Fruitlands Museum

Fruitlands Museum, a Trustees property, has a diverse collection of art and material culture on 210 acres of land, stunning views, and miles of walking trails. In 1843, Amos Bronson Alcott and Charles Lane turned a swath of Harvard farmland into a Transcendentalist experiment in subsistence farming and Emersonian self-reliance, named Fruitlands, which ultimately disbanded after only seven months. In 1914, Clara Endicott Sears opened the grounds to the public, establishing a museum in the property’s 1820s farmhouse. Now, the 210-acre landscape encompasses five collections first established by Sears: the original Fruitlands Farmhouse; the Shaker Museum, the first such museum in the country; the Wayside Visitor Center, a classroom, education, and exhibit space; the Seasonal Gallery; and the Four Seasons Gallery. Please note that Fruitlands Museum consists of several different galleries and historic buildings situated on a steep hill. Please visit the Regulations & Advisories tab on the left for more information.