Walt Whitman Visitor Center
▲ Existing Condition
Expanding Walt Whitman's 19th-century home into an accessible, world-class museum that shines a spotlight on historic Camden, New Jersey.
Our Role
Service Here
Service Here
Service Here
Walt Whitman, one of America's most celebrated poets, spent his final years in a modest, wood-framed house in Camden, New Jersey. Today, the Whitman House is a public museum, New Jersey State Historic Site, and National Historic Landmark that educates visitors about Whitman’s life and legacy in Camden. In partnership with the Walt Whitman Association and the New Jersey Division of Parks and Forestry, Lammey+Giorgio is working to realize the full potential of this under-visited and under-appreciated cultural asset with an expansion and renovation designed to make it more accessible and more engaging.
The house stands on a largely vacant block bookended by two houses to the west and one to the east — all part of the historic property. The eastern house, known as The Button House, has additional significance as the former home of well-known local architect Stephen Button. As the buildings have fallen into disrepair over time, preserving their historical integrity was paramount. But we also set out to strengthen the connection between these structures and bring them up to date with contemporary expectations for building performance, safety, and comfort while helping the Association expand its mission.
▲ Value Process
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Value Proposition
To identify our priorities for this engagement and understand the client's long-term goals, Lammey + Giorgio engaged a diverse group of stakeholders with interactive design workshops and discussions. Through this collaboration with representatives from the Association, the neighborhood Division of Parks and Forestry, and the city, we developed a holistic vision for the entire site — not just Whitman’s home. Our design supports current initiatives and creates new possibilities for future events that will uplift the neighborhood and help make Camden a cultural destination.
In addition to restoring and reinforcing the structures as needed, we’re creating more seamless connections between the buildings to improve visitor circulation, revitalize education and exhibition spaces, and save on costs for updated building systems. This project will also create a safer and more equitable visitor experience with full accessibility, new restrooms, and additional archival space for the historic site’s extensive collection of Whitman artifacts.
▲ Key Attributes
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Key Attributes
A modern addition, set back from the historic structures, provides space for a generous and accessible new entry and reception area. The structure’s form and material recall the neighboring row houses without trying to imitate them. It's clear that this is a new addition and a grand new gateway for visitors, who previously entered through one of the western houses. Previously, the home's size and age limited the number of guests it could welcome each day. With these new spaces, the Association will be able to host larger groups for tours or events, and cultivate more expansive and mutually beneficial relationships with area universities
The New Walt Whitman House Museum embraces a visionary approach that not only revitalizes the House for today, but also helps shape Whitman’s legacy far into the future while supporting the resurgence of Camden New Jersey.
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