Edgar Allan Poe Mausoleum

I designed a mausoleum for Edgar Allan Poe.  He died on October 7^th, 1849, and the details surrounding his death remain a mystery. He was found in a public house, in clothing that was his own. He was incoherent, and could not explain the state he was in. Many theories have circulated such as alcoholism, rabies, and poison.

Poe was orphaned at the age of two, and was then “adopted” (it was never official) by the Allan family. The Allan family was fairly wealthy, but cut him off after the age of 18. He was the first American to try to support himself fully through writing, and therefore spent much of his adult life a pauper.

I designed the mausoleum to reflect what I believed would have been Poe’s personality, and dedicated it to his life’s work. Much of the symbolism is obvious, as Poe was not one for much symbolism, and believed that “meaning in literature should be an undercurrent just beneath the surface.”

It would be in a park-like setting in Boston. There would be a lake with a bench, surrounded by evergreen trees, to provide a peaceful place for others to come and enjoy his works. The evergreen trees as a whole represent eternal life, but a single needle is symbolic of individuality. The flowers on either side of the door are Baby’s Breath, symbolic of Innocence, and Lily of the Valley, which indicates a return to happiness. 

The style is fairly Gothic in nature, to reflect his Gothic Novels. His infamous Raven is embedded in the roof. The towers on either side of the main structure have pendulums hanging from them, representing his work, “The Pit and the Pendulum”.

The sides show off stained glass windows, with images from his major works embedded in them. One side contains “The Mask of the Red Death,” “The Black Cat,” and “The Fall of the House of Usher.” The other side showcases “The Golden Beetle,” “The Balloon Hoax,” and “The Purloined Letter.” 

Windows Side 1

The book-style door opens to the interior, containing Poe’s coffin. The coffin is equipped with a bell, since being buried alive was a major theme in Poe’s stories. The candelabras have a dual purpose, lighting the interior, and adding to the Gothic quality of the structure. The floor is a tiled mosaic, with a heart in the floor beside the coffin, symbolic of “The Tell-tale Heart”. 

By building the mausoleum, I was somewhat limited in the actual elements I could include. However, I think Poe would be pleased that his works were appreciated and reflected in his burial place.