Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site

81 Carl Sandburg Lane
Flat Rock, NC 28731

By Phone:
828/693-4178

WELCOME to Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site

Carl Sandburg's Legacy Touches Our Lives

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.

Explore Sandburg's legacy and Experience Your America.

Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site, located near Hendersonville in Flat Rock, North Carolina, preserves Connemara Farms, the home of Pulitzer Prize-winning poet and writer Carl Sandburg (1878-1967). 

Though a Midwesterner, Sandburg and his family moved to this home in 1945 for the peace and solitude required for his writing and the more-than-30 acres of pastureland required for his wife, Lilian, to raise her champion dairy goats. Sandburg spent the last 22 years of his life on this farm, and published more than one-third of his works while living here.

Directions:

The park is located three miles south of Hendersonville, NC on Little River Road off of the Greenville Highway/Rt. 225 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 intersection with Rt. 176/Spartanburg Hwy, continue straight. Upward Road turns into 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: I-40 west to I-26 east; 200 miles.
• From Knoxville, TN: I-40 east to I-26 east; 135 miles.

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 9:30 am; the last tour departs at 4:30 pm. 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. Lilian 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 fascinating story about goats and Mrs. Sandburg's dairy goat operation.

Picnics

• Keep in mind this picnic area is first come/first serve and is uncovered.
• Please dispose of your leftovers, trash, and recyclables in the proper receptacles available at the picnic area.

Did You Know?
Carl Sandburg, who won two Pulitzer prizes and entertained heads of state, presidents, and Hollywood movie stars, only formally graduated from the eighth grade. He attended college classes for four years, but never received a degree.