Site #4: South Huntington

Extra! Extra! Read all about it!

Lange might have been a visual artist, but he benefited a great deal from the consistent marketing provided to him by the editor of the local Huntington newspaper, The Long-Islander. The newspaper was originally founded in 1838 by renowned poet and writer, Walt Whitman (1819-1892), who was born just a few miles south of Huntington’s town center.

Whitman sold The Long-Islander the year after its inception and continued his work in journalism through positions with other papers. He is primarily remembered today for his innovative poetry and progressive thought. In all likelihood, Whitman and Lange never met—though one can only imagine the dialogue these two creative thinkers would have shared. How do visual artwork and creative writing offer different opportunities for expression?

Take a short trip south of Huntington to the Walt Whitman Birthplace State Historic Site, to check out where the great writer’s journey began! Snap a photo next to their printing press—can you find it?