National Historic Landmark

Fruitlands

Harvard, Worcester County, Massachusetts
Listed
March 18, 1974
Type
District
Period
Listed
Ref No.
74001761

About this property

Fruitlands was a utopian agrarian commune established in Harvard, Massachusetts, United States, by Amos Bronson Alcott and Charles Lane in the 1840s and based on transcendentalist principles. An account of its activities can be found in Transcendental Wild Oats by Alcott's daughter Louisa May Alcott. Lane purchased what was known as the Wyman farm and its 90 acres (36 ha), which also included a dilapidated house and barn. Residents of Fruitlands ate no animal substances, drank only water, bathed in unheated water, and "no artificial light would prolong dark hours or cost them the brightness of morning." Additionally, property was held communally, and no animal labor was used. The community lasted seven months. It was dependent on farming, which turned out to be too difficult. The original farmhouse is now a part of Fruitlands Museum, along with other historic buildings from the area.

Location

Harvard, Worcester County, Massachusetts
42.50980, -71.61155

Categories

SOCIAL HISTORY
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Everything a full report reveals about Fruitlands

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Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Nearby Historic Sites

Fruitlands Museums Historic District
Listed
0.3 mi
Still River Baptist Church
Industrial
1.3 mi
Harvard Center Historic District
Listed
1.7 mi
Warren, Frederick Fiske and Gretchen Osgood, House
Industrial
2 mi
Shirley Shaker Village
Listed
2.4 mi

Nearby Battles

Attack on Lancaster (Mary Rowlandson captivity)
1676Colonial
3.8 mi
Attack on Lancaster 1676
1676Colonial
5 mi
Attack on Lancaster
1676Colonial
5 mi

Questions about this property

When was Fruitlands listed on the National Register?

Fruitlands was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on March 18, 1974.

What type of historic resource is Fruitlands?

Fruitlands is classified as a district in the National Register of Historic Places.

Is Fruitlands a National Historic Landmark?

Yes. Fruitlands has been designated a National Historic Landmark (NHL), the highest level of federal recognition for historic properties in the United States.

What is the period of significance for Fruitlands?

The period of significance for Fruitlands is recorded as the listed era.

Can I research the history near Fruitlands?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Fruitlands will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

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