The Gibson House Museum

04/27/2020

How Infectious Disease Defined the American Bathroom

A fascinating history piece about how American bathroom design responded to infectious disease.
https://www.citylab.com/design/2020/04/bathroom-home-design-history-disease-hygiene-coronavirus/609745/?utm_source=All+Correspondence&utm_campaign=96fab3e15f-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2019_07_16_07_40_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_9dd4d58e37-96fab3e15f-95341517

Cholera and tuberculosis outbreaks transformed the design and technology of the home bathroom. Will Covid-19 inspire a new wave of hygiene innovation?

04/24/2020

Part 1: The Wounded Eros

Enjoy our latest blog post, a debut article by Board Member Prof. Todd Gernes, the first of a 3 part series on the life and writings of Charles Hammond Gibson.
http://thegibsonhousemuseum.blogspot.com/2020/04/part-1-wounded-eros.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+TheGibsonHouseMuseum+%28The+Gibson+House+Museum%29

This post is the first of a three-part series on the life and writings of Charles Hammond Gibson, Jr., founder of the Gibson House Museum. ...

04/24/2020

The Gibson House Museum

04/24/2020

Photo courtesy of John Woolf.

04/06/2020

The Mystery of the High-Backed Chair

An interesting glimpse into one of the research projects that our curator Meghan Gerardi Holmes has been pursuing.
http://thegibsonhousemuseum.blogspot.com/2020/04/the-mystery-of-high-backed-chair.html?utm_source=feedburner&u

Tucked into a corner of the dining room at the Gibson House sits a high-backed armchair. In 2018, long-time museum patron Robert Severy off...

04/02/2020

Today, April 2, was the scheduled date for our 2020 Benefit. With great regret we are canceling it for this year. However, our raffle is open with the drawing to be broadcast "live" on May 14 on Facebook and Instagram. Go to our website www.the gibsonhouse.org for the list of fabulous prizes and to buy tickets. And of course, watch for details about our 2021 Benefit. We look forward to welcoming you back to the museum when it is safe to reopen. Take care, everyone.

03/12/2020

We regret that we will be closed to all visitors until further notice because of the COVID-19 virus. Stay healthy, everyone!

03/09/2020

Create your own 'Little Women' itinerary in the US

The Gibson House is on the list!

Modern-day readers and viewers can create their own Little Women itinerary by visiting a few sites in Massachussets in the US.

03/05/2020

On the Occasion of the 250th Anniversary of the Boston Massacre

On the 250th anniversary of the Boston Massacre, our latest blog post by Curator Meghan Gelardi Holmes is very timely.

On March 5, 1770, a riot broke out on King Street (now State Street) in front of the Custom House in Boston. Soldiers fired into the crowd...

03/04/2020

How to get free admission in April to more than 80 New England museums

That's the Gibson House dining room in the photo (set for Christmas.) We are one of the museums with free admission on April 4 as part of this program.

More than 30 Massachusetts museums will participate in Smithsonian magazine's annual event.

02/21/2020

Don't forget: Re-Imagining Historic House Museums, a book talk by curator/scholar Ken Turino, this Wednesday, Feb. 26, 6 pm.

02/20/2020

Welcome Boston Explorers!

On our way to explore The Gibson House Museum! (Little Women was filmed there!)

02/15/2020

Due to popular demand we have added three more Little Women evenings: Wednesdays March 11, 18 and 25, 5.30. Check our events tab to sign up. Act fast!!

02/10/2020

Congratulations to Jacqueline Durran for Best Costume Design for Little Women.

02/10/2020

Fingers crossed for Florence Pugh and Saoirse Ronan and Best Picture tonight at the Oscars.

01/23/2020

Fruitlands exhibits work of artist May Alcott Nieriker

An exhibition about Alcott's painter sister May, the model for Amy March.

n her movie “Little Women,” director Greta Gerwig brings Amy March, the youngest of the four girls, more into the foreground than she was in any previous production—or in the book itself. By following the opening scene of Jo March in New York City, negotiating for a story to be accepted for pu...

01/22/2020

Wheelock Family Theatre

Turns out most people have been mispronouncing Alcott's name. Watch to find out the proper way and to get an extended tour of Orchard House with the director Jan Turnquist.

Learn more about the origin of "Little Women" from WGBH!

Little Women, the Broadway Musical JAN 31 - FEB 23. Tickets available now at: www.wheelockfamilytheatre.org/show/little-women-the-musical/

01/18/2020

Filming Saoirse Ronan in the front hall.

01/18/2020

Courtesy of Sony Pictures

01/18/2020

Jo (Saoirse Ronan) approaches the New York boarding house.

01/17/2020

Jo's New York bedroom: one of the 5th floor servants' rooms.

01/16/2020

Our wonderful Museum Administrator Michelle Marchetti Coughlin, will be giving a talk about her new book, "Penelope Winslow, Plymouth Colony's First Lady," at the Boston Athenaeum on January 28, 12-1 pm ($10, free for Athenaeum members, preregistration required www.bostonathenaeum.org). Check out her website onecolonialwomansworld.com for other appearances.

01/10/2020

Exhibition: Hannah Barrett: Transitions | Childs Gallery

In 2010 Hannah Barrett painted a series inspired by the Gibson family and collections, 'Tales from the House of Gibson,' that were exhibited at the museum for many months. Childs Gallery, 169 Newbury St, has just opened a show of Hannah's work that includes paintings and collages from this series. The Gibsons would probably not have approved but that doesn't stop us from enjoying them!

Exhibition: Hannah Barrett: Transitions | Childs Gallery | Hannah Barrett: Transitions is a retrospective mélange of works from the artist’s various series – from Secret Society to Monsters – that traces Barrett’s development as she progresses from collage to imag...

12/31/2019

Smoki Bacon, doyenne of Boston’s cultural and volunteer scenes, dies at 91 - The Boston Globe

Smoki was the honoree at our first Benefit (then a Tea) in 2003. She was a Friend of the Gibson House Museum until the end. She will be much missed in Back Bay and Beacon Hill.

Smoki Bacon, 91, who had lived in Boston’s Back Bay and Beacon Hill neighborhoods and died Dec. 27, was an “Auntie Mame” for the city’s cultural scene and volunteer community.

12/31/2019

We end 2019 on a 'Little Women' high (great reviews, box office stats) but we look forward to 2020. Watch out for our enhanced Pride and servants tours rolling out this year, as well as many other great programs. Thanks to our wonderful staff Michelle, Meghan and Barbara and all our guides, our board, and Etiquetteer. Happy New Year to all.

12/29/2019

The Massachusetts Film Office has published a brochure with a map of all the local locations for the filming of 'Little
Women.' It can be downloaded here: http://www.mafilm.org/little-women/

12/25/2019

‘Little Women’ was filmed entirely in Massachusetts. Here are the historic, picturesque locations from the movie.

Merry Christmas to all. Today the long-awaited 'Little Women' movie opens. Here is a list with pictures of all the Massachusetts locations, including the Gibson House. Let us know what you think of the film!

Filmed in 11 Massachusetts towns and cities, the new film hits theaters Christmas Day.

12/19/2019

Hollywood comes to Harvard: An interview with ‘Little Women’ director Greta Gerwig

And more Little Women: an interesting piece of Greta Gerwig and the making of the film.

Writer-director Greta Gerwig may have a slim resume as an auteur, but it’s an impressive one. With “Lady Bird,” the acclaimed indie actress stepped behind the camera and made an assured and polished directorial debut with a coming-of-age story that went on to score two Oscar nominations—for ...

12/19/2019

You Can Actually Visit These Little Women Filming Locations

https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/little-women-filming-locations-massachusetts

Little Women fans can experience the magic of the March sisters' home now by visiting some of the Massachusetts spots featured in the movie.

12/19/2019

Boston declares Wednesday ‘Little Women Day’ - The Boston Globe

Little Women Day in Boston!

City officials proclaimed Wednesday as “Little Women Day” in Boston from the staircase at the William Hickling Prescott House on Beacon Hill.

12/17/2019

Visit The Places Where ‘Little Women’ Was Filmed

The Little Women excitement continues! Read about all the local places that were locations for the film, including the Gibson House.

Few books have captured the imagination of generations of readers like Louisa May Alcott’s 1868 novel, Little Women.

12/06/2019

Thank you Carlos Soto-Chaves for creating this beautiful seasonal urn display at our front door. These are the most beautiful ever!

12/03/2019

There are lots of Little Women related events coming up.

Boston By Foot, the Boston Public Library & Sony Pictures are sponsoring a LITTLE WOMEN scavenger hunt! You can discover the many locations in Boston where the new LITTLE WOMEN theatrical release was shot. Join the hunt, post your photos to social media, and take our Louisa May Alcott's Boston walking tour on 12/15. LITTLE WOMEN opens nationwide on Christmas Day! Visit our website for all the details: https://bostonbyfoot.org/bbf-bpl-sony-pictures-sponsoring-little-women-scavenger-hunt

11/27/2019

Etiquetteer

Helpful advice from Etiquetteer.

Planning to celebrate Repeal with @Etiquetteer next week at The Gibson House Museum? Not sure what "Period attire encouraged but not required" means? Finalmente, Etiquetteer has the answers with a quick guide to Prohibition chic:

http://www.etiquetteer.com/columns/2019/11/19/drinking-in-period-style-what-to-wear-to-celebrate-repeal

11/25/2019

LITTLE WOMEN - Scavenger Hunt.pdf

See if you can identify all the locations in the Little Women movie Scavenger Hunt. The Gibson House is one of the clues and it won't be too difficult to figure out which one.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/uynrcz5339iw6mj/LITTLE%20WOMEN%20-%20Scavenger%20Hunt.pdf?dl=0
#LittleWomen #LittleWomenScavengerHunt

Shared with Dropbox

11/18/2019

This Wednesday, Nov. 20, come hear the lively and fascinating presentation about the iconic Parker House (which hosted Mark Twain, Eleanor Roosevelt, Charles Dickens, Nathaniel Hawthorne, John and Jacqueline Kennedy, and Ho Chi Minh) by the hotel's official historian Susan Wilson.

The lecture with reception is $12 for members, $15 for non-members. It will be followed by a sale and signing of Susan’s newest book, Heaven, By Hotel Standards: The History of the Omni Parker House (2019 edition). Books are $25 each, payable by cash or check.

11/14/2019

‘Little Women’ Debuts To Standing Ovation And Another Likely Date With Oscar For Greta Gerwig

We can't wait for Greta Gerwig's Little Women to be released on Christmas Day! Be sure to look for the Gibson House scenes when you go (tip: Jo's NYC boarding house.)

Skipping the festival circuit just as Bombshell did, Sony’s holiday-season gift, Little Women, was unveiled Wednesday night at a DGA Theater screening for SAG and select media, putting anothe…

11/01/2019

Thank you Robert for once again spearheading your wonderful Repeal Day celebration at the Gibson House Museum on Dec. 8, and thank you Ryan & Wood for your generosity.

Today Etiquetteer had the great pleasure of visiting Ryan & Wood, Inc., Distilleries, now in its eighth year sponsoring Etiquetteer's Repeal Day Celebration, to pick up their bright and flexible Knockabout Gin. Repeal Day will be celebrated again at The Gibson House Museum on Friday, December 6. Purchase your tickets at the link below.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/repeal-day-celebration-at-the-gibson-house-museum-tickets-78651483705

11/01/2019

Gibson House Hallowe'en. The dining room table was spread with bloody fingers, eyeballs and organs! Miss Jackie presided dramatically. Thank you Maureen O'Hara for these photos.

10/08/2019

Exciting news: the Gibson House Museum will be showcased in the upcoming "Little Women" movie, opening on Christmas Day! Based on Louisa May Alcott's beloved novel, the film was directed by Academy Award nominee Greta Gerwig ("Lady Bird") and features a star-studded cast including Meryl Streep, Laura Dern, Saoirse Ronan, Emma Watson, Timothee Chalamet, James Norton, and Chris Cooper.

Director Greta Gerwig was impressed by the Gibson House's authenticity and filmed several internal and external scenes at the museum last fall. The museum was pleased to be featured in such a high-quality project, and the cast and crew took special care to respect the museum's historic interiors.

We look forward to sharing more information and photos with you in the coming months.

09/23/2019

Visitors waiting patiently to tour the Gibson House last Saturday for Smithsonian Museums Day.

09/19/2019

Visit A Participating Museum For Free on 9/21/19

Come to the Gibson House FREE this Saturday, Sept. 21, 1-4 pm! Download 2 free passes by clicking below.

Join us for Museum Day on Saturday, September 21, 2019.

09/11/2019

Tuesday Sept. 17: Etiquetteer Robert B. Dimmick's fabulous program, 'Etiquette of the Brahmin Summer.' Don't miss it! Pre-Registration required at www.thegibsonhouse.org/events.

08/30/2019

Art New England Magazine

The Gibson House Museum is one of the museums offering this opportunity on Sept. 21.

More than 100 New England museums and cultural institutions will offer free admission on a single day in September during Smithsonian magazine’s 15th annual Museum Day!

Check out the article below to learn more about Museum Day, and a full list of New England museums and cultural institutions involved.

08/15/2019

Faking the Family Tree

The museum's latest blog post: pretensions of English aristocracy by the Gibson family.

Dining room at the Gibson House. A family crest hangs over the dining room fireplace at the Gibson House. The vivid red and gold shiel...