The Edwin Markham House

A historical San José landmark, The Edwin Markham House is a Victorian home where the famous poet Edwin Markham lived in the late 1800s. The house was moved from its original site on Eighth Street across from the San José State University campus to the grounds of History Park. On Country Lane, this historic building is now the headquarters of Poetry Center San José. The newly refurbished home was dedicated in 2002 with a ceremony led by Dana Gioia, chair of the National Endowment for the Arts; Bay Area poets Jack and Adelle Foley, and Francico X. Alarcon, California Poet Laureate nominee. The Markham House was the center for an all-day Festival of Poetry at History Park.

Each month, Markham House serves as a gathering place for our local writing community. One highlight is Poets@Play, a monthly creative writing workshop led by former Santa Clara County Poet Laureate, David Perez. Most sessions feature a guest facilitator who brings a unique perspective on poetry, guiding hands-on exercises designed to spark creativity and fresh ideas. The House is also open additional days each month for visitors to learn more about Markham, peruse our library, or enjoy some quiet writing time.

March 2025 Markham House open hours are as follows:

Sun. 4/19: 1:00-3:00 pm 

• Poets@Play Creative Writing Workshop with Jose Jimenez

Sat. 4/20: 11:00-2:00 pm

• Open House and Naomi Clark Library

Sun. 4/26: 11:00-2:00 pm

• Open House and Naomi Clark Library

  (Note: May incur a parking fee due to Bay Area Printers’ Fair & Wayzgoose, a free event.)

The Markham House Libraries

The Edwin Markham House contains a collection of poetry books, now over two thousand donated, along with anthologies, reference books, and small press publications. The library is located on the second floor, which also has a reading/writing room equipped with a copier. Downstairs, a resource room contains Markham’s original bookcase, now holding poetry books for children. 

Our catalogue of books is online and can be accessed by visiting The Naomi Clark Library through LibraryThing. The children’s library was made possible by a grant from Air Systems Foundation, Inc. Both libraries are open to book donations; we ask that you go through your own library and set aside what you can spare. We are particularly interested in California poets and readers who have appeared at Poetry Center San José in past years. The Yuki Teikei Haiku Society library and archives are also housed here.

PCSJ members can now check out books from the library. To do so, they must visit during our open hours, which will be updated on this page during the first week of each month (see open hours above).

Not a member yet? Join here. Have questions about Markham House or the Naomi Clark Library? Email us at poetsatplay@pcsj.org. 

The Edwin Markham Exhibit

History San José CEO and curator Alida Bray has installed a display of artifacts that includes Markham's poems, his cane, The Lark first edition of his poetry, and a 1920s miniature book. The display highlights Markham’s career and his place in the annals of poetry. In the entry parlor is an original signed copy of Markham’s world-renowned poem, “The Man with the Hoe,” which was inspired by Jean-Francois Millet’s painting of the peasant in his deep abyss of labor. Another framed photograph pictures his good friends Jack London, Joaquin Miller, and Ina Coolbrith. Shawn McAllister of Florida has willed his collection of Markham artifacts to History San José and to PCSJ, feeling that it has found a home at History Park.

The Building and Grounds

History San José is the primary caretaker of the Edwin Markham House. Our Markham House chair, David Perez, oversees the use of the house. The Markham House garden, designed by Middlebrook Gardens, was planted and mulched the first of 2009 thanks to an army of volunteers that donated, along with the Compton Foundation, funds for the plants, turning the garden into a native plant haven. PCSJ’s membership in the California Native Plant Foundation has made this possible.

The grounds that encompass History Park are used for tours, concerts, picnics, parties and Family Days. Poetry Center San José participates throughout the summer, engaging children in poetry activities. The Empire Firehouse is also available for PCSJ's use for readings and events. The Museum Store and O’Brien’s ice cream parlor and soda fountain are open Tuesday through Sunday from 11am to 4pm. Visit History Park

Volunteers Needed

Poetry Center San José could not exist without volunteers. PCSJ is seeking volunteers to help at Markham House. If you are interested in volunteering, please email us at volunteer@pcsj.org.