1841: The Year Poe Wrote the First Modern Detective Story in Philadelphia

In 1841, Edgar Allan Poe wrote 'The Murders in the Rue Morgue' in Philadelphia, an act that park officials describe as the creation of the modern detective story. The Philadelphia Historic District is marking the anniversary of this work with events scheduled for Saturday, October 31, at the Edgar Allan Poe House on North Seventh Street.

Benjamin Eckert, a park ranger at Independence Hall National Historic Park and the Edgar Allan Poe National Historic Site, stated that no written work precedes Poe's story that fits the definition of a modern detective tale. He noted that the narrative includes a double murder of two women, a failure by the police to solve the case, and a citizen detective named Auguste Dupin who gathers clues and interviews witnesses to reach a correct solution.

The story was published in Graham's Lady's and Gentleman's Magazine. Its publication prompted other authors to adopt the format. Wilkie Collins published 'The Moonstone' in 1868, which is regarded as the first full-length detective novel. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle introduced Sherlock Holmes in 1887. Eckert said that Doyle acknowledged basing Holmes on Dupin, and that Holmes even discusses Dupin in one short story.

Poe lived in Philadelphia for six years, a period Eckert identified as the peak of the author's creative output. During that time, Poe wrote 'The Tell-Tale Heart' and 'The Gold Bug.' He also wrote to support himself financially, a necessity that Michael Carbonaro, another park ranger, described as typical for writers of that era. Poe died at age 40 in Baltimore in a delirium.

Poe's influence extended internationally. Eckert cited Japanese mystery writer Edogawa Rampo, who chose his pen name as the Japanese pronunciation of Edgar Allan Poe. This demonstrates the author's impact across different cultures and languages beyond the United States.

The celebration, part of the Firstivals series, will feature family-friendly activity tables. Carbonaro advised attendees not to expect horror or gore. The grounds at 532 N. 7th Street will host the event from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. despite ongoing renovations at the historic site.

The Philadelphia Historic District has completed 39 weekly Firstivals this year, with events covering topics from the first American balloon flight to the founding of the U.S. Mint. The Poe event is the 41st in the series, followed by commemorations for the first Thanksgiving parade and the first university in America in November.