Chesterwood (Massachusetts) facts for kids
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Chesterwood
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Chesterwood
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Nearest city | Stockbridge, Massachusetts |
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| Area | 129 acres (52 ha) |
| Built | 1896 |
| Architect | Henry Bacon, Daniel Chester French |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 66000652 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | October 15, 1966 |
| Designated NHLD | December 21, 1965 |
Chesterwood was the summer home and art studio of a famous American sculptor named Daniel Chester French (1850–1931). It's located in Stockbridge, Massachusetts. Most of this large property is now owned by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. They run it as a museum and a garden where you can see sculptures. Chesterwood was named a National Historic Landmark in 1965 because of how important French was in American sculpture.
The Story of Chesterwood
In 1896, Daniel Chester French bought a big farm in Stockbridge, Massachusetts. He wanted a summer home and a special place to create his art. At this time, French was already well-known across the country. He was famous for his bronze statue called The Minute Man. This statue was ordered in 1873 and placed at the Old North Bridge in Concord, Massachusetts, in 1875.
Building the Studio
After buying the farm, French had a special art studio built on the property. His friend Henry Bacon designed it. The studio was built near the old farmhouse, which was from around 1820. This new studio became French's main workspace for the rest of his career. Even though he also spent time in New York City, he did most of his important work here.
Designing the House
In 1901, French hired Bacon again. This time, Bacon designed a new house to replace the old farmhouse. This new house is a beautiful Georgian Revival style building that you can still see today. French's fame grew even more when he was chosen to create the huge statue of Abraham Lincoln. This statue stands in the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC.
The Lincoln Memorial Statue
Even though the final carving of the giant Lincoln statue wasn't done at Chesterwood, French did all his early design work here. This included building a 6-foot (1.8 m) tall model of the statue. This shows how important Chesterwood was to his creative process.
Chesterwood After French
After Daniel Chester French passed away in 1931, Chesterwood went to his daughter, Margaret French Cresson. She created the Daniel Chester French Foundation to take care of 79 acres (32 ha) of the property. This included the main house and the studio. She kept the rest of the land for herself.
Later, the National Trust for Historic Preservation took over the 79-acre (32 ha) part of the property. Margaret French Cresson also left another 50 acres (20 ha) of the estate to the National Trust. Chesterwood was named a National Historic Landmark in 1965. It was then added to the National Register of Historic Places the next year. Today, you can visit Chesterwood for tours from late May through mid-October.
Exploring Chesterwood
The Chesterwood estate covers 129 acres (52 ha) of forests and fields. It is located in the Taconic Mountains, in the beautiful Berkshires region. Most of the buildings are grouped together on the north side of Williamsville Road. These include the main house, the art studio, and an old barn from the 1800s. The barn has been turned into a museum gallery and a visitor center. There are also other small buildings.
The Caretaker's Residence and Second Studio
On the south side of the road, there's a farmhouse from around 1860. This building is now used as a home for the caretaker. There's also a smaller studio space that French built. He used this smaller studio when the main studio became too busy. A winding path goes through the woods to the north. French supposedly used this path, and now it's decorated with sculptures by modern artists during certain seasons.
The Main Studio
The main part of French's studio is like a giant cube, 30 feet (9.1 m) on each side. It has huge doors, also 30 feet (9.1 m) high, on the west side. The ceiling is peaked, with a skylight on the north-facing roof. This skylight helped bring in natural light for his sculptures.
Studio Features
To the south of the studio, there's a terraced area with a porch. This porch has a flat roof supported by classic Doric columns. On the north side, there's a large reception room. French used this room to meet with his clients and friends. This room opens to the east into a garden with a fountain. The fountain was also designed by Henry Bacon. To the west of the studio, there's a small room with a chute. This chute allowed waste materials from the studio to be easily dropped into the basement.
The Main House
The main house is a 2½-story Georgian Revival building. Like the studio, its outside is covered in stucco. This stucco was mixed with marble chips to give it a special texture. The house has a hip roof with a low fence-like railing on top. The roof also has dormer windows on the front and back.
House Details
Open porches are on both sides of the house. The front of the house faces south and has a wide terrace. From here, you can enjoy amazing views of the Taconic Mountains. Inside, the most interesting room is French's study. It has wooden decorations taken from the old Warner farmhouse. It also looks like the "best" parlor from his family's original home in Chester, New Hampshire.
Sculptural Studies at Chesterwood
The studio, barn, and other gallery spaces at Chesterwood display many of French's sculptural studies. These are early versions or models of his famous works, including:
- The Minute Man (1875), located at Old North Bridge, Concord, Massachusetts
- The Continents (1906), found at the United States Customs House in New York City
- Samuel F. Dupont Memorial (1921), the fountain at Dupont Circle, Washington, D.C.
- Abraham Lincoln (1922) in the Lincoln Memorial, Washington, D.C.
Images for kids
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Studio and garden
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Studio detail
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View from house
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See also
