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Safe upon the solid rock the ugly houses stand:
Come and see my shining palace built upon the sand!
"Second Fig," 1922

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The House at Steepletop

The house at Steepletop was built in 1892, the year Millay was born. Originally a Victorian frame design, it was transformed by Millay into a simpler, whitewashed farmhouse in the 1920s. Millay also remodeled the interiors, including a 1940s "moderne" kitchen, a gift from the Ladies Home Journal, and well-equipped bathrooms.

Although Steepletop provided rustic pleasures, Millay and her husband lived comfortably with no sacrifice of modern luxuries. As the budget permitted, servants came and went, and visitors could enjoy listening to Millay's musical talents as she played on her Steinway piano in the living room. An upstairs library houses Millay’s extensive collection of books and reference works as well as memorabilia of her tours as one of America's most popular literary speakers.

Millay reading by the fireplace in Steepletop's living room.

Millay reading by the living room fireplace at Steepletop, c. 1940's.

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@Copyright The Edna St. Vincent Millay Society. All rights reserved.
Images of Millay and Steepletop from the Vassar College Libraries Archives and Special Collections.