Philly marks 185 years since Poe invented the detective story

Residents of Philadelphia can visit the Edgar Allan Poe House at 532 N. 7th St. on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. to mark a specific literary milestone. The event, part of the city's Firstival series, celebrates the 185th anniversary of the publication of 'The Murders in the Rue Morgue.' While Poe is widely known for horror, this Saturday's gathering focuses on his role in creating the detective genre.

The story, which appeared in Graham's Lady's and Gentleman's Magazine in 1841, is recognized as the first modern detective narrative. Benjamin Eckert, a park ranger at Independence Hall National Historic Park and the Edgar Allan Poe National Historic Site, stated that no prior work contains the specific elements of the genre. He noted that the story features a double murder that the police cannot solve, which is eventually cracked by a citizen detective named Auguste Dupin.

Eckert explained that Dupin interviews witnesses and assembles clues to reach a solution, a structure that influenced later writers. This format paved the way for English novelist Wilkie Collins to publish 'The Moonstone' in 1868, considered the first full-length detective novel. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle later created Sherlock Holmes in 1887, a character he explicitly based on Poe's Dupin.

Poe lived in Philadelphia for six years, a period Eckert described as the peak of his creative powers. During this time, he wrote well-known pieces such as 'The Tell-Tale Heart' and 'The Gold Bug.' Michael Carbonaro, another park ranger at the site, noted that Poe likely wrote to pay his bills, as being a writer in that era was difficult. Poe moved frequently before dying at age 40 in Baltimore.

The influence of Poe's work extended internationally. Eckert pointed to Japanese mystery writer Edogawa Rampo, who adopted a pen name that is a phonetic rendering of Edgar Allan Poe in Japanese. Rampo became a highly successful author in 20th-century Japan, demonstrating the global reach of Poe's original concept.

The upcoming celebration will feature family-friendly activity tables rather than horror-themed entertainment. Carbonaro advised visitors not to expect gore, as the event aims to be accessible to children. The Edgar Allan Poe National Historic Site is currently undergoing renovations, but the grounds remain available for this specific commemoration.

This event is the first in a series of upcoming Firstivals scheduled for the fall. The next observance is on Nov. 7 at the Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History, which will mark the 1920 American Thanksgiving Day parade. Subsequent events include a Nov. 14 gathering at the University of Pennsylvania to honor the founding of a university in America in 1740.