale. Yet her multifaceted presence ripples through the present day. Stories that linger have something to teach us, and Baba Yaga’s tales don’t disappoint. Understanding ourselves, our complex world, and our place within history are only a matter of turning to a boney-legged old woman who lives deep in the Eastern European woods.

About September’s Speaker:

Kris Spisak wrote her first three books—Get a Grip on Your Grammar, The Novel Editing Workbook, and The Family Story Workbook—to help writers of all kinds sharpen their storytelling and empower their communications. Her award-winning debut novel, The Baba Yaga Mask (Wyatt-MacKenzie Publishing), was inspired by her family’s experience in the post-WWII Ukrainian diaspora and has been called “A complex, poetic tale” by Kirkus Reviews and “edu-tainment at its best” by the Historical Novel Society. Her fifth book, Becoming Baba Yaga: Trickster, Feminist, and Witch of the Woods (nonfiction), is an exploration of the complex origins of this Slavic folktale character and her lingering lessons for empowering us all. Kris knows well-written words and well-told stories can change the world, and she cannot wait to tell you her next story. Learn more at https://kris-spisak.com/.

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Exhibits remain open. Wine available for purchase.

Limited parking available in the Poe Museum parking lot. Additional parking available at the Holocaust Museum’s parking lot, accessible by 21st and Dock St.

2024 Black Cat Adoption Event
2024-09-13 13:00 - 16:00 | The Poe Museum, 1914 E Main Street, Richmond, Virginia, 23059, United States
Join us on Friday the 13th for a very special Black Cat Adoption Day, in partnership with Richmond Animal League and the Richmond SPCA! From 1-4pm on Friday, September 13th, the Enchanted Garden will be full of feline friends — and we’re not just talking about Edgar and Pluto! As if that’s not sweet enough, Westray’s Finest Ice Cream will be for sale in our parking lot.

Come find your purrfect companion at the Poe Museum on Friday the 13th!

This event is FREE to the public – just RSVP via the button below.

Please reach out to Nicole Coppino at nicole@poemuseum.org with any questions or media inquiries.

August 2024 UnHappy Hour: Poe Goes Punk
2024-08-22 18:00 - 21:00
Join us on August 22nd for a night to remember, featuring BAT BOY, TEENS IN TROUBLE, AND DOLL BABY. Sponsored by Funktastic Meads & Beer. Admission tickets will also be available for purchase at the door.

Funktastic Meads & Beer

A huge thanks to this month’s sponsor, Funktastic Meads & Beer!

1155 Mobile Kitchen

Thanks to 1115 Mobile Kitchen for coming out to feed hungry punks!

Sponsored by Funktastic Meads & Beer, join us on Thursday, August 22nd from 6-9 PM for the Poe Museum’s Poe Goes Punk UnHappy Hour!

Calling all Richmond punks! This month, we’re siked to be joined by RVA’s own Bat Boy and Doll Baby, plus Teens in Trouble from Raleigh, NC! Beer and mead will be on tap from our sponsor Funktastic Meads & Beer, and 1115 Mobile Kitchen will also be for sale in our parking lot. This UnHappy Hour will be one to remember, so don’t miss out!

We hope to see you there, for a miserable time from six to nine…

Bat Boy

Teens in Trouble

Doll Baby

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Additional parking will be available at the Holocaust Museum’s parking lot, adjacent to the Holocaust Museum entrance at 2000 E Cary St.

Ticket receipts to the May 2024 Renaissance Fair UnHappy Hour will be redeemable for admission to any one of the June-September 2024 UnHappy Hours.

Email Nicole Coppino at nicole@poemuseum.org for media inquiries or any additional information.

Illumination Series ft. Enrica Jang
2024-08-07 18:00 - 20:00
Join us on Wednesday, August 7th from 6:00 – 8:00 pm for an evening with Enrica Jang!

This lecture is the fifth installment of our seven-part 2024 Illumination Series: Out of SPACE – Out of TIME.

Long before Edgar Allan Poe even existed…

The Poe family was noted in Baltimore for their service in the Revolution and the War of 1812. A wheel-maker and later Assistant Deputy Quartermaster General, known to George Washington and the Marquis de Lafayette, David Poe Sr. gave much for the cause of Liberty alongside his wife, Elizabeth Cairnes Poe. Learn about the Poe family’s contribution and how their service made possible their famous grandson’s Literary career.

Enrica will also share details of the upcoming, “Poe, Revolution, and the Marquis de Lafayette” Exhibit and Cemetery Plaque Dedication at Westminster Hall where Poe is buried, set to take place during the International Edgar Allan Poe Festival in Baltimore in October.

About August’s Speaker:

Enrica Jang is Executive Director at The Edgar Allan Poe House & Museum in Baltimore. She is director of the International Edgar Allan Poe Festival & Awards, featuring the Saturday ’Visiter’ Awards, an honor recognizing outstanding creative works adapting or inspired by the life and writing of Edgar Allan Poe. An enthusiast long before she joined Poe House, Enrica has written and edited books, graphic novels, and anthologies inspired by Poe’s works. She holds an MFA in Professional Writing from Savannah College of Art & Design, and BA in English Literature and Rhetoric from U.C. Berkeley.

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Exhibits remain open. Wine available for purchase.

Limited parking available in the Poe Museum parking lot.

Please email Nicole Coppino at nicole@poemuseum.org with any inquiries.

July 2024 UnHappy Hour: Speakeasy
2024-07-25 18:00 - 21:00
Charles Owens Trio

Sponsored by Stone Brewing, join us on Thursday, July 25th from 6-9 PM for the Poe Museum’s Speakeasy UnHappy Hour!

Step back in time and experience the lively spirit of a speakeasy! Sway to the smooth, jazzy rhythms of Richmond favorite, Charles Owens Trio, while sipping on fine brews from Stone Brewing. Satisfy your cravings with elevated Mexican street fare from TBT El Gallo. It’s a night of music, brews, and eats you won’t want to miss!

We hope to see you there, for a miserable time from six to nine…

Charles Owens Trio

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Extra parking will be available at the Holocaust Museum’s parking lot, accessible by 21st or Dock St.

Ticket receipts to the May 2024 Renaissance Fair UnHappy Hour will be redeemable for admission to any one of the June-September 2024 UnHappy Hours.

Email Nicole Coppino at nicole@poemuseum.org for media inquiries or any additional information.

Illumination Series ft. Lloyd Sy
2024-07-10 18:00 - 20:00
Join us on Wednesday, July 10th from 6:00 – 8:00 pm for an evening with Lloyd Sy!

This lecture is the fourth installation of our seven-part 2024 Illumination Series: Out of SPACE – Out of TIME.

Embark on an Unparalleled Adventure…

Amidst the endless inventiveness of Edgar Allan Poe’s oeuvre, one of his most creative stories is The Unparalleled Adventure of One Hans Pfaall, a story about a man who purports to fly to the moon in a hot-air-balloon of his own making. But Hans is not merely an eccentric inventor—he is also a meticulous scientist, and Poe’s presentation of Hans’s deliberations shed light on how 19th-century Americans thought about science. Find out how the Americans of Poe’s time thought about atmosphere and climate, topics as pertinent to society then as they are now.

About July’s Speaker:

Lloyd Sy is Assistant Professor of English at Yale University, where he researches and teaches 19th-century US literature. He received his PhD from the University of Virginia in 2023. His work is forthcoming in several scholarly journals, including Poe Studies. He has been a devoted reader of Edgar Allan Poe since reading “The Black Cat” in 6th grade.

Exhibits remain open. Wine available for purchase.

Limited parking available in the Poe Museum parking lot.

Please email Nicole Coppino at nicole@poemuseum.org with any inquiries.

June 2024 UnHappy Hour: PRIDE!
2024-06-27 18:00 - 21:00
Pretty Bitter and Sweet Pickles

Join us on Thursday, June 27th from 6-9 PM for the Poe Museum’s Pride UnHappy Hour!

Get ready to slay this Pride Month with a fabulous celebration! We’re beyond excited to welcome the iconic “queer emo dreampop-ish something or other” band, Pretty Bitter, all the way from DC! But that’s not all, darling—prepare for a fierce drag performance by Richmond’s very own Sweet Pickles!

Sip on some delish beer from Benchtop Craft Brewing and savor exquisite wines at the bar. And for those munchie moments, 1115 Mobile Kitchen will be serving up divine vegan and carnivore delights.

Everyone is invited to this extravaganza of love, music, and pure fabulousness!

We hope to see you there, for a miserable time from six to nine…

Pretty Bitter

Sweet Pickles

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Extra parking will be available at the Holocaust Museum’s parking lot, accessible by 21st or Dock St.

Ticket receipts to the May 2024 Renaissance Fair UnHappy Hour will be redeemable for admission to any one of the June-September 2024 UnHappy Hours.

Email Nicole Coppino at nicole@poemuseum.org for media inquiries or any additional information.

Illumination Series ft. Lee Mandelo
2024-06-19 18:00 - 20:00
In collaboration with Fountain Bookstore, join us on Wednesday, June 19th from 6:00 – 8:00 pm for an evening with Lee Mandelo!

The Woods All Black is equal parts historical horror, trans romance, and blood-soaked revenge, all set in 1920s Appalachia…

Hear Lee discuss his his latest novella, ask him questions and get your own copy signed! Copies of The Woods All Black will be for sale on site, courtesy of Fountain Bookstore.

Professional Development Workshop
2024-06-10 10:00 - 16:00 | The Poe Museum, 1914 E Main Street, Richmond, Virginia, 23059, United States
Poe and Place: Connecting Poe to Richmond, Virginia’s Physical Landscape

“I am a Virginian” -Edgar A. Poe (June 26th, 1841)

While many cities on the east coast claim Edgar Allan Poe, Poe claimed Richmond. This professional development workshop explores how the physical landscape of Poe’s hometown of Richmond, Virginia shaped his life and literature as well as ways to utilize these physical reminders of the past to connect students to Edgar Allan Poe’s history.

This free professional development workshop is hosted at The Poe Museum and St. John’s Church in Richmond, Virginia. This workshop includes a guided tour of the Poe Museum, access to the grounds of St. John’s Church, three focused talks by Poe specialists, educator resources & more! Lunch and one complimentary drink at our UnHappy Hour social are provided. A detailed schedule of the event can be viewed on our ticketing page below.

A portion of this event will be hosted outside in the Poe Museum’s Enchanted Garden. In addition to materials to take notes with, we recommend bringing hats, fans, and water if needed.

*Certification Points available upon request* Please email emma@poemuseum.org for any questions regarding this event.

NOTE: This event is limited to 50 attendees. RSVP Required.

May 2024 Renaissance Fair UnHappy Hour
2024-05-23 18:00 - 21:00
This event has been cancelled due to inclement weather. Tickets will be redeemable at another UnHappy Hour, June-September.

Email info@poemuseum.org for questions regarding refunds.

Presented by Stone Brewing Co., join us on Thursday, May 23rd from 6-9 PM for an evening of folly at the Poe Museum’s Renaissance Fair UnHappy Hour!

Be enchanted by the melodious tunes of troubadours Tiara & Andrew, weaving tales of love and adventure, whilst the harbingers of apocalyptic folk, The Great Beforetimes, regale you with haunting melodies.

Partake in delectable hors d’oeuvres crafted by the skilled hands of our neighbors at Oak & Apple BBQ, and savor libations brewed by our comrades at Stone Brewing Company.

Attire inspired by the Renaissance era is warmly welcomed, though not obligatory. Amidst the festivities, we shall also bestow the honor of May Queen/Monarch upon a fair maiden or squire (or jester) who most heartily embraces the spirit of the fair.

Whether accompanied by a beloved companion or surrounded by your most fanciful comrades, join us for an evening of mirth and revelry!

We hope to see you there, for a miserable time from six to nine…

The Great Beforetimes

Tiara & Andrew

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Extra parking will be available at the Holocaust Museum’s parking lot, accessible by 21st or Dock St.

Email Nicole Coppino at nicole@poemuseum.org for media inquiries or any additional information.

Illumination Series ft. Sharon Pajka
2024-05-08 18:00 - 20:00
Hear from the author of The Souls Close to Edgar Allan Poe: Graves of His Family, Friends and Foes

April 2024 Goth Prom UnHappy Hour
2024-04-25 18:00 - 21:00
Presented by The Veil Brewing Co., join us on Thursday, April 25th from 6-9 PM for our first UnHappy Hour of the year, Goth Prom!

Thank you to The Veil Brewing Co. for sponsoring the Goth Prom UnHappy Hour!

Thank you to TBT El Gallo for coming out to Goth Prom!

Presented by The Veil Brewing Co., join us on Thursday, April 25th from 6-9 PM for our first UnHappy Hour of the year, Goth Prom!

DJ Scareypete will spin the best trad-goth records all night, and the Poe Shrine will be transformed at dusk with a special projection piece by artist Jeff Dobrow. Libations provided by The Veil Brewing Co., and our friends at TBT El Gallo will pull up with elevated Mexican street food. Goth Prom attire is encouraged, but not required. Bring a date or all your goth pals!

We hope to see you there, for a miserable time from six to nine…

PURCHASE TICKETS

Email Nicole Coppino for media inquiries and any additional information.

April 2024 Goth Prom UnHappy Hour
2024-04-25 18:00 - 21:00 | The Poe Museum, 1914 E Main Street, Richmond, Virginia, 23059, United States

Illumination Series Featuring: Mark Dawidziak
2024-03-27 18:00 - 21:00 | Linden Row Inn, 100 E Franklin St, Richmond, Virginia, 23219
Join us on Wednesday, March 27th at 6pm at Linden Row Inn for an evening with acclaimed author, Mark Dawidziak.

Dawidziak is the author of 25 books including three studies of landmark television series: The Columbo Phile: A Casebook, The Night Stalker Companion and Everything I Need to Know I Learned in the The Twilight Zone, his lighthearted 2017 tribute to Rod Serling’s classic anthology series. He also is an internationally recognized Mark Twain scholar, and five of his books are about the iconic American writer. He has been portraying Twain on stage for more than 40 years. No less an authority than Ken Burns has said, “Nobody gets Mark Twain the way Mark Dawidziak does.” His most recent book is the Edgar-nominated biography A Mystery of Mysteries: The Death and Life of Edgar Allan Poe.
