"It was a comfortable room, though the carpet was faded and the furniture very plain, for a good picture or two hung on the walls, books filled the recesses, chrysanthemums and Christmas roses bloomed in the windows, and a pleasant atmosphere of home peace pervaded it." -- Little Women
Louisa May Alcott not only wrote Little Women while she lived in this charming home known as "Orchard House" in 1868, she also set her semi-autobiographical story here as well.
Located in the historic town of Concord, Massachusetts, Orchard House is open to visitors year-round. Fans of the March family can enjoy guided tours of the very rooms in which Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy lived, laughed and loved, and can gain fascinating insight into the progressive Alcott family as well.
Louisa May Alcott was born in 1832 in Pennsylvania, and her Transcendentalist parents moved the family 22 times in 30 years in their search for the "utopia" that their philosophy bid them to find.
The family finally settled at Orchard House for two decades, establishing the house in Louisa's mind as her true home and the site of all her best memories.
The house, built in the 1600s, is furnished with the Alcott's original possessions, and tours illuminate not only Louisa's life and career, but those of her unique family as well. Louisa's father, Amos Alcott, was a well-known transcendental philosopher and social reformer, while her mother, Abigail Alcott, was one of the first paid social workers in Boston.
Louisa's sisters, Anna, Elizabeth and Abba May inspired the characters in Little Women of Meg, Beth and Amy, and of course Louisa herself is Jo. Artifacts from all the family members are available to view at Orchard House, as well as the stunning Little Women Garden featuring special beds themed to each sister.
This charming museum is open every day, year-round, with the exception of Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day. Check their website for the current hours, and be sure to buy a timed entry ticket ahead of time.
Adult tickets are $12, seniors and college students are $10, children over six are $5, and children under six are free.
Keep an eye on the Orchard House website for fun events to return after the pandemic restrictions are lifted!
"I'll Never Tell" Blank Journal
LOVE it. I did not know this is a place you can visit! It is now on my list of places I wish to go.
This would be so wonderful to visit. I came here from Senoir Salon
I'm kind of surprised I never made the trip! I did a few reports on Alcott and her works when I was in high school. I knew she was from New England too but I never thought of seeing if she had a home to tour.