Ralph Waldo Emerson House facts for kids
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Ralph Waldo Emerson House
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | Concord, Massachusetts |
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| Built | 1828 |
| Part of | Concord Monument Square-Lexington Road Historic District (ID66000365) |
| NRHP reference No. | 66000365 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | October 15, 1966 |
| Designated NHL | December 29, 1962 |
| Designated CP | September 13, 1977 |
The Ralph Waldo Emerson House is a special house in Concord, Massachusetts. It's now a museum where you can learn about the famous American writer and thinker, Ralph Waldo Emerson. He lived here with his family and called their home "Bush." This house is so important that it's known as a National Historic Landmark. You can visit the museum from mid-April to mid-October, but there is a small fee to get in.
Contents
History of the Emerson House
A Home Built in 1828
The Ralph Waldo Emerson House was first built in 1828. It was built by the Coolidge family and they called it "Coolidge Castle." At that time, it was a summer house. It sat on the edge of the village, right next to the Cambridge and Concord Turnpike. The house is a two-story building with a square shape. This style was very common for homes in many New England towns.
Emerson Finds His Home
Ralph Waldo Emerson was getting ready to marry Lydia Jackson. He told her he didn't want to live in her hometown of Plymouth, Massachusetts. He wrote to her, "Plymouth is streets," meaning it was too busy. He preferred wide-open spaces. Emerson had lived in Concord before, at his family's home called The Old Manse. He really wanted to move back to Concord.
In July 1835, Emerson wrote in his journal about buying the house. He said, "I bought my house and two acres six rods of land... for 3,500 dollars." He and Lydia got married on September 14. They moved into their new home the very next day, along with Emerson's mother.
Making the House a Home
Emerson was happy he didn't have to build a house from scratch. However, he wrote to his brother William that the house was "in a mean place." He felt it wouldn't be truly nice until "trees and flowers give it a character of its own." So, he spent about $400 to $500 to make the house bigger and finish it. This money came from a settlement after his first wife, Ellen Tucker, passed away at a young age.
He hoped to fill the house with "so many books and papers, and, if possible, wise friends." He wanted it to be full of smart ideas. The house soon became a central meeting spot. Many important thinkers, idealists, and poets gathered there.
A Hub for Great Minds
Emerson lived in this house for the rest of his life. While living there, he wrote some of his most famous essays. These include "The American Scholar" and "Self Reliance." He also welcomed many famous neighbors and visitors. These guests included Bronson and Louisa May Alcott, Margaret Fuller, and Henry David Thoreau.
Starting in July 1836, the house hosted meetings of the Transcendental Club. This was a group of thinkers who discussed new ideas. Members included Orestes Brownson, Theodore Parker, and others.
Thoreau's Stay at Bush
In April 1841, Henry David Thoreau accepted an invitation to live with the Emerson family at Bush. Emerson told his brother William that Thoreau would get "his board, etc., for what labor he chooses to do." Emerson saw Thoreau as a "great benefactor" because he was a very hard and skilled worker.
Thoreau later built his famous cabin on Emerson's land at Walden Pond. After his time living simply in the cabin, he returned to Bush in September 1847. He stayed there until July of the next year.
Emerson's Writings and Land
While living in the house, Emerson published his book of Essays in 1841. He also released a second series of essays in 1844. He published two books of poetry as well: Poems in 1846 and May-Day and Other Pieces in 1867.
Emerson earned his living by giving lectures. He traveled around New England and beyond. By the 1850s, he was giving as many as 80 lectures each year. He gave about 1,500 lectures in his lifetime. His earnings allowed him to buy more land. He bought 11 acres (about 4.5 hectares) of land near Walden Pond. He also bought a few more acres in a nearby pine grove. In 1844, he wrote that he was "landlord and waterlord of 14 acres, more or less." A year later, he bought another 40 acres at Walden. This area became known as Emerson's Cliff.
Fire and Restoration
On the morning of July 24, 1872, the house caught fire. Emerson ran out to get help from his neighbors. After the fire was put out, friends collected money to pay for repairs. They raised about $12,000 in total. They also sent the Emersons on a trip to Europe and Egypt while the house was being fixed. In 1873, the Emersons returned and moved back into their restored home.
Emerson passed away in the house in 1882. His wife Lidian followed in 1892. Their daughter, Ellen Tucker Emerson, who never married, lived in the house until she passed away in 1909. Other friends and relatives lived there until 1948.
The House Today
Today, the house is still owned by the Emerson family. It first opened to the public in 1930 as a private museum. It continues to operate as a museum, open during certain seasons of the year.
The inside of the house looks much like it did when Emerson lived there. You can see original furniture and items that belonged to Emerson. However, the furniture and books from his study are now on display at the Concord Museum across the street. His personal collection of books has been moved to Harvard University's Houghton Library.
See also
- List of National Historic Landmarks in Massachusetts
- List of residences of American writers
- National Register of Historic Places in Concord, Massachusetts
