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Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site: Connemara
Also see: Thomas Wolfe Memorial | Flat Rock Playhouse | Hendersonville | O.Henry | Smith-McDowell House | Top 10 Civil War Sites

Carl Sandburg Home

Carl Sandburg HomeLocated in Flat Rock, near Hendersonville, (about 30 miles south of downtown Asheville), is the fascinating home of America's poet, Carl Sandburg. It was designated as a National Historic Site in 1968 to honor Carl Sandburg's compelling collection of stories about the American people; their plights, struggles, joys and hopes as told through Sandburg's poetry, prose, journalism and biography. (Next door is Flat Rock Playhouse.)

Taking a guided tour of the historic Carl Sandburg Home with over 65,000 artifacts on display is an insightful glimpse into the lives of the Sandburg family. The 30-minute house tours are offered daily, except Christmas day. Tours begin at 9:30am; the last tour departs at 4:30pm. Tours are limited to 15 visitors. From Memorial Day until October and weekends throughout the year, tours are offered every half an hour. November through Memorial Day, tours are offered once an hour on the half-hour only. Take a 1/3 mile trail up a hill to reach the house. If you are unable to walk, use the phone by the parking lot for assistance.

Carl Sandburg Barn

Connemara DairyMrs. Sandburg owned and operated a premier goat dairy from 1935 to 1965. Here at Connemara the dairy became a Grade A operation, with milk being distributed to local dairies and sold in stores around the community. Mrs. Sandburg's goat breeding program produced champion goats and led to the improvement of goats as milk producing animals.

Enjoy the Connemara Farms' goat-herd. The park service raises goats that represent the three breeds of goats Mrs. Sandburg raised at Connemara. Rangers and volunteers are on hand to share this facinating story about goats and Mrs. Sandburg's dairy goat operation.

"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?'...If one is not careful, one allows diversions to take up one's time-the stuff of life" -Carl Sandburg as quoted from a letter to his friend, Ralph McGill.

Enjoy the solitude of Connemara. Hike (see map) its many trails and take from it the energy to avoid diversions. There are five miles of trails - various lengths and difficulties, including a trail to the top of Glassy Mountain.

Park Ranger programs are given throughout the summer months. In May, the Folk Music Festival presents music from Sandburg's The American Songbag. Please call a Park Ranger at 828-693-4178 to check the schedule for the time you wish to visit.

Carl Sandburg HomeCarl Sandburg Home

Carl Sandburg Home / Connemara 2012 Special Events

Fee Free Day at National Parks - April 21-29, 2012
Tour fees at Carl Sandburg Home and entrance fees at most national parks will be waived during National Park Week.

Spring Into the Park - Saturday, April 28, 2012
10:00 am - 3:00 pm
Celebrate National Junior Ranger Day at Carl Sandburg Home NHS with a day full of activities to learn more about Carl Sandburg and the National Park Service.

Carl Sandburg Folk Music Festival - Monday, Memorial Day, May 28, 2012
11:00 am - 4:00 p.m.
Join folk musicians from around the country as they perform folk music inspired by Carl Sandburg's American Songbag. Festival is free to attend.

Fee Free Day at National Parks - June 9, 2012
Tour fees at Carl Sandburg Home and entrance fees at most national parks will be waived on Get Outdoors Day

Sandburg Summer Stage Performances - Mid-June to Mid-August, 2012
10:15 - 10:45 am, Wed-Sat mornings
Apprentice Actors from the Flat Rock Playhouse perform selections from Sandburg's works live on stage. Performances are free and are held rain or shine.

Fall Into the Farm - Saturday, September 22, 2012
10:00 am - 3:00 pm
Enjoy a fun fall festival at the park. Learn about corn fairies through storytelling and make your own corn husk version. Cheese demonstrations, square dancing and farm-life tours and activities take you back the 1940's and 50's when the Sandburg's lived at Connemara.

Fee Free Day at National Parks - September 29, 2012
Tour fees at Carl Sandburg Home and entrance fees at most national parks will be waived on National Public Lands Day.

Fee Free Day at National Parks - November 10-12, 2012
Tour fees at Carl Sandburg Home and entrance fees at most national parks will be waived during Veterans Day weekend.

Christmas at Connemara - Saturday, December 8, 2012
11:00 am - 4:00 pm
Musicians and storytellers will perform traditional holiday stories and music. Hot cider and cookies will be served. This free festive celebration will honor Carl Sandburg and the family holiday tradition of music. Young visitors will find many opportunities for participation in storytelling and sing-a-longs too. The house will be decorated in the simple style of the Sandburgs with poinsettias and a traditionally decorated Christmas tree throughout December until January 6th, 2013

Admission: Free for grounds, trails and barn; no park entrance fee.
Guided House Tour Fee: $5.00 for Adults 17 and older; $3.00 for seniors 62 and older (cash or check only); Children under 16 admitted free
Hours: Open daily 9 AM until 5 PM, except Christmas Day.

From Asheville: (40 minute drive from downtown) Take I-26 east to exit 53 - turn right onto Upward Road. From Upward Road and  intersection with Rt. 176 (now U.S. 25) continue straight. Upward Road is now No. Highland Lake Road. At the light, turn left onto Rt.225/Greenville Hwy south. At next light take a right onto Little River Road. Visitor parking on left.

Go to their Web site.