Orchard House
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Orchard House | |
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| (U.S. National Historic Landmark) | |
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| Location: | Concord, Massachusetts |
| Coordinates: | Coordinates: |
| Built/Founded: | 1857 |
| Designated as NHL: | December 29, 1962 |
| Added to NRHP: | October 15, 1966 |
| NRHP Reference#: | 66000781 [1] |
| Governing body: | Private |
Orchard House is a house and museum located in Concord, Massachusetts. It was the longtime home of Bronson Alcott and family, including Louisa May Alcott who based Little Women on her family's life within the house.
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[edit] History
Bronson Alcott purchased the property in 1858, which then included two early eighteenth century houses on 12 acres of apple trees. He moved the smaller house to adjoin the rear of the main house, making a single larger structure in which the family lived until 1877. It was during this time in 1868 Louisa May Alcott wrote her classic novel Little Women while living in Orchard House. The novel is set within the house, and its characters are loosely based on members of her family.
Orchard House School, a prominent all-girls' school in Richmond, Virginia is named after the house.
[edit] Tourism
There have been no major structural changes since the Alcotts' day. About 75% of the furnishings belonged to the family, and the rooms look very much as they did when the Alcotts were in residence.
In the back yard to the left is the lecture hall built by Bronson Alcott known as "The Concord School of Philosophy." In the summer, the Orchard house frequently hosts lectures there.
Orchard House is open daily except for major holidays and January 1-15. An admission fee is charged.
[edit] Architecture
The Orchard House is located on the historical Lexington road also known as the Minuteman National Park. It is a perfect example of Victorian architecture. Family conversations about abolitionism, women's suffrage and social reform were often held around the dining room table. The Alcotts were vegetarians and harvested fruits and vegetables from the gardens and orchards found on the 12 acres of property. Family china, portraits of Elizabeth and Louisa, and paintings by May are displayed along with period furnishings.
The Alcotts performed theatricals using the dining room as their stage while guests watched from the adjoining parlor. The May Family Parlor was a formal room, is decorated with period wallpaper and a patterned reproduction carpet. Arched niches were built by Mr. Alcott to display busts of his favorite philosophers, Socrates and Plato. Family portraits of Mr. and Mrs. Alcott and watercolors by May Alcott adorn the walls. On May 23, 1860, Anna Alcott was married to John Bridge Pratt beneath an arbor in this room. Mrs. Alcott, Louisa, Anna and May prepared and preserved food, and washed and ironed laundry in the Alcott kitchen.Mrs. Alcott's bread board, mortar and pestle, tin spice chest and wooden bowls are displayed on the Hutch table and countertops. In the study, Mr. Alcott's books filled the shelves and the room was furnished with its library table, chair and desk. Louisa's father built her a half-moon desk between two windows and a bookcase to hold her favorite books in her room. May painted a panel of Calla lilies beside the desk and an owl on the fireplace of her chamber.
May Alcott, the youngest and the model for Amy March, was a talented artist. Her blue and gray bedroom is the most preserved room in the house. It contains sketches of angelic, mythological and biblical figures on the woodwork and doors, original wallpaper, and bracketed shelves to hold flower vases. The master bedroom i.e. the parent's room reflected Mrs. Alcott's taste and contained many of her possessions, among them: family photographs, furniture, and hand-made quilts in the 'flying geese' pattern.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ National Register Information System. National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service (2007-01-23).
[edit] External links
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