After parking, we followed the path to the Information Center (and restrooms) across from Front Lake.
We spent some time at the Information Center learning about Carl Sandburg’s life and his move to this farm in 1954. Sandburg (1878-1967) was a writer, biographer, folksinger, lecturer, poet of the people, and Pulitzer Prize winning author (one for history and one for poetry). He supported social reform and staunchly opposed exploitation of workers and child labor practices. Born in Illinois, he married Lilian Steichen (who shared his views on human rights and social reform), in 1908, and had three daughters with her.
Sandberg won a Grammy (Best Spoken Word Performance); received the International United Poets Laureate award and Presidential Medal of Freedom; and honors from the NAACP for his coverage of 1919 Chicago race riots.
Congress authorized Sandburg’s home and farm in NC as a National Historic site in 1868. He moved to this farm, Connemara, in the Blue Ridge Mountains in 1945 when he was 67 years old, with his wife, three daughters, two grandchildren, and a library of over 14,000 books.
A map of the historic site is available at the Information Center, too.
We followed the path to the main house (.3 mi).
Tickets for ranger-led tours of the home can be purchased ($5/adult; $2/senior) at the Visitor Center. Original furnishings can be seen throughout.
In 1935-37, Lilian Sandburg purchased goats and began a breeding program to improve blood lines and milk production. She registered the herd as Chikaming (the name of the town where they lived in Michigan). When the Sandburgs purchased Connemara, it was to provide an isolated place for Carl to write and a home for Lilian’s prize-winning goats.
We continued on the self-guided tour to the Goat Barn. Along the way we saw this tenant house (c 1910) that served as a residence for farm workers and chauffeurs; and the farm manager’s house (c 1915). Today, it is used in the spring by the Carl Sandburg Writer-in-Residence.
The Sandburgs maintained a large vegetable garden (now the park service does) that provided food throughout the year through canning, drying and preservation.
Lilian was internationally known for breeding world-record milk producers. Between 1945-1966 she managed a herd of about 200 goats here. Three types of goats were in the herd: Toggenburgs (tan and white); Saanens (white) and Nubians (multi, with long floppy ears).
Used to store barn equipment, community square dances were sometimes held here.
Below is the corn crib, the kids barn (for baby goats), and the large goat barn.
All goats here are descendants of Lilian’s original herd.
It was great fun to interact with them (as they are friendly and accustomed to visitors).
Everyone wanted to jump on this table! Kids will love seeing the goats (and we did, too!)
Following the trail to the parking lot, we saw lots of interesting fungi in the forest.
The trail followed the banks of Front Lake before reach the parking area.
For additional information about the Carl Sandburg Home, go to www.nps.gov/carl.
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