Map of Cape Cod by Consuelo Joerns, a friend of Edward Gorey, on sale in the shop

On our first return to Cape Cod in 2008, after an interval of  29 years, I discovered The Edward Gorey House and made a visit and posted my photos here. On our last Saturday of this year’s trip, after checking out of our Airbnb in Barnstable, I made a second visit to the house.

Even if you don’t recognise Gorey’s name you will probably recognise his work. There’s a fairly detailed biographical sketch of him here on the house website. He lived at the house, at Yarmouth, Massachusetts, for the last 20 years of his life. The house is jam-packed full of his stuff and there is also a barn-full next door. Most of his collection of 25,000 books are currently being catalogued and shelved at San Diego State University. His own personal art works are in Hartford, Connecticut.

A small selection of Gorey’s books is still shelved at the house

Remember The Dubonnet Queen of Ealing Common?

And see The Scavenger Hunt below : J is for James who took lye by mistake

A corner of Gorey’s kitchen

And there’s U is for Una who slipped down a drain.

These Cabinets of Curiosities seem to turn up everywhere this year

Edward Gorey never threw a ticket away

Note also the Scavenger Hunt and pencil.

Author Gorey’s own works

For younger visitors the curators of the house have devised a Scavenger Hunt for the Gashlycrumb Tinies. (See the tickets vitrine above) Well, it’s not really just for children. Anyone can join in.

I spotted :

A is for Amy who fell down the stairs

G is for George smothered under a rug

Edward Gorey House is for everyone!