Fruitlands Museum facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Fruitlands Museum Historic District
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Fruitlands Museum
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | Harvard, Massachusetts |
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| Area | 210 acres (85 ha) |
| Built | 1910 |
| Architectural style | Shingle Style, Bungalow/Craftsman |
| NRHP reference No. | 97000439 |
| Added to NRHP | May 23, 1997 |
Fruitlands Museum in Harvard, Massachusetts, is a special place to learn about different ideas people had for America. It is built on the land where a short-lived community called Fruitlands once tried to create a perfect society.
The museum has several parts. You can explore the Fruitlands farmhouse, which is a National Historic Landmark. There is also a museum about the Shakers, a group known for their simple way of life. An art gallery shows 19th-century landscape paintings and American portraits. Plus, there's a museum dedicated to Native American history.
Visitors can tour the farmhouse, which has been restored to look like it did in the 1840s. You can also learn about Transcendentalism, a way of thinking that focused on nature and self-reliance. The museum also shares stories about the Alcott family. Fruitlands often has new exhibits, talks, outdoor concerts, and easy walking trails. There is also a museum store and a restaurant. The museum properties are managed by The Trustees of Reservations.
The Story of Fruitlands Museum
The original Fruitlands community started in May 1843. It was inspired by Transcendentalism and the ideas of Amos Bronson Alcott. A man named Charles Lane bought 90 acres of land for the community.
People interested in joining began moving in the next month. They optimistically named the site "Fruitlands," even though it only had a small group of apple trees. The community wanted to be self-sufficient. This meant they would not hire anyone and would grow all their own food.
However, growing enough crops was very difficult. Community members started leaving as early as October 1843. Lane and Alcott gave up on the community in January 1844.
Fruitlands Museum Today
The property was bought in 1910 by Clara Endicott Sears. She opened the farmhouse to the public in 1914 as a museum. Besides the original Fruitlands building, the site now includes a Shaker house. This house was moved from the nearby Harvard Shaker Village.
The museum also displays Native American artifacts. You can see paintings from the Hudson River School, a group of American landscape painters. The museum largely exists thanks to Clara Endicott Sears, who worked hard to preserve these historical sites.
Since 2015, Fruitlands Museum has hosted an amateur cyclocross race. Cyclocross is a type of bicycle racing. The course is known for its rough ground and often muddy sections. It has become a favorite event for cyclocross riders in New England.
Images for kids
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Sculpture and woodlands
