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. In the “Visions of Utopia” guided tour, enjoy access to the Fruitlands Farmhouse and Shaker Gallery, housed within the 1794 office building of the Harvard Shaker community, as we explore the contrasts and overlaps of these two visions of utopia. 

In addition to a 1 hour private guided tour, your reservation will include admission to the Art Gallery and Grounds for your group. Turn your tour visit into a full day adventure with a hike on the trails, lunch in the café, and visit to the current exhibitions in the Fruitlands Museum Art Gallery.

Purchase of this item supports Thoreau Farm Trust (TFT) and the preservation of Henry David Thoreau’s Birthplace.