Women’s history in America is a fascinating subject, and Merrimack Valley has some remarkable women. From early colonial times where women contributed to the war efforts in their own ways to famous authors to Mill Girls, you’ll learn that these women have influenced local history for centuries.
Women of the Revolutionary War
While many Revolutionary War history books focus on the Founding Fathers and Sons of Liberty, women still played an important role in colonial times. On the battlefield they fed soldiers and tended the wounded. Back home they raised their children to be Patriots, influenced politics, and made sure the men had a home to return to after the war was over. These might not seem like big contributions, but in a war, everyone plays a part.
You could learn a lot about the domestic roles women played and how they made a big difference to the Revolutionary War during that Liberty Ride Trolly Tour. Your guide, dressed in Colonial garb, can tell you all about the lives women led back in the 1700s and how they contributed to the war efforts.
Louisa May Alcott
One of the most famous women American authors came from Concord, Massachusetts, and her books are still beloved worldwide. Louisa May Alcott, renowned for writing Little Women and its sequel, Little Men, spent her childhood and much of her adult life in the Merrimack Valley. Herbooks are even set in the area, being heavily based on her and her sisters’ lives growing up.
For fans of this incredible writer, there are lots of places you can visit to learn more about Alcott and her classic books. You can head over to Louisa May Alcott’s Orchard House for a guided tour of Alcott’s family home and the setting of much of the early part of the book.
Harriett Lothrop
Harriett Lothrop is also a well-known author who was native to Merrimack. She wrote children’s literature under the pen name Margaret Sidney. At the time she was most well-known for “The Five Little Peppers” series. Some of the popular “Pepper” books are still in print, but her most enduring achievement is as a preservationist.
It’s thanks to Lothrop that the Merrimack Valley has several historical houses and sites that you can visit. This includes Grapevine Cottage (home of the man who developed the Concord Grape, Ephraim Wales Bull), the Tollman house in Concord’s Monument Square, one of the oldest buildings in Concord, Louisa May Alcott’s Orchard house, and The Wayside, also known at the Author’s House, as it was home to not only Lothrop but the Alcotts and Nathaniel Hawthorne.
Lowell Mill Girls
Lowell, Massachusetts is well-known for its part in the American Industrial Revolution – particularly its cotton mills. By the 1840s, the textile factories of Lowell, MA had recruited over 8,000 workers; women aged 15-35 made up nearly two-thirds of the workforce The Lowell mill girls were a big step forward for women in manufacturing, as while they were only paid half of what men in the industry were, a chance to work in a factory offered these girls unheard of financial independence for women of the time.
To learn about the lives of the Lowell mill girls, head over to Patrick J. Mogan Cultural Center. Here you’ll see a replica of a boarding house they would have lived in. As you walk around you’ll learn about what their daily lives would have been like. It’s a fascinating look back at this important part of women’s history.
Women who have made an impact on history are all around Merrimack Valley. Plan your visit around learning about them, or just pop into one of the many historical sites and museums where their lives take center stage.
