Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site

Stepping out of our car was like stepping back in time. Our trip to the mountain home of Carl Sandburg was one of the most peaceful and inspirational visits we have had in some time. The first view of the home from the bottom of the hill took my breath away. It sits grandly on the top of a hill overlooking a pond and the beautiful North Carolina mountains.



The path leading to the home site is lined with English ivy and tall trees. At the top of the hill we took the path leading to the barn where Lilian Sandburg kept her prize winning dairy goats. She was the reason that Carl decided to relocate in North Carolina in 1945. The goats kept there today are no longer milked, but are for the enjoyment of visitors.



The barn was situated away from the main house to allow Carl to write without the distraction and noise of the farm activities.



The house is quite large and stately. After the death of her husband, Mrs. Sandburg sold the property to the National Park Service and donated the contents for preservation. The home is set up exactly the way the Sandburgs left it. I was amazed at how simply they lived, even though they were financially well off.



The view from the front porch is stunning. No wonder Sandburg was able to pen some of the most beautiful words in American literature. Surrounded by the peaceful sounds of nature, I might even be inspired to write such words (in my dreams).



The solitude found in the mountain farm named Connemara may have inspired one of Sandburg's famous quotes-

"It is necessary now and then for a man to go away by himself and experience loneliness; to sit on a rock in the forest and to ask of himself,'Who am I, and where have I been, and where am I going?'" -Carl Sandburg

5 comments:

Glenda said...

One of the good things about blogging is that I get to "visit" places far from my home. I really enjoyed seeing the Sandburg home through your lens! The red barn pic is my favorite, I think. And I like the quote that ended your post. It's so true, isn't it - especially in our chaotic, hurried world today? Thanks for your tour!

Skeeter said...

A beautiful place you shared with us today! I love goats and would like to have some if we did not travel so often. I enjoyed the trip yesterday as well. The lake looks so inviting and the buds on the rodie are so ready to burst! I know you must have been ecstatic for the warmth of the sun. Looks like you had a wonderful weekend…

Anonymous said...

Oh, I enjoyed this very much! Thank you for sharing it with us!

tina said...

I'd love to visit there. Not only are the gardens and land wonderful, but I'm most curious about the inside of the house. One always wonders how others live (at least I do-I hope that is not bad:)

sweetbay said...

That is a beautiful house and a beautiful view. It must have been wonderful to live there.