Last Weekend, we visited the Orchard House as a day trip and it was lovely. I had been previously when I was 17, so a very long time ago.
Orchard House was the home of Louisa May Alcott, who wrote Little Women. You're not allowed to take pictures inside, which makes sense but also is a shame. Louisa May Aclott's sister May was a talented artist. She drew all through the family home - on windowsills, doors, and fireplace covers. It's really neat to see the drawings.
You can also see the desk in Louisa May Alcott's room where the wrote Little Women, part one. Once that was published, readers begged for a second book to see if the sisters got married. She was forced to make them marry, but she knew that Jo couldn't end up with Laurie. Louisa May Alcott made up a man, similar to her father, for Jo. During the time of publication of the first book, her address was printed. Many fans showed up at the house, forcing her to find a place in Boston where she could write.
The sign outside
The House
Me in front of the house
Her father's school. Mr. Alcott was a Transcendentalist. He believed that Everyone should have an education, just not white men.
The back side of the house. The house was made up of several buildings on the property cobbled together.
A recreation of a photo from the first time I was there.
The sisters' garden
Making a wish
A lovely tree
Me on the steps
Other facts about the house:
Beth never lived in it. She died before it was ready
Louisa paid for May to travel to Europe to study art
May had a picture in the Salon, you can see that picture in the house
Besides the portraits in the house, most of the artwork is May's work
Anna (Meg in the books) was married in the house
The floors in the house slope something fierce. And the doorways are very crooked. It's a charming old house.
So many items in the house belonged to the Alcott's. It's very impressive.
There is a shocking lack of books except for in Mr. Alcott's study and Louisa May Alcott's room.
The Alcotts are buried in the local cemetery.
Because we were in Concord, we stopped by the Old North Bridge where the "shot heard round the world" was fired. It's the place where 'American' soldiers were ordered to fire upon the Redcoats.
Here's the bridge
Views from the bridge.
The bridge is NOT the original bridge. It's the seventh bridge since it was built.
The Minuteman Statue is by Daniel Chester French who had ties to the Alcott's and who created the Lincoln memorial statue.
All in all, it was a gorgeous day, just perfect for an adventure.
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