Reviews of Louisa May Alcott's Orchard House (Museum)

Joanne Sheehan

I loved the artifacts- most being original. Room decor were fascinating. Art work was beautiful. Tour guide was pleasant and well versed. 15 minute video explained so much more.

Ann J. Adams

Worth the stop! The Orchard House has a great tour, although the introduction video is a bit hokey, the tour itself is great! Lots of detail, the house is very interesting and the grounds are beautiful! It's also very close to town, so if …

Bob Frank

Wonderful to be in the actual home where the story of Little Women was written by Louisa May Alcott. Our guide Kilo was very knowledgeable about each of the rooms within the house. The bookshop was very well laid out with lots of items to take home as a souvenir of this historical place.

Oren Vardy

Great visit . Well explained

Aurora Vintilescu

We did the tour with the guide and it was all so worth it. Our guide was very knowledgeable and entertaining. We only went because one of our friends was a big fan as “Little Women” growing up, but even without the prior knowledge, I still enjoyed learning about the Alcott family. Recommended if in the area.

Julia Roark

Wonderful tour for Louisa May Alcott fans. It's a little hard to get to, but the signage is helpful and the setting is spectacular.

Joseph Montagna

Writer's family life

William B

Great tour and video. The staff are enthusiastic about their topics.

Eric Olson

We went on a tour with Barb and it was fantastic. She was so knowledgeable and friendly. We visited with our 11 year old daughter and she found it equally as interesting as we did which shows how the talk was pitched at just the right level. The house was fascinating and very well preserved. The only downside is that you aren't allowed to take any pictures in the house. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend a visit.

Sarah Kramer

Lovely visit with a brief video and guided tour, a nice walk from the Concord station on the Commuter Rail. I recommend especially for those with kids 5+

Jan Gibes

Loved her books, and I really enjoyed the tour. Well worth seeing.

Jayden Elliott

Interesting history, but the video presentation was pretty old and junky, and the gift shop where you have to wait for tours gets very cramped with lots of people.

Patrick Coffey

Very very interesting and historic. I took a tour of the Louisa May Alcott Orchard house and it was well worth the time and money. 100% recommend to visitors like myself.

J O

Beautiful! Like walking into history. Like being in the 1800

Betsy Hurley

We had an awesome time taking the tour here! They show you a short video on the house in a small room and then they take you on a walking tour through the house which was very interesting. The house is gorgeous as well the surrounding area. They also have a small gift store.

Luanne Monahan

So interesting & I learned so much! Now I need to go back and read Little Women again with a new perspective.

Rebecca Propst

Great tour!

Diane Orlando

Was pleasantly surprised. Tour was interesting and inspiring

Eric Frandsen

Great tour with amazing history even if you've never read little women. Our tour guide was amazing and a pleasure to be with.

Kaylee Blechinger

Orchard house is place that any Little Women fan should go visit, or anyone who has a love for American literature. The home is filled with many artifacts and items original to the Alcott family, which was amazing. I would highly recommend going to the house museum. Guides are very informative and are passionate about the history they present.

Mother Pelagia

A beautiful and well-preserved house - all the guides are so friendly and knowledgeable- we have been many times and returned with different friends and family - each time and each tour have been very special. A very special place to visit for anyone who love Little Women (or history)

Rhonda Cleary

Was a wonderful tour with some very interesting facts.

Joy Jarvis

This house was lovely and wonderfully kept. There are so many historical pieces in the house that have been preserved, I've never seen anything quite like it. A very worth while stop if you're in the area or a destination if you're looking for a day trip.

Margaret Lapin

A great historic home with excellent tours! It's open year round and a must see with something for everyone.

Dave DeRhodes

I didn't expect to like this thinking it'd be totally girly. I ended up enjoying it very much and appreciated the awesome guide Kathy (sp?).

Enid Atuheire Kabaswaza

Very beautiful place with all the family history & belongings.

S S

An interesting tour. 7 rooms included. As with an older home, many rooms were small and I was frustrated that they allowed my tour group to balloon from 10 to 18, 15 minutes after it began, instead of holding the stragglers for the next …

Greg Wurz

Neat sense of history. Learned a lot about the Alcott's and their lives. They had a lot of original items that belonged to the family. Only one small bathroom, so go before you get there.

Karen Audet

Always a treat to visit historical homes especially during celebrations! This is my second visit and I truly enjoyed it plus I brought my Aunts this time. They are in their seventies and had never been.

Andrea Lloyd

Staff is very knowledgeable. I would suggest being familiar with Little Women to get a "full experience," but I haven't read it but still enjoyed it.

Diana Koulalis-Karatza

It's peaceful, historic, and a wonderful experience. Plus, the day of my visit was the 150th anniversary of the publication of Little Women. what better day to visit?

Ali Hanyaloglu

The cultural impact that Little Women has had around the world is profound. You will be taken back in time to the family behind it all. Not only educational, but thoroughly enlightening and enjoyable. If you have ever read the book or watched a movie it is especially well worth a visit.

Jeremiah Dowling

It was really cool getting to visit this house! Not only is it the inspiration for 'Little Women' but being able to walk through it and hear about the lives of those who each character was based after was really cool!

Nathan Phillips

My wife wanted to go and she enjoyed it, so that's a win.

Rebekah Elkins

Loved the tour and got emotional in Bronson Alcott's study where so many inspirational men met. Do wish the tour group would have been smaller. They kept waiting and adding more and more people; a family of 6 joined and kinda ruined the tour for the rest of us: kids slamming into 100+ year-old furniture, stomping their feet, and talking over the guide. Our guide (Samantha, maybe?) seemed very scripted but was nice and answered our questions well. The lady at the counter, on the other hand, was more cold and off-putting. Maybe just a rough day... Regardless, lovers of literature and philosophy should definitely go to the Orchard House.

Princess Sparkle

So disappointed! We were ignored because a bus tour was supposed to arrive in half an hour and we weren't able to get a tour of the house or even invited to watch the free movie that they showed to other guests. Talk about feeling invisible! It was like I stepped back in time because of the treatment. That was historical accurate though.

Sudip bandyopadhyay

Great initiative to preserve a part of local history

Robin Luca

An unexpected delight! Informative tour...a must see for all!

Andrew J

This is the house where little women took place. It was semi-autobiographical. Very interesting seeing the house 80% as it was when Louisa May Alcott was alive. Intelligent tour guides who are passionate about the history.

Nana Nash, M.A.

Incredible knowledgeable staff at the Alcott Home for wonderful tours. Learned she was a Classic Writer whose father was also a philosopher/great thinker. Beautifully preserved home for all to visit. History still relevant today. Can't wait to go back. Bookshop has translations as well as diaries/European journals and books Alcott's mother wrote. Rennaissance family.

Frances Parker

Like walking back in time. I've taken every little girl who was willing to visit with me. A strong, powerful message for young women everywhere.

Van Gulledge

Amazing museum! Well put together and engaging for all. Staff is freindly and helpful and willing to answer any questions they can

Lydia Poe

The tour was very nice, and it was easy to imagine the four March sisters living here!

Kathleen Steingraber

Enjoyed seeing what I had read about. Great tour.

Sandy Smith

Interesting Tour. Sagging house. The Alcotts were influential and connected people. It is intriguing to see how little the desk is on which Louisa wrote "Little Women". Little little little. Her father's school of Philosophy is next door to the orchard house.

Allison Brown ArtDesign

Seeing this house in person is something I won't forget. Very special for me.

Nissa Greenquist

My favorite literary site. You can picture her writing Little Women at her desk. And May's drawings on the walls!

Vicky Oliver

Was a fun place to visit.

Sharon McCann

History. A famous female author who first had to write under a man's name in order to be published.

Cecelia CHANDLER

Enjoyed the tour. Made me go home and rewatch the movie.

Hanan Abdallah

Went there 2 days in a row. I absolutely loved it

Ava Carmichael

Wonderful experience! A must see for any literary or Alcott fans! The art remaining on the walls was worth seeing alone!

Leah Shaklee

Very lovely. Guides are quite knowledgeable about the time period and house.

Sharon McCoy

Awesome piece of history

Jeffrey Brigham

Wonderful guide, with interesting facts about the Alcott family. Most of the furnishings are authentic to the house.

Karen Dancy

Still gives me chills. To see the desk she actually wrote at was so inspiring.

Anna Correa

I had a wonderful time here and it was so awesome to see the desk where it all happened. The tour cost is a small price to pay for the experience and knowing that the money goes right back to the house and upkeep is heartwarming. If you can... go to the Concord Free Library where you can see the original manuscripts!

Ruth H Jones

Very informational... So many books...so little time :-)

Larry Hopper

Knowledgeable, friendly, helpful, dedicated staff who clearly love their work. Knowing that most of the house's contents were owned by and some even made by the Alcotts makes the tour even better. Orchard House is a must-see for Louisa May Alcott fans.

Marcio Dossantos

I read the book and it is such a lovely place to see in person.

Nichole Nelson

In depth hour long tour by knowledgeable docent. Well worth the admission.

Amanda Lausen

Informative and interesting tour. Great information from the guide and gift shop about other things to do in the area as well.

Russell Fogg

Very interesting! The house purchased in 1857 by the Alcott's, built in 1672. See how they lived, they were Transcendentalist movement. Located on the Battlefield Rd. The tour was very informative, given by knowledgeable, caring presenters. …

B Jasper

A great visit to the past. Excellent guided tour. Learned a lot and thoroughly enjoyed it. Nice gift shop with great options to remember the visit.

Barbara Bolich

You need to schedule the 45 min tour ahead of time. Grounds and gift shop are lovely. Will go back someday when we have more time. Staff were lovely.

Scarlett DeShong

Informative and inspiring to be in the Alcott's house, the entire family is very interesting!

Thad Reddick

Very good tour with nice guides

J Dalke

For those who read and loved Little Women, this is a must see. The tour of the home where she wrote and lived was so well done. The gift shop was also filled with so many beautiful items.

Sundararajan Sankaranarayanan

Fun fact: Alcott family was vegan. Learn about the family from one of the helpful to guides and marvel at the family's legacy in American history.

Renee Baldini

Cool history

Amy Sluss

Great tour! Great house. Loved every minute of it.

Bob Brooks

I visited The Orchard House on 12/18/16 with a ten year old girl who had done a small school project on Louise May Alcott. She brought the doll she had made with her Grandmother that was the likeness of Louise May. The staff was unbelievable to us both. We were transformed back in time to Louise's day. The education and realness was unique. Our little girl was allowed to bring her doll in privately to show and have pictures taken with the woman who portrayed Louise May. It was awesome and something I hope she will never forget. I hope we get the pictures soon. Thank you especially to Lis and the rest of the staff as well as the re-enactors for their time and professionalism. We will come back again with other family members next year. MERRY CHRISTMAS Bobby Brooks Leicester, MA

Kari Lundin

Great even if you haven't read the book or seen the movie "Little Women". Truly passionate tour guides who love their subject. Amazing to learn the influence one family had on American history (Louisa wasn't the only accomplished Alcott), and the influence of Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau not only on spirituality and literature, but how they helped shape and change the destinies of the Alcott family's life.

LDS areyouldsalso

This can be a quick visit. There is plenty of parking. It was very informative. I don't think kids would enjoy it too much

Joanne Carter

I love historical homes, especially ones that still contain original furniture.

Dorothy Sieradzki

I finally visited this site of my favorite book, Little Women. Not far is the Minute Man National Park and the Old Manse. Concord, so close, why did it take so long to get there?

roxanne harmon

If you're a fan of the books or American history it's worth a visit. The house is full of artifacts owned by the Alcott family.

John Jones

If you know even a little bit about the Alcott family, you will not be disappointed. The guided tour is excellent.

Pete Darnell

She was the JK Rowling of her day!

Penny McGhee

I'm a Little Women fan and this was great.

Bob Torre

Great tour guide, a must to visit...

Sharon R

Simply Googled information about this place oh, I've never been there, yet!

Emily Ransom

What a beautiful stop! Please make the time to visit Orchard House!

Patricia Peters

Beautifully kept up house with very kind and knowledgeable staff to help bring alive the life and times of such an influential author

Kathryn Vaggalis

Beautiful house and wonderful tour. Enjoyed learning more about one of my childhood heroes and how her life is reflected in her writings. Was very touched learning about her relationship with her sisters and seeing their art and even the desk Alcott wrote Little Women at. Nice gift shop. Such a great experience.

Veronica Bartley

So happy to visit this site which was so important to me as a young girl reading Little Women.

Kristin Bass

This is a fascinating historical home. Louisa May Alcott's name may draw you in, but you'll leave appreciating the talents and contributions of the entire Alcott family. I won't spoil anything in this review, but rest assured that there's more to Orchard House than Little Women. Visiting the house requires a tour. It's easier to get on a tour than I was expecting. The staff just wait until enough people (maybe 6-10) have assembled, and then they take the group through the house. The tour takes about 45 minutes, including a 15 minute introductory video. Our guide was excellent. She was very knowledgeable and a fabulous storyteller. The Alcotts would have been very pleased!

nicole v11

The tour guide did a great job going through the history of the Alcotts. It would have been nice had she allowed us more time to explore each of the rooms.

Fred

Our guide was very enthusiastic and very knowledgeable about the history of the family. I had a great learning experience

Theo Pfeiffer

Like walking through Little Women, a true member if the Little Women fan club will LOVE it!

Brian Cary

A very good tour by very knowledgeable people who are passionate about the Alcott story. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Elizabeth Barron

The staff is lovely and the tour was wonderful!

Gary Habegger

My wife loved the whole experience. I guide was awesome.

laurie LaurieG

Has much of the original furnishings, including the desk where LMA wrote Little Women. Guide was very knowledgeable and interesting

Marissa Taylor

We had an outstanding tour of the house with a knowledgeable guide. Learned all about it's inhabitants and the neighborhood. Highly, highly recommend.

Robert Hollstein

Open house tour was Excelent. Being a former surveyor look for map showing the property boundary with the limited bearing ( in degrees no minutes or seconds) and distant measures in Rods not Chains or feet. Clue it's in the kitchen. I would love to have taken a photo but it is not allowed in the home do to the historic and advanced age of the furnishings, everything is original and from the 1840's +/-.

Emmaline Wilson

Wish I had more time, but fascinating to learn about the Alcott family and experience some of "Little Women" in real life

Lee Chad Farris

We go every year for their Christmas program. The tour is lead by members of the Alcott family , including Louisa herself. Each room of the house has an Alcott to introduce themselves to you and explain information about their family's life, Orchard House, and speak about Little Women. You step back in time and they treat you as if you were one of their contemporaries stopping by to visit. Advanced tickets can be bought online and are highly recommended, especially for the Christmas program which is held on four days in December. If you buy advanced tickets you are offered a 10% off coupon to use that day in their gift shop. Many of Alcott's books and books about her work are available. Some period toys that the Alcott sisters would have been familiar with, as well as post cards and magnets. A personal favorite must-have treat is the package of heart-shaped shortbread cookies baked locally. We leave with a package for each of our family members. They have become part of our Orchard House tradition.

Evan Magnusson

The tour is very interesting, but get ready for a lot of standing.

紀奕廷

Its character is interest , philosophic and instructing.

Sylvia Corfman

Enjoyed touring Louisa May Alcott's gamily home for the last 20ish years of her life. The docents were very knowledgeable offering many details of the daily life of Louisa, her writing and family. Well worth the trip!

fred parker

If it made my lady very happy then I was happy

Mary M

Really great tour here! You learn a ton about Louisa, her family, the history and beliefs of the era, and more. Really interesting even if you've never read the book (like me)!

Carol Eltoft

Priceless ❤️ tour of he home. Excellent tour guide. Loved everything about it, just wish I could take a picture inside.

scott muehlmann

If you are into Louisa May Alcott you will love this place.if you pay for the tour, there is a little video they show you and then walk you around the old house. The tour guides seemed fairly knowledgeable. Parking is limited.

Nelly

Amazing tour, really knowledgeable tour guide. It was a pleasant visit.

Linda Hammaker

Informed guide, interesting history about her and her immediate family.

Denise Sarnie

Loved the tour. The guide was very Knowledgeable. I will go again in rhe spring to tour the gardens.

Dale Brewer

Very friendly staff. A great time in our history. Our tour guide Beth made it come to life. Wonderful experience for me and my granddaughter and my cousins. If I could rate it 10 I would

Evie Conkling

Guided tours of the whole house including upstairs, with detailed explanations of the home & family. 85% of the furnishings are original, including many art works by Louisa's youngest sister. The reasonable admission fee supports maintenance of the property.

Ralph Godfrey

It's a fun visit, well worth the money. The collection of family artifacts is quite impressive. Also, awesome air conditioning!

Brian Moran

Nothing spectacular. We also went to the cemetary down the road where she is buried. That was more interesting. In one section they had Emerson, Thoreau, Hawthorne, and Alcott.

E Doss

I had an excellent experience at the Alcott house. Parking was easy, our guide was passionate about the Alcotts and really knew her stuff. Thank you!

Rebekah Farnsworth

Knowledgeable staff and reasonable gift shop prices. Good place for older kids. Little ones might be a little more difficult because there is a lot of "off limits" things within reach.

Barbara Richards

Lovely experiance

Tammie Young

Lovely time period dressed hosts gave us a most delightful day in December 10 years after Louise wrote her book. Loved walking back into history.

Jeremy Klein

A stunning rich piece of American history!

Aaron Calkins

Went for the Christmas program. It was very well done, especially for fans of the author.

Pamela Greco

Loved it! The tour guides were so knowledgeable. Would go back!

Jeffrey Steven Mundt

The Alcott house, the tour itself, and the docent who gave our tour were all superb. Leavened with humour, a focus on the unusual nature of the Alcott family that allowed their terrifically talented children to grow and still be meaningful to us today made it a joyful experience, even when taken in the context of the tragedies that too befell them. If you enjoy history or literature, this is a site well worth seeing, and the staff and volunteers should be commended for the excellent job they do of bringing this fascinating family to life. Very highly recommended.

William Weiss

A true piece of history, don't miss it!

Marianne Carpender

I love old houses and this one is no different. This whole area was just gorgeous

Mary Morrison

One of the best tours. Learned so much I never knew and the house has been well maintained. Worth the stop.

Emma Georges

We were on a tight schedule and had to hurry and the tour guide was very flexible and able to get is through the house in under a half hour and I didn't feel as if we missed anything. The house is beautiful and filled with things that actually belonged to the Alcott family. It was a very interesting and informative place.

Debra Greene

Very lovely house, well-preserved, and excited to see history! "Little Women" is a wonderful book!

V. Grace Jones

A great place to visit. Take a guided tour of the Alcott's House with a narrator who describes the history of the Little Women who lived there. No cameras inside.

Cynthia Spears

Learn about the influence of the progressive Alcott family.

Michael Brooks

Amazing place for inspiration as a writer. Incredibly gifted, intelligent staff. You must go here if you loved the book/ movie "Little Women".

Candace Pearson

Awesome historical venue with a great tour and nice bookshop. No photos allowed inside.

Cynthia Langford

Great personal tour! I really appreciated the knowledge and kindness of our guide.

Elizabeth Moldenhauer

Do not miss this interesting site. Learn about Louisa and her fascinating family. My eyes were opened by the information about her father Bronson Alcott as well as their connections with Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau.

Jimmy Liu

Great tour if you are a fan of Little Women (which my wife is). The tour guide is knowledgeable and friendly. Building is 80%the original items. Definitely worth a visit. Sorry no pictures allowed.

Larry Wawrzenski

Very informative great your artwork on the wall will blow you away.

james rutstein

Very historical. Guide was very knowledgeable

Latham Winfree

This location was very commercialized. Tour was OK. Liked the National Park Service tour of nearby Wayside much more. More insights into three illustrious literary families.

Thomas M. Hawkins, Jr.

Daughters and I visited and loved it

Sue Cooper

Must pay to get the tour, but it is well worth it. Learned a lot about the Alcott family, and there was a lot of original furniture, clothing and art pieces.

Anne Marie Brako

Inspirational historic site with something for every member of the family - easily done in 2 hours. Great gift shop.

Laurie Stanley

I am so very grateful that this historical gem and the majority of its furnishings, artwork, and personal belongings has been preserved. I had a wonderful experience.

Alexandra Hanley

What a lovely way to spend a morning. I arrived when they opened at 10:00 a.m. Once of the docents was just walking up the path to hang the "Open" sign. I was alone and, though I didn't have my camera out, she offered to take my photo in front of the house. I took the 10:20 a.m. tour of the house and 45 minutes flew by. Photographs and video are not allowed during the tour, but there are postcards for sale in the giftshop, 75¢ each, with photos of each of the rooms printed on them. Victoria, the docent, was extremely knowledgeable and answered all questions more than sufficiently. It is a magical place steeped in history and being there really brought everything to life for me, gave me a greater appreciation for the entire family, their talents, and the time in which they lived. After the tour, I wandered the grounds taking photos. When I wandered back into the gift shop to buy a few things, I spoke with another tour guide about the other building on the grounds, Bronson Alcott's school. They do have plans to renovate and open it to the public in the future. I will visit again and I will bring friends.

Jody Pence

For those that are Louisa May Alcott fans, "Little Women" this would be a fun and very short tour. Small home you are moved quickly through.

Jaime Cooper

I love this house and the tour! They do an absolutely wonderful job!

Pooja Pillai

As a fan of Little Women, I was so excited to visit this house! It wasn't very crowded when I visited, so it was a nice experience. The ticket price includes a video and a guided tour, parking is available and free. It's interesting to note that the tour focuses on more than just Louisa May Alcott and offers a substantial view of their family life, social inclinations and political viewpoints. There is a small museum gift store as well. The guide also pointed us to the nearby Wayside house museum, where Nathaniel Hawthorne lived.

K D

Loved it! A must if you've read "Little Women"

Eli Johnson

Small guided house tour and gift shop

Linda Schmidt

Neat home with many of the family's furnishings and belongings. I really enjoyed learning about the author and her family!

Christopher Franzen

Very inspiring!