Carl Sandburg was born in Galesburg, Illinois on January 6, 1878. He lived to become a Pulitzer Prize winning poet and biographer of Abraham Lincoln, novelist, journalist, children's author, and troubador of American folk songs. He grew up in the fields of Illinois, travelled the box cars of the midwest, campaigned for the Socialist party, was film critic and Chicago advocate. Carl Sandburg's poetry expresses the hearty, earthy nature of America, finding both soft and harsh beauty amongst her people.

Sandburg died on Saturday, July 22, 1967, at his home in North Carolina. On October 1, 1967, his ashes were buried beneath "Remembrance Rock" at his birthplace in Galesburg, Illinois.

Two of Sandburg's homes are now historic sites. The Carl Sandburg State Historic Site, his boyhood home in Galesburg, is where the poet and his wife rest for the remainder of time. Contact the Carl Sandburg Historic Site Association for hours of operation and special event information. At the time of his death, Carl Sandburg lived in North Carolina. The home, named Connemara, is now a National Park with a nice bookstore containing new books and materials about the author. Write to them for ordering information.