William Cullen Bryant Homestead facts for kids
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William Cullen Bryant Homestead
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A string quartet plays on the homestead's porch
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Nearest city | Cummington, Massachusetts |
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| Area | 188.57 acres (0.7631 km2) |
| Built | 1783 |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian |
| NRHP reference No. | 66000136 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | October 15, 1966 |
| Designated NHL | December 29, 1962 |
The William Cullen Bryant Homestead was the childhood home of William Cullen Bryant. He was a famous American poet and newspaper editor. Later, he also spent his summers here. This large property is about 155-acre (63 ha) and is located at 205 Bryant Road in Cummington, Massachusetts.
Today, a group called the Trustees of Reservations takes care of the homestead. You can visit it on weekends during the summer and early fall. There is a small fee to enter.
Contents
Discover the Bryant Homestead
William Cullen Bryant's grandfather, Ebenezer Snell, built this home in 1783. It sits on a hillside, offering great views of the Westfield River valley and the Hampshire Hills. The house first looked like a Dutch Colonial style home. It had 1.5 stories with a smaller section at the back.
Bryant's father, Peter Bryant, bought the property in 1799. William Cullen Bryant moved in when he was four years old. He lived here for most of his childhood and early adult life, until he was 22.
Bryant's Early Life and Inspiration
Bryant went to Williams College for a short time. He felt his education there was not very good. He left after only seven months and came back to the family homestead in May 1811. After studying on his own, he became a lawyer in 1815. He worked in nearby Plainfield, Massachusetts.
He used to walk seven miles from his home to work every day. One day in December 1815, during one of these walks, he saw a single bird flying. This sight inspired him to write his famous poem, "To a Waterfowl".
How the Homestead Changed
The family sold the property in 1835. But William Cullen Bryant bought his childhood home back in 1865. He then made many changes to it. He lifted the original building and built a whole new first floor underneath it.
He also added a copy of his father's old office. Later, he built a large new part on the northwest side of the house. Bryant also planted many fruit trees around the property.
Some of Bryant's poems were inspired by his time in Cummington. The beautiful nature around the homestead gave him ideas. These poems include "Lines on Revisiting the Country," "The Rivulet," and "Inscription for the Entrance to a Wood."
The Homestead Today
Members of the Bryant family owned the property until 1929. Then, the poet's granddaughter gave it to The Trustees of Reservations. The Homestead was named a National Historic Landmark in 1962. This means it is a very important historical place.
The house is still filled with Bryant's furniture and special items. The property also has a section of very old forest. There is a grove of 150-foot (46 m) tall pine trees. You can also see sugar maple trees that are almost 200 years old.
Gallery
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A drawing of the house from 1900
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The barn at the Bryant Homestead
