Yesterday took me to Boston, Massachusetts just as Louisa May Alcott traveled from Concord, MA to Boston on frequent occasions during her life. Not far from my home I created The LOOK Book, Battle Road, included in the scavenger hunt is the Orchard House which was the basis for the story “Little Women.” The book is based on her experiences growing up in this house with her sisters. The Orchard House was purchased by Louisa May Alcott’s father, Bronson Alcott, in 1857. 
I went to learn more about the life of Louisa May Alcott outside Concord, MA. I signed up for a tour with Boston by Foot on a quiet Sunday in Boston. Why not street parking is free!
We met at the Irish Famine Memorial which is in between the Corner Bookstore which housed Ticknor and Fields, an American publishing company best known as the publisher of Henry David Thoreau’s Walden or Life in the Woods and Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter as well as other works of prominent-nineteenth century authors. However, Louisa May Alcott was published by Thomas Niles. She was also given a percentage  for publishing her books which were unusual and lead to her making money from her writing!
We then made our way up the street to Kings Chapel where Louisa May Alcott’s parents where married. Across the street is the Omni Parker House where authors gathered, such as Ralph Waldo Emerson a close friend of the Alcott’s. We did not stop, but I would recommend taking a step inside both Kings Chapel and the Omni Parker House.
We continued up the street to the Boston Athenaeum one of the oldest independent libraries in the United States. Louisa May was not able to afford a membership but she gained entrance through influential friends such as Ralph Waldo Emerson who’s father, William was a founder of the Boston Athenaeum, and one of its first trustees. Across the street from the Boston Athenaeum is the Hotel Bellevue where Louisa May Alcott wrote “Little Wives”, the second part of “Little Women.”
We then continued up the street to the Massachusetts State House and discussed the fact in 1879, Louisa May Alcott was the first woman in Concord, Massachusetts to register to vote. She believed very strongly in the suffrage ​​movement.

Our tour took us to Beacon Hill to 20 Pinckney Street. Here it is believed the girls ran a school to earn an income. Louisa May Alcott’s room was on the house‘s third floor. While living here, Louisa’s first story was published, “The Rival Painters: a Tale of Rome” in 1852.

We continued to 81 Pinckney and heard the story of LuLu, Louisa May Alcott’s niece who was raised by her  from 1-8 years of age because of the untimely death of her sister, Abagail May.

Louisa May Alcott’s final house which she rented in Boston was at 10 Louisburg Square. Here she took care of her ailing father before his death only 2 days before her death. Lulu was returned to her father at the age of 8. Louisa May Alcott never married but she was a strong woman who took care of her family!
Little Women was printed 150 years ago and has never gone out of print.

At the conclusion of the tour we were met by representatives of Sony who passed out Little Women swag bags to the group which included 2 complimentary tickets to a pre-screening on Monday, December 16, 2019.
Very excited because I have never gone to a complimentary pre-screening! The movie will be release officially on December 25, 2019. #theMADtravel continues tonight (12/16/19) as Victoria and I attend the pre-screening together!!
                         A Path to Louisa May Alcott in Boston, Massachusetts
1. Irish Famine Memorial
2. King’s Chapel 
3. Omni Parker House
4. Boston Atheneum 
5. Bellevue Hotel
6. 20 Pinckney Street 
7. 81 Pinckney Street
​8. 10 Louisburg Square