Whittier Birthplace

I don’t know as much about John Greenleaf Whittier as I probably should and hoped to learn more. Luckily, this is a fairly quiet site without too much traffic. I’ve visited twice now and each experience was different. I should be clear that my first visit was great, which is why I went back. I was less happy with that second visit.
It seems that, typically, visitors are led into the main room of the house in front of the fireplace (the same fireplace Whittier made famous in his poem «Snow-​Bound») where the guide gives a (clearly unrehearsed) narrative of the life and work of the so-​called Quaker poet. Certainly, Whittier was an interesting fellow, but the guide would do well to watch their time (and be aware of the body language of visitors). After the potentially tedious talk, the visitor is led through the rest of the house — totaling about four rooms. The last time I went, if my eyes lingered too long on anything, I was treated to a long diatribe about the hapless object of my attention. It was hard to enjoy.
Ultimately, the experience depends on who is working that day. The experience should last no more than 45 minutes for such a small house museum. If it doesn’t, the guide isn’t doing a good job.