What Is Orchard House?
This was the home of the Alcott Family from 1857 until 1877!
What Makes It Historical?
To Amos Bronson Alcott, apples were the most perfect fruit in the world, so after thirty years of jumping from place to place (like the Wayside), while pursued by creditors, he found a house for his family surrounded by 40 apple trees and bought it for $945 (about $33,419 today). This, he called Orchard House for obvious reasons! Here in Concord, this Transcendentalist teacher finally found his niche with neighbors like Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau, and he was Superintendent of Schools in Concord fom 1859 until 1864!
Of the four Alcott daughters, it was the second oldest, Louisa May, who went on to greatest fame and fortune, by design. After growing up poor and moving around so much, she was determined to undo her family’s hardships and became a prolific writer. She mostly wrote from her own experience, like when she was a nurse in Washington, DC, during the Civil War, sometimes writing under the pen name A. M. Barnard.
But it was under her real name that she wrote Little Women in this house, basing the story on her own coming of age here in Concord! A two-parter, Little Women follows four sisters as they grow from childhood into adulthood, with their conflicting goals and personalities. It was a surprise success! Ms. Alcott wrote 19 novels and dozens of short stories! She was also the first woman in Concord to vote and would go on to co-found the Women’s Educational and Industrial Union in Boston!
How Can I #HelpTheHelpers?
- Volunteer at Orchard House!
- Donate to Orchard House!
- Be a responsible visitor! Please respect the signs and pathways, and treat all structures and artifacts with respect. They’ve endured a lot to survive into the present. They’ll need our help to make it into the future!
How Do I Get There?
399 Lexington Rd
Concord, MA 01742
(Take Me There!)
When Should I Visit?
Orchard House is open to guests by appointment only!
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