Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site - Things To Do (U.S. National Park Service)

Photo of television set in the corner of the Sandburg Dining Room; it would never be on during dinner!

nps photo

Carl Sandburg referred to the television as an "idiot box" and "a thief of time."

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.

view of barn in summer from side pasture

nps photo; Phil Smith.

Connemara Farms Dairy barn in mid-summer.

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.

A granitic dome outside of Carl Sandburg's home.

nps photo

The rock located just behind Carl Sandburg's home was a place Mr. Sandburg could often be found sitting in a high-backed chair dirtying paper.

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.

Ranger demonstrating how to make cheese from goat's milk.

nps photo

Ranger Programs like this cheese making demonstration can be part of a summer visit to Connemara.

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.