Sandburg's Retirement Retreat  

Connemara

Nestled in the southern Appalachian Mountains of North Carolina, Carl Sandburg and his family found the secluded beauty surrounding a home that felt more like a retreat. When you live in a place like this, you're on vacation every day. However, Carl also found it to be an inspiring place to write since his upstairs study was far enough away from the household bustle while offering a majestic view.

Carl's study

Margaret Sandburg, Carl's wife, fell in love with the area on a return trip from Florida in the 1930's. In 1945, Carl told a newspaper reporter, "A long time ago I told my wife and daughter Helga that whenever and wherever they found a place they liked better than Harvest, Michigan, we'd pull up roots. So - we're pulling them up."

While Carl continued with his writing, Margaret started a goat farm where her goats won awards and became recognized for their bloodlines. A visitor to the National Historic Site today can still see the simplicity and practical nature of the Sandburgs in the lived-in look of the home. Books are everywhere, and the parlor has a grand piano and guitar to attest to the family's love of music. Connemara is more than an author's home. It's a family's home that portrays an interesting peek at their lives.

Photos by Billy Hathorn, U.S, Dept. of Interior

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