Concord’s history driving up tourism after ‘Little Women’ debuts

CONCORD, Mass. — Concord is getting a big tourism boost thanks to a new spin on an old tale.

The Massachusetts town was once the home of Louisa May Alcott, the novelist who wrote “Little Women,” a coming-of-age period drama about four sisters that takes place during the Civil War.

Rachel Stapp has traveled all the way from Salt Lake City to see the book’s newest adaptation with one of her sisters on Christmas Day, which has compelled them to soak in everything the town has to offer.

“I have four sisters so we read the book together, so yeah, it’s a huge piece of my childhood,” said Stapp. "It just got me more excited and gave me a lot more history of her family.”

Alcott served as a nurse during the Civil War but also had a passion for writing. In 1868, she turned her passion into art, writing about he story of perseverance and strength which has resonated with generations of men and women.

“The premise really is Louisa’s actual life which is four girls growing up with really unconventional parents and often struggling financially during the Civil War era," said Jan Turnquist, the Executive Director at Orchard House.

The Alcott’s Orchard House, once a home to the family, is now a living museum with original items from the 1860s preserved throughout the home.

One of the most popular rooms in the house is the writer’s former bedroom, where the desk where she wrote the iconic novel still sits in the corner.

“It’s authentic and people love that, they just love it,” said Turnquist.

Greta Gerwig’s adaptation of the book was filmed, for the most part, in Massachusetts. Filming began in Boston, then the crew traveled to Harvard and Concord and even stopped at the Arnold Arboretum to shoot a scene set in 19th-century Paris.

Orchard House sees a boost in attendance whenever the story is told in theatres, and now that the Hollywood adaptation has made its debut, this year is no exception.

As Gerwig did in previous movies, such as Lady Bird, cellphones were banned on set, but Emma Watson recently posted a series of photos to Instagram showing the cast in full period clothing, which went viral in a matter of minutes.

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