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SAVE
AMERICA'S TREASURES
Save
America's Treasures Celebrates the Literary Legacy of Louisa
May Alcott and Spotlights the Preservation of Orchard House--
Home of the Alcotts
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Lady Laura Bush and National Trust President Richard
Moe watch Orchard House Executive Director Jan Turnquist
in a surprise appearance as Louisa May Alcott on June
20, 2002. Orchard House is an Official Project of
Save America's Treasures. Laura Bush leads the program
as its Honorary Chair. (AP photo/ Winslow Townson) |
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On June 20th, Save America's Treasures hosted an event at Orchard
House in Concord, MA. Richard Moe joined Laura Bush in her first
appearance as Honorary Chair of Save America's Treasures to
celebrate the literary legacy of Louisa May Alcott and to spotlight
the preservation of Orchard House-- Home of the Alcotts. Mr.
Moe accompanied Mrs. Bush on a private tour of the house, to
a VIP reception, and on stage for a speaking program before
an invited audience of 350 that featured a "surprise"
visit by Louisa May Alcott herself. Led by Save America's Treasures,
the fundraising effort around the event generated over $150,000
in individual and corporate contributions, including major gifts
from the United Tour Operator's Travelers Conservation Foundation
and an anonymous private foundation. These funds will help match
the $400,000 federal Save America's Treasures challenge grant
awarded to Orchard House in 2000.
An Historic Landmark on the National Register, Orchard House
is best known as the home of Louisa May Alcott and her family,
and the setting for the beloved classic, Little Women. A "second
home" to close friends Henry David Thoreau, Ralph Waldo
Emerson, and Nathaniel Hawthorne, Orchard House also witnessed
the development of the only truly American philosophy, Transcendentalism.
The 300-year-old home has tremendous integrity of original
design as Louisa's father was an early preservationist who rescued
this former home of a Concord Minute Man from certain destruction
in 1857. 80% of the collection is authentic to the Alcotts,
with a vast store of family papers, books, original artwork,
and photographs. One of the oldest historic house museums in
the country, its audience is drawn from all 50 states and 29
countries. Over 50,000 people annually benefit from guided tours,
educational programs, special events, and outreach.
Unfortunately, Orchard House is again threatened with serious
physical deterioration. A $400,000 federal Save America's Treasures
challenge grant was awarded to address severe structural abnormalities
caused by accelerated wear, insect and water damage, and lack
of any foundation for one-half of the house. Substantial private
contributions are urgently needed to complete the match and
for additional restoration and conservation that will allow
Orchard House to fulfill its mission of historic preservation
and public education.
To read more about SAT's event at Orchard House, please see
the press release or remarks
by Laura Bush. To learn more about Orchard House-- Home
of the Alcotts, please visit their web site at www.louisamayalcott.org
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