As we prepare to turn the calendar to October next week, fans of the spooky season won’t be able to celebrate Halloween at a Philadelphia site connected with a famous literary figure associated with all things macabre and sinister.

The Edgar Allan Poe National Historical Site in Philadelphia remains closed for fire safety upgrades and broader infrastructure renovations that have exceeded $931,000, according to a Philadelphia Inquirer report. The site closed its doors in 2024, and no official reopening date has been announced.

National Park Service (NPS) spokesperson John Warren told the Inquirer that NPS officials did not provide more details to him on the timeline. He cited “multiple, complex infrastructure projects going on at the site all at once.”

Renovations on the first floor include new restrooms, plastering, painting, and woodworking rehabilitation, with exterior work and carpet and blind replacements slated for later phases.

The Inquirer spoke with National Park Service plasterer and painter Joe Palumbo, who said a plan to renovate the building’s exterior is “on hold.” No further details were provided.

Built in the 1800s, the site is the sole remaining residence Poe inhabited during his 1838–1844 Philadelphia years, giving it unique cultural and historical significance.

Retired National Park Service worker Helen McKenna, who spent 25 years working in education and interpretation at the site, said the neighborhood was not part of the city at that time. She views the site as a tangible link to Poe’s life, highlighting his literary stature alongside his financial struggles and modest living conditions during his time spent in Philadelphia.

According to McKenna, Poe moved to Philly after failing to achieve success with a novel he tried to publish in New York City. He then turned to writing short stories.

While in Philly, Poe published “The Murders in the Rue Morgue,” “The Black Cat,” and “The Tell-Tale Heart,” McKenna said. She told the Inquirer that Poe was “a genius of compression.”

“I won’t say that Poe is the best writer that America ever produced, but he’s certainly had a ton of impact, globally,” McKenna stated.