Chesterwood (Massachusetts) Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Significant dates

Chesterwood
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
U.S. National Historic Landmark District

Chesterwood
Location in Massachusetts Show map of Massachusetts Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Nearest city	Stockbridge, Massachusetts
Area	129 acres (52 ha)
Built	1896
Architect	Henry Bacon, Daniel Chester French
Architectural style	Colonial Revival
NRHP reference No.	66000652
Added to NRHP	October 15, 1966
Designated NHLD	December 21, 1965

Chesterwood is a special place in Stockbridge, Massachusetts. It was once the summer home and art studio of a famous American sculptor named Daniel Chester French. He lived from 1850 to 1931.

This beautiful estate covers about 129 acres. Most of it is now owned by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. They run Chesterwood as a museum and a sculpture garden. It's a great place to see art and learn about history.

Chesterwood was named a National Historic Landmark in 1965. This means it's a very important historical site in the United States. It honors Daniel Chester French's amazing work in American sculpture.

History of Chesterwood Estate
Exploring Chesterwood's Design
Images for kids
See also

History of Chesterwood Estate

How Daniel Chester French Found Chesterwood

In 1896, Daniel Chester French bought a 150-acre farm. It was owned by Marshall Warner in Stockbridge, Massachusetts. French wanted a summer home and a place to create his sculptures.

By this time, French was already well-known. He was famous for his bronze statue called The Minute Man. This statue was finished in 1875. It stands at the Old North Bridge in Concord, Massachusetts.

Building the Studio and Home

After buying the farm, French had a special art studio built. His friend, Henry Bacon, designed it. The studio was built near an old farmhouse from the 1820s. This studio became French's main workspace for the rest of his life. He split his time between Stockbridge and New York City.

In 1901, French hired Henry Bacon again. This time, Bacon designed a new main house. It was built in the Georgian Revival style. This is the house you can see at Chesterwood today.

Creating the Lincoln Memorial Statue

French's fame grew even more when he was chosen to create a huge statue of Abraham Lincoln. This statue is inside the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C.. The final carving of this giant artwork was not done at Chesterwood. However, French did all his early design work here. He even built a 6-foot tall model of the statue at Chesterwood.

Chesterwood After French's Death

Daniel Chester French passed away in 1931. His daughter, Margaret French Cresson, then owned Chesterwood. She created the Daniel Chester French Foundation. This foundation took care of 79 acres of the property. This included the main house and the studio.

Later, the National Trust for Historic Preservation took over the 79-acre part. Margaret Cresson also left another 50 acres of the estate to the National Trust.

Chesterwood was officially listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1966. You can visit Chesterwood from late May through mid-October. There is a fee to enter.

Exploring Chesterwood's Design

The Estate's Natural Beauty

The Chesterwood estate covers 129 acres. It has forests and open fields. It is located in the Taconic Mountains, a beautiful area in the Berkshires.

Most of the buildings are on the north side of Williamsville Road. These include the main house, the art studio, and an old barn. The barn is now a museum gallery and visitor center. There are also other small buildings.

On the south side of the road, there is an old farmhouse from the 1860s. This house is used by the caretaker. French also built a smaller studio here. He used it when he wanted a quieter place to work. A path goes through the woods to the north. French supposedly used this path. Today, it is decorated with sculptures by modern artists during certain times of the year.

The Main Art Studio

The main part of the studio is like a huge cube. It is 30 feet tall on each side. It has very tall doors, also 30 feet high, on the west side. The ceiling is peaked, and there's a skylight on the north-facing roof. This lets in lots of natural light for sculpting.

To the south, there's a terraced area with a porch. This porch has a flat roof supported by columns. On the north side, there's a large room where French would meet clients and friends. This room opens to the east into a garden. The garden has a fountain designed by Henry Bacon. To the west of the studio, there's a small room. From here, waste materials from the studio could be sent down to the basement.

The Georgian Revival House

The main house is a 2.5-story building. It is built in the Georgian Revival style. Like the studio, it is covered in a special stucco. This stucco has marble chips mixed in to give it a unique texture.

The house has a hip roof with a low fence-like railing on top. There are dormer windows on the front and back of the roof. Open porches are on both sides of the house. The front of the house faces south and has a wide terrace. This terrace offers beautiful views of the Taconic Mountains.

One of the most interesting rooms inside is French's study. It has wooden decorations taken from the old Warner farmhouse. It looks just like the best room in his family's original home in Chester, New Hampshire.

Famous Sculptures Created at Chesterwood

The studio, barn, and other gallery spaces at Chesterwood display studies for many of French's famous works. These include:

The Minute Man (1875), located at Old North Bridge, Concord, Massachusetts
Four Continents (1906), found at the Alexander Hamilton U.S. Custom 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

Studio and garden
Studio detail
View from house

Chesterwood (Massachusetts) facts for kids

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