Walt Whitman’s House

Walt Whitman, “The father of free verse,” moved all around DUMBO and Fort Greene, but Ryerson Street is his only residence left standing. It was here he wrote his seminal collection Leaves of Grass. Emerson and Thoreau were also known to drop by, their Transcendentalist philosophies were a strong influence. However, Whitman drew just as much inspiration from his neighbors, filling Leaves of Grass with glowing admiration for the working class. He was also a strong advocate for public space, and you can stroll through a garden dedicated to him at the nearby Fort Greene Park.