The House
What ’ s lit got to do with it ? Deconstructing the Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site
The house itself garnered attention from a number of guests . Visitors remarked on both the exterior aesthetics of the home�marveling at the beauty of the antebellum architecture and the position of the residence in a natural clearing at the top of a wooded ridge . “ The home itself is charming with a beautiful view of the distant mountains ,” said one visitor capturing the appreciation many other reviewers also had for the house and its surroundings .
Touring the house was a popular site experience and both positive and negative reviews of the guides leading the tours played a role in people ’ s visits . Those who enjoyed their guide noted the docent told stories about Sandburg and his family with enthusiasm and candor . “ Our tour guide was excellent and really made the visit for me ” one reviewer noted capturing this theme . Quirky vignettes that illustrated the late author ’ s personality and his relationship with his wife and daughters were well received . “ We had a really informative tour with the docent who brought the Sandburg family to life and we could just imagine them writing ” said one woman . On the other hand , tour guides who either moved too quickly through the home or focused mostly on factual information and the professional achievements of Sandburg and his family were often perceived as dry and uninteresting . One reviewer from New York , like others , wanted more time to explore the home ’ s many nooks and crannies , but thought he was moved along too quickly . “ The tour guide did not give us the time we so desired to look at all of Carl ’ s books to get a glimpse into his mind ,” he said , illustrating the frustration also reported by other visitors . Regardless of their take on the guide leading their tour , numerous reviewers were impressed with Sandburg ’ s extensive collection of books . The packed shelves lining nearly every wall upstairs and half the main lev-
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