Explore Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s poetic legacy, along with the home, family, and events that shaped his life and work in the 1800s.

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow was the most celebrated American poet of the 1800s. A New England native, he traveled extensively throughout Europe, mastering several languages before moving into the Vassall-Craigie-Longfellow House in 1837 after his appointment to the Smith Professorship of Modern Languages at Harvard College.

Longfellow lived in the house from age 30 until his death at 75, making it the center of his rich family and social life. He made a home with his wife Fanny, raised five children, and hosted visitors drawn by his celebrity, from local children to international leaders. His work engaged with contemporary events, including the Civil War and the abolitionist movement, offering reflections that resonated across generations.

As America’s first professional poet, Longfellow achieved an extraordinary level of admiration and shaped the nation’s historical memory—particularly of its founding era—through iconic poems such as “Paul Revere’s Ride,” The Song of Hiawatha, and “A Psalm of Life.” Today, his poetry remains a cornerstone of American literary history and continues to inspire scholars and readers alike.