The home of America's poet, Carl Sandburg, is quite a baronial estate for an old socialist. 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.
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.
Mrs. 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 its many trails and take from it the energy to avoid diversions.
Park Ranger programs are given throughout the summer months. Please call a Park Ranger at 828-693-4178 to check the schedule for the time you wish to visit.
Also, from June until mid-August, live performances of Sandburg's Rootabaga Stories and excerpts from the Broadway play, The World of Carl Sandburg, are presented at the park amphitheater.
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
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.
