Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site

Carl Sandburg spent a lifetime exploring what it meant to be an American and asked the eternal questions, "Who am I where am I going and where have I been?" He did this through poetry, song, lectures, writing and lasting friendships with kindred spirits.

The Basics

Hours:

The park is open daily from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm all year; closed December 25 and in cases of inclement weather the park may close to visitors until it is safe to open.

Tours of the historic Sandburg home are available daily. Please call the park at 828-693-4178 if you have any questions regarding tours.

Tour the grounds at your leisure.

Address:

81 Carl Sandburg Lane
Flat Rock, NC 28731

Phone:

828-693-4178

Directions

The park is located three miles south of Hendersonville, NC on Little River Road off of the Greenville Highway/Rt. 225 (formerly U.S. 25) in Flat Rock, NC.

From Interstate 26
Take exit 53 (formerly exit 22) - from I-26 east, turn right onto Upward Road; from I-26 west, turn left onto Upward Road. At the 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.

From Asheville, NC
Take I-26 east from I-40 or I-240; 30 miles.

From Greenville, SC
Take I-85 north to I-26 west; 35 miles.

From Charlotte, NC
Take I-85 south to Rt. 74 west toward Kings Mtn./Gastonia to I-26 west; 110 miles.

From Greensboro, NC
Take I-40 west to I-26 east; 200 miles.

From Knoxville, TN
Take I-40 east to I-26 east; 135 miles.

Climate

Temperate with temperatures ranging from high 20' Fahrenheit in the winter months to high 80's in the summer months. Humidity levels vary throughout the year tending to be higher in the morning hours. Monthly precipitation averages three inches, which is a little over the U.S. average.

Fees

Free for grounds, trails and barn; no park entrance fee.
Guided House Tour Fee: $5.00 for Adults

Reservations

Reservations suggested for large groups.

Things To Do

Guided Tours of the Sandburg Home: 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.

Visiting Connemara Farms Goat Dairy:
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.

Outdoor Pursuits:

"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.

Special Programming:
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.

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