“I don’t like to doze by the fire. I like adventures, and I’m going to find some.”
Do you ever feel like Jo March, at least in this sentiment? While many of love fall and the shift to colder weather, there can be times where we end up feeling a little stuffed away in our homes. Dozing by the fire is all well and good occasionally, but sometimes we need a bit more adventure in our lives.
If you are a lover of Little Women the book and the recent 2019 movie, this post is for you. Even if you weren’t a fan of the newest edition and still prefer Winona Ryder’s performance as Jo March, this post is still for you too. Because as much as we may love a film version of Little Women more than another, the 2019 movie is the version which was filmed mostly in Massachusetts.
As this Boston.com article: “Despite this storied history, none of the numerous adaptations of Alcott’s novel used Massachusetts as a primary filming location until Greta Gerwig arrived in 2018 to film “Little Women.”
So let’s go on an adventure and visit the locations throughout the Merrimack Valley where this gorgeous movie was filmed.
The Old Manse
269 Monument St, Concord, MA 01742
This “handsome Georgian clapboard built on the banks of the Concord River in 1770” was originally built for Ralph Waldo Emerson’s grandfather. This home eventually became a spot for the local literary community. Nathaniel Hawthorne and his wife, Sophia, began their marriage while living in the home and Henry David Thoreau planted a vegetable garden in honor of them.
Old Manse is open to the public! You can sign up for a tour time and learn all about the history of Old Manse.
The Orchard House
399 Lexington Road, Concord, MA 01742
To see the exact spot where Louisa May Alcott wrote her literary classic: you’ll need to visit the Orchard House.
The Orchard House earned its name with the over 40 apple trees spread out along the land. “After moving more than twenty times in nearly thirty years, the Alcotts had finally found their anchoring place at Orchard House, where they lived until 1877.”
The Orchard House is open weekdays and on Saturdays from 10 am to 5 pm. They are also open on Sundays from 11 am to 5 pm. Not able to physically visit? Virtual tours are also available.
Harvard Town Hall
In the movie, Harvard Town Hall makes an appearance. Harvard is a well preserved rural community. With a history stretching back to 1732, it’s no wonder this town is a must see. This small town offers a number of festivities and events which are practically tradition. The Harvard Town Hall is still in use, but with its tall steeple and gorgeous exterior, just a few pictures of the outside will be wonderful. If you do have some town hall business (or would just like to peek inside) they’re Monday – Thursday: 8:00am – 4:30pm
While you’re in Harvard, MA, you can also stop by the Fruitlands Museum House which was also a home of the Alcotts for a number of years.
Up for even more Little Women inspired adventure? Check out this brochure of all the Massachusetts locations where filming occurred. It includes Boston, Concord, Harvard, and many others.
