The Orchard House is the place where one of the most fascinating books was written, “Little Women” by Louisa May Alcott. The book is inspired by the author and her three sisters’ experiences which unfolded in that house.
The house was bought by Louisa’s father, Bronson Alcott, in September 1857. It was a typical 18 century home in a 12 acres of land surrounded by orchard apple trees of which the house earned its name: “The Orchard House.”
The Alcott family lived in the house for 20 years and nobody would have imagined the prominence achieved to the American Literature and history. Mr Alcott was a key and influential figure in Louisa’s life; he gave her a a desk in times when it was considered inappropriate for a girl and he once said that Louisa would become the next Shakespeare! he could not be that far from the truth.
Louisa was not the only talented member of the family. Her sister May was an painter and she was sent to study art in London, Paris and Rome with the money Louisa earned by selling “Little Women.” Some paintings, pencil & drawing of Madonnas and angels produced by May are exhibited today in the Orchard House. Louisa’s father was an educator and leader of the American Transcendental movement. In 1887, Mr Alcott built the School of Philosophy adjacent to Orchard House, and it was here where he fulfilled his education reform goals and dreams. Many of his ideas are now included in school curricula such as music lessons and gym classes. Louisa’s sister Beth liked music and the melodeon in the house is a reminiscent of such skills.
Nowadays, this historic house is a museum with 80% of its original furniture and comprises a kitchen, dinning room, the study, the Parlor, May’s room, Louisa’s room, an art studio, the parent’s room and small nursery inside it. The tourist guide will regale visitors with stories and anecdotes about the Alcott Family such as the story about the cylinder pillow in the sofa in the parlor. If the pillow was in a flat position, that indicated that Louisa was in bad mood; on the other hand, a vertical position would indicate that she was in a good mood and ready to talk!
The Kitchen has a couple of interesting items that exemplifies the Alcott’s family spirit such as wood bread board that May gave to her mother in which she used pyrography on one side. A sink that Louisa bought to her mother and it’s believe that Mrs Alcott invited friends just to show them the beautiful sink, it was a big deal at that time to have a sink. Underneath the kitchen there is a water well, now glass protected, that visitors can peek at.
The Dinning Room is the place where the Alcott sisters will perform their plays. It was transformed into a “family theater.” The sisters will descend from the stairs and there was curtain in between the dinning room and the parlor where spectators would watch the play and reenactment of Shakespeare and Dickens’ scene. In this room, there is a Portrait of Louisa painted by George Peter Alexander Healy which she absolutely hated and stated that she looked like a “snarky relic from the great fire of Boston!”
The Parlor witnessed Anna’s wedding to John Bridge and it has the original certificate of marriage.
May’s Room served as the change dress room for the costume used in the plots! The room is covered with an original wall paper with white flower motive.
Louisa’s Room has the white small desk where “Little Woman” was written. Louisa loved owls and her room is full of owls ornaments. In this room, Louisa also wrote other books like “Behind the mask,” poems and hospital sketches based on her truly experiences as a nurse. An interesting fact is that Louisa shared her room with her sister Anna until she got married and while writing “Little Woman” she would keep her sister awake since she was writing for at least 14 hours a day including night time. In fact, the book was written from May to July 1868 and published in October-same year.
The Parent’s Room contains family pictures and it clearly reflects the essence of the house, Abigail May Alcott, Louisa’s mother. Mrs Alcott was considered part of the New England Royalty. Her great Aunt was Dorothy Quincy who married the Founding Father John Hancock, the first governor of Massachusetts that signed the Declaration of Independence. Inside, there is a small nursery room where toys and other children artifacts are displayed. Anna’s children, Frederick and John, lived there for a while after their dad passed away.
The Study is where Mr Alcott would welcome some literate and philosophers at that time such as Henry David Thoreau and Ralph Waldo Emerson. Louisa’s father worked as a Superintended of Schools in Concord, Massachusetts from 1859 to 1864. He was a leader of the Transcendentalist movement. It was in this studio where the first session of the School of Philosophy took place.
The Art Studio was largely used as a workshop by May. This room was discovered in 1980 and they found some of May’s sketches. Today, it’s the welcome chamber where visitors will watch an orientation video about the Orchard House and it will also display seasonal exhibits.
The Orchard house opened as a museum in 1911 and it is a register historic site.
Key Interesting Facts:
- Louisa’s parent were heavily involved in “The Women Origin Movement” and “The Slave Abolition Movement”
- Little Woman was written in 2 parts
- The four sisters in Little Women are Meg (who was in reality Anna), Beth (Beth), May (Amy) and Joe was Louisa.
- Mr Alcott used to say ” If you go up through Nature to God, you will then find what you are looking for. You can find that guidance in Nature and in your own spirit you have your direction already”
- Anna could not pronounce very well “Mother” instead she would say “marmar” or “marmi”
- May died 6 weeks after giving birth and requested that Louisa takes care of her daughter “Lulu”
- Louisa’s father taught himself to read
- Mr Alcott believed that the foundation to spiritual growth is at home during family time like meal time as an open space to have discussion and share quality time to foster children development
- Once the School of Philosophy was built, numerous people will line up in the street to attend classes
- Louisa worked as a nurse
- Louisa was a kind of feminist and was actively engaged in women’s right, dress reform and child labor legislation among others
- Louisa stated:”I’d rather be a free spinster and paddle my own canoe.” In reference to marry just for the “sake of marry”
- Louisa died on March 6, 1888 ONLY two days after her father passing.
Useful Information:
- The Museum is open year round. The house can only be accessed with a tourist guide
- Admission fee is $10 for adults, $8 for seniors and students, $5 for ages 6-17 and free for members and children <6 years old. There is a Family Rate (2 adult and 4 youth) for $25.
- Tours are given in several languages (English, Spanish, German) at least
My lessons learned from a visit to the Orchard House
-Family clearly plays a key in the children development
-Be reassured that your children will believe what you say to them….Louisa’s father believed in her….
Photo Gallery
