Rowan Oak

The parking area is gravel and the walkway to house is dirt so may be muddy when wet. Entrance fee is $5. This is a great place to visit if in Oxford, MS. William Faulkner was born in New Albany, MS which is where the Tanglefoot Trail (43.5 miles long and starts in Houston, MS) ends. His family moved to Oxford when he was 5 years old. There are several videos posted of Rachel giving brief history of Faulkner and the house etc. Faulkner purchased the primitive Greek revival house “The Bailey Place” in 1930 on 4 acres from Colonel Robert Sheegog and Irish immigrant planter from TN. He built the house in 1840. The house is currently owned by the University of Mississippi. When Mrs. Faulkner died their daughter Jill sold it to the U of M. Faulkner renamed the house “Rowan Oak” in 1931 after the rowan tree, a symbol of security and peace. This was his private world and he was fascinated with its history. He won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1949 and the Pulitzer Prize and National Book in 1954 for A Fable. He loved horses and has stable behind house. He was injured while riding which lead to him being addicted to alcohol and eventually his early death. I loved the house and the gallery upstairs. He built the servant quarters for his mammy who also took care of his daughter when she was 93?? Her funeral was held in their parlor so she was more like family. Don’t forget to visit Faulkner’s Alley that’s located downtown. I highly recommend visiting Rowan Oak!!

I didn't know much about William Faulkner before visiting, and I heavily enjoyed coming here. It's a gorgeous estate, especially the cedar-lined walkway leading up to the house. Inside you'll see all the rooms decorated as they would've been when Faulkner lived in the house. I personally loved his way of scribbling phone numbers on the wall. If you're in Oxford, don't miss out on this!

Neat and unique piece of Mississippi and Oxford history. Faulkner’s home. His handwriting is on several of the interior walls and evokes vibes of Walter Anderson. Home has been preserved and is set up as to how the home appeared when he resided there. It’s in the heart of Oxford as well.

I admit I've never read Faulkner. So I watched a couple biographical videos the night before visiting Rowan Oak. That helped me understand the man whose home I was visiting. The exhibits give you plenty of general background as well as detailed insights into the man and his works. Rowan Oak feels less like a National Park site where everything is roped off and "Don't touch", and more like old home that is currently being preserved. You can walk on the patio and in the garden walks and imagine Faulker retreating there for some quiet to think and write. We stayed near the square in Oxford, so the cemetery where Faulkner is buried was just a short walk away and was worth a visit.

Enjoyed my impromptu visit on a warm spring day!!! Beautiful architecture, grounds, antiques & a very interesting presentation of Faulkner. Hope to get back in the fall. Friendly people there also!

A little more than an hour drive southeast of Memphis, Rowan Oak was the home of William Faulkner, one of the United States greatest authors, winner of both the Nobel Prize and a Pulitzer, for more than 30 years, from 1930 until his death in 1962. The house is now a museum and is open to the public for tours. You can tour the entire house and grounds and there is a very helpful and knowledgeable guide available to answer questions. The house also contains various interesting manuscripts and memorabilia. You can even use the bathroom which the man himself used. William Faulkner wrote many of his most famous works at Rowan Oak, including, As I Lay Dying, Absalom, Absalom!, Light in August and Sound and the Fury. The house is owned and managed by the University of Mississippi and could use a little TLC from the school (who reportedly pay the head football coach $9.0 million a year – so there is money available if the cause is deemed worthwhile.)

We visited after a rainy night, so the main parking lot was closed. So the parking was very tight. I loved the walk up to the house from the street. Rowan Oak is the home of William Faulkner. If you're looking for fancy, you won't find it here, but it's a wonderful look of how he and his family lived. It is well maintained and the staff was very friendly and helpful and we're willing to answer any questions you would ask.

The William Faulkner Rowan Oak is a must-see place if you are ever in the Oxford, MS area. Even if you have never read a Faulkner book, you will appreciate learning how he lived. This place just "feels like him." The tours are only $5 per person. The self guided tour is well worth the time and effort. Plan on spending at least an hour here looking around. On a down note, I'm disappointed that the University of Mississippi that owns the house and grounds has not put more money into the upkeep and restroration. Several wooden fences are down, and several of the outhouses need work to keep them from falling in.