When The Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University was established in 1872, it was likely never imagined that an acclaimed literary work of that time would be recreated into a movie set amidst the landscape nearly a century-and-a-half later. The book was Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women, and last year Sony Pictures transformed a portion of the Arboretum into a Parisian park scene from the novel for their motion picture adaptation.
Meadow Road was transformed to the 1860s, becoming the setting for a carriage ride through the park with stars Meryl Streep (Aunt March), Florence Pugh (Amy), and Timothèe Chalamet (Laurie)—complete with horse-drawn carriages trotting along the freshly covered dirt road, antique gas lanterns, iron filigree park furniture, and period-costumed actors strolling along the tree-lined path. Ladies in sweeping Victorian dresses, and men donning distinguished top hats made it easy to picture an era when intellectuals, academics, and some of New England’s most beloved writers perhaps enjoyed the landscape a century-and-a-half ago.
On Wednesday, December 18, a proclamation by the City of Boston will declare “Little Women Day” celebrating the upcoming release of the movie, which was filmed at various locations throughout locations in greater Boston. A Little Women Scavenger Hunt, created by Boston by Foot, will offer a sneak peak of the film sites and places that were part of Louisa May Alcott’s and her family’s life.
From a National Historic Landmark house in the Back Bay; to a historic hotel with a magnificent Grand Ballroom; a 1754 church in downtown Boston; a theater in the old “piano row” district; the “Little Women” Scavenger Hunt also leads explorers to the Arnold Arboretum where they can walk along Meadow Road and imagine the backdrop of the film’s scene. Designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, the 281-acre “living museum” and Boston City Park is also a National Historic Landmark. Would Louisa May Alcott recognize it 147 years later?
The film—directed by Oscar-nominee Greta Gerwig with a cast featuring Meryl Streep (Aunt March,) Laura Dern (Marmee,) Emma Watson (Meg,) Saoirse Ronan (Jo,) Florence Pugh (Amy,) Eliza Scanlen (Beth,) and Timothèe Chalamet (Laurie)—opens Christmas Day.