Camden Is a Literary Pilgrimage for Fans of Walt Whitman

If there’s a famous writer to know about in New Jersey, it’s Walt Whitman. Some call him the Shakespeare of America, a great 19th-century poet recognized worldwide in literary circles. He’s best known for Leaves of Grass, the masterpiece of his life’s work, which he spent forty years revising. The last twenty years of additions were made while he was living in Camden, New Jersey. Whitman’s presence here turned this city on the Delaware River into the literary destination of Camden, New Jersey. 

What You Can See and Experience in Camden

Camden is a historic New Jersey port city, just across the river from Philadelphia. It has a rich industrial history linked with shipbuilding, the Campbell Soup company, and, of course, Walt Whitman. Today, it’s well known for its urban revitalization projects, which are in some ways quite symbolic of Whitman’s philosophical writings on nature, spiritual growth, and the interconnectedness of life. Walt Whitman fans travel here to get a peek into his world, exploring Camden sites such as the Walt Whitman House and Walt Whitman’s Tomb. In nearby Laurel Springs, you can also find Whitman’s Walk, a path he was known to frequent on his way to Crystal Springs. The Walt Whitman Bridge is also a dazzling representation of the author. It’s a 2.2-mile-long single suspension bridge that connects Camden to Philadelphia. And it’s green, perhaps inspired by Whitman’s love of nature. 

Walt Whitman House and Walt Whitman’s Tomb in New Jersey

Walt Whitman’s former home, now declared a New Jersey State Historic Site, is a humble Greek Revival townhouse built in 1948 and is located near downtown Camden. It’s a few blocks from the Wiggins Waterfront Park along the Delaware River. Although he only lived here for eight years, it was the only home he ever owned, and it was where he spent his family days. Many of his last writings were about activities in the surrounding community. The building now serves as a memorial and museum dedicated to Walt Whitman, and has been preserved and staged to reflect the period when he resided there. It’s open to the public, but access is only granted via guided tours. The tours are free, and reservations are required. 

Walt Whitman’s Tomb is also a fascinating site in Camden. It’s located on the western side of the city in Harleigh Cemetery. It’s a modest granite structure carved into a hillside beneath towering trees, and it's quite representative of his love for nature, democracy, and simplicity. There is no entrance fee for the cemetery, and the mausoleum is accessible to the public. Harleigh Cemetery is open daily, year-round, from dawn until dusk. 

Whitman’s Walk at the Historic Crystal Springs

Rounding out the list of things to do in the literary destinations of Camden is my personal favorite. It's Whitman’s Walk at the Historic Crystal Springs. This 1-mile New Jersey nature trail follows in the footsteps of Walt Whitman, along a path through the forest that he frequently visited. He was known to journal here and bathe in the springs during his final years. The scenic boardwalk trail is an easy, interpretive walk through the forest along creeks and swamps within the Laurel Springs Borough Park, about 13 miles southeast of Camden. 

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