Howard Phillips Lovecraft was a wildly famous author known for writing both horror and strange fiction. He also happens to be a born-and-raised Rhode Islander who spent the majority of his life in New England. Unfortunately, Lovecraft was virtually unknown while he was alive -- it was only after his demise in 1937 at the age of 46 that the general public realized what a literary genius he was. He's now regarded as one of the most significant 20th-century authors of supernatural horror fiction.
If you're one of the many people who have come to admire HP Lovecraft, you know Rhode Island is full of his prior homes and points of interest, especially Providence. Here are a few must-see spots.
1. 454 Angel Street, Providence
This was the home where Lovecraft was born in 1890. This was actually the home of his mother's family, as his parents had a house in Massachusetts at the time.
2. HP Lovecraft Memorial Square
This historic Providence neighborhood pays homage to Lovecraft. The square is where you'll find the last home he ever lived in as well as commemorative plaques with some of his best quotes.
3. Ladd Observatory
This observatory captivated the young Lovecraft, who wrote that a friend of the family, Professor Upton of Brown University, gave him free access to it whenever he liked. Lovecraft used to come and go on his bicycle.
4. Providence Art Club
The Providence Art Club sits between two buildings dating back to 1786 and 1791, respectively. Lovecraft used to come check out exhibits here.
5. The Providence Athenæum
The Providence Athenæum is probably the most famous HP Lovecraft location... in fact, he's said to haunt these halls. Lovecraft used to love wandering through the building, and we really can't blame him.
6. Swan Point Cemetery
Lovecraft is buried at the Swan Point Cemetery in Providence, which dates back to 1846. He was only 46 when he died of cancer of the small intestine, and he struggled financially all his life because his writing wasn't properly recognized. He kept a diary of his illness until he was in too much pain to hold a pen.
Do you consider yourself an HP Lovecraft fan?
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