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Edgar Allan Poe Library

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Did Battery Gadsden ever imagine it would house tales of mystery and intrigue? Today, we stand before the Edgar Allan Poe Library, once a mighty coastal defense known as Battery Gadsden. The Edgar Allan Poe Library isn’t just a repository of books; it’s a living testament to transformation. Dedicated in March 1977, the library found its home within the historic walls of Battery Gadsden. This structure, a part of Fort Moultrie, was named after Brigadier General Christopher Gadsden. After World War II, the town of Sullivan’s Island received the battery from the federal government. It was then repurposed into this unique library. The Edgar Allan Poe Library closed its doors after the devastation of Hurricane Hugo in 1989. It reopened in 1992, bringing joy back to the community. The library is named after Edgar Allan Poe, who served at Fort Moultrie. Poe’s time on Sullivan’s Island inspired his famous story, “The Gold Bug.” The building itself has thick, two-foot walls, once protecting against enemy fire, now safeguarding 15,000 books within its 2,000 square feet. Inside the Edgar Allan Poe Library, you’ll find fiction, non-fiction, young adult books, periodicals, CDs, and DVDs, with a special focus on their children’s collection. The library also offers programs for all ages. From memoir writing workshops to local history lectures, there’s something to spark everyone’s curiosity. The Edgar Allan Poe Library continues to serve the community, a place where history and literature intertwine.

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