Louisa May Alcott's Orchard House

04/07/2026

Apparently, someone neglected to let Mother Nature know that April Fools' Day was last week . . .

Many thanks to Gardener Lorraine and her cheery tulips and daffodils on our doorstep for reminding us that Spring is, indeed, here!

02/25/2026

Well, Mother Nature apparently feels we haven't had enough snow . . . but undaunted, we will open at 11 am today!

02/07/2026

It's a snowy Saturday in our neck of the woods, so for the safety of our visitors and Staff, Orchard House will be CLOSED today, February 7, 2026. We will re-open as usual at 1:00 pm tomorrow, Sunday, February 8th.

Although we are unavailable for in-person cultural edification today, there's no reason not indulge in "the fifth pillar of health," as The New York Times called engaging in the arts and creativity in a recent article about enhancing personal happiness. If you are not a fan of snow, wind, and cold, why not pick up an Alcott book (or any book!), grab a hot beverage, and curl up under a warm blanket to add to your happiness quota!

01/25/2026

Do you want to build a snowman? Long before Anna, Elsa, and Olaf, there was Kate -- Hepburn, that is. 1932. Orchard House. Due to the predicted long-duration impact of Winter Storm Fern, Orchard House will be closed on Sunday & Monday, January 25th & 26th. Enjoy plenty of [safe] fun outdoors, or curl up with a favorite book and beverage, and we'll see you on Tuesday!

01/19/2026

Although the dear old House looks especially appealing in the snow, we'll need a little extra time to clear our pathways and parking areas, so we have delayed opening until noon today, Monday, January 19, 2026. We look forward to welcoming many of you this afternoon, and honor the life and works of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, a kindred spirit to the Alcotts:

"I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality. This is why right temporarily defeated is stronger than evil triumphant." (M. L. King Jr Nobel Prize acceptance speech, 1964)

11/30/2025

It's always a good day to celebrate a birth anniversary at Orchard House! When visitors on tour yesterday realized that November 29th was the natal day of not only Louisa May Alcott, but also her father, A. Bronson Alcott, they went all-in when Executive Director Jan suggested joining their voices in a very familiar tune within Mr. Alcott's Study. Feel free to show your love as well by singing along to wish a happy 193rd and 226th birthday, respectively, to Louisa and her father!

10/21/2025

Do you love Little Women, opera, and the word "free"? If so, we are delighted to offer a unique musical experience in our acoustically evocative School of Philosophy on Saturday, October 25th performed by students of Boston Conservatory at Berklee’s Graduate Opera Program!

Since its 1998 début, Mark Adamo's Little Women remains one of the most frequently performed American operas, both nationally and internationally. The one-hour program on Saturday evening will offer a vivid journey through the heart of Miss Alcott’s story, featuring selected scenes and arias linked by narration. After the performance, attendees will participate in a "Talk-Back" with members of the Boston Conservatory Opera Program—the oldest opera training program in America, and home to some of today’s most promising young artists. This past year alone, ten current students and recent alumni were winners of the Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition!

Orchard House—the very place that inspired Alcott’s timeless classic—is honored to host the fresh, exuberant voices of next generation opera stars bringing this quintessential American tale to life. We hope you will join us!

Admission is free, but donations are gratefully accepted. Space is extremely limited, and reservations are strongly urged. Doors open at 6:30 pm with general admission seating.

To reserve free tickets for this event, please visit https://www.louisamayalcott.org/little-women-opera-2025

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To find out more about Boston Conservatory or purchase tickets to the full Little Women opera performances on November 20-23, 2025 in the newly-constructed Boston Conservatory Theater, please visit https://bostonconservatory.berklee.edu/events/mark-adamo-s-little-women

04/14/2025

We love keeping busy and celebrating joyful moments, so the breaking news that Orchard House has been selected as a Yankee Magazine Editors' Pick for 2025 is the "cherry on top" of a very busy and celebratory couple of weeks around here! We are honored, proud, and delighted by the wonderful recognition Yankee Magazine has bestowed on us [yet again, said with all humility], and hope that you will make a visit to discover for yourself why and how we do what we so love to do!

And be sure to get your copy of Yankee Magazine's invaluable Travel Guide to New England - Editors' Pick edition for the lowdown on the other marvelous sites and establishments similarly recognized (on newsstands in May). Congratulations to all of the honorees, and many, many thanks once again to the amazing Kim Knox Beckius and the Yankee Magazine staff!

04/11/2025

If you couldn't join us on March 29th, Laurie O'Neill's exceptional reporting of our voting event will make you feel like you were there! Many thanks once again for all the community support and engagement on that auspicious day!

It was a radical act. And a history-making one.

04/04/2025

Keeping this vital issue in public view, Orchard House was proud to have Executive Director Jan as Louisa May Alcott, and Facilities Manager Jay as a Concord Minute Man fifer, join Thoreau and Emerson descendants along with many citizens at the Massachusetts State House on Tuesday to visit with Governor Healey and other officials.

No matter where you may live, we hope you will support protecting sites that reflect our collective heritage, history, and natural beauty. Please read the following story --
https://www.boston.com/news/politics/2025/04/03/private-jet-owners-want-6000-new-flights-over-lexington-and-concord-history-buffs-say-no-way/
-- and then consult The National Trust's 11 Most Endangered Places to find out how you can help -- https://savingplaces.org/stories/11-most-endangered-historic-places-2024

03/29/2025

It was SRO and then some at our universal suffrage event in the Concord Town House earlier this afternoon, as attendees cascaded from the balcony and stood in awe within the hallway as well! We are inordinately grateful to everyone for their support, and appreciated the thoughtful conversations that book-ended our program. The moving moment when 20 courageous women slowly made their way to the ballot box induced some tears throughout the intergenerational audience, as many reflected on how much has changed, yet how much there still is to do . . . We look forward to seeing you again in five years to celebrate the 150th anniversary!

But next up: Our "Liberty Lawn Party" during the afternoon of April 19th (1 to 5 pm). Please consult the Town of Concord website for details about all the many events that day, in addition to parking, porta-pottys, parade etiquette, and more!