William Cullen Bryant Homestead
William Cullen Bryant Homestead
William Cullen Bryant Homestead
4.9
About
From its iconic red barn to elegant allee of maples leading to the main house, this lovely property is testament to the celebrated poet's ideal of living mindfully on the land.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
4.9
9 reviews
Excellent
8
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1
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Frank G
White River Junction, VT25 contributions
Oct 2014 • Solo
I've visited many times and given two lectures on the premises. Bryant was not only the most influential American poet in the first half of the 19th century but also the most innovative pioneer in the American short story. The Homestead site is prominent in his poem "The Rivulet" and his first story "A Pennsylvanian Legend." (Along with biographical matter, both are in my Bryant books.)
The Homestead is little visited but a gem. See the library where Bryant produced the first and best translations of The Iliad and The Odyssey in the 19th C. The grounds offer beautiful vistas. Coordinate with a visit to Arrow-head, home of Herman Melville (WCB's friend) in Pittsfield, about 20 minutes west.
Closes in October. Check to see whether house is open. Grounds are not closed.
The Homestead is little visited but a gem. See the library where Bryant produced the first and best translations of The Iliad and The Odyssey in the 19th C. The grounds offer beautiful vistas. Coordinate with a visit to Arrow-head, home of Herman Melville (WCB's friend) in Pittsfield, about 20 minutes west.
Closes in October. Check to see whether house is open. Grounds are not closed.
Written March 8, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
tablesedge
New York City, NY177 contributions
Apr 2012 • Couples
TheSideTrek.Com
Where Bryant penned pastoral poetry and Thanatopsis thoughts. Idyllic country setting for a picnic or an artistic inspiration.
Where Bryant penned pastoral poetry and Thanatopsis thoughts. Idyllic country setting for a picnic or an artistic inspiration.
Written April 24, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
31mbel
Fairhaven, MA62 contributions
Jul 2018
This is the home of one of the most famous poets of the nineteenth century, many of whose poems were inspired by the landscape surrounding the house where he lived as a boy and in his later years. Well marked trails take you into old, old forests with some of the tallest white pine trees in the country. On weekends there are guided tours of the house with well-informed, articulate guides. There's also great old barn.
Written July 22, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Cushpond
Worthington, MA88 contributions
Oct 2015
It's a beautiful property in the hills of Cummington, Mass. The driveway is lined with old Maple trees and stonewalls. Beautiful winding drive along scenic byway Rt. 112, Tour the historic home of a local legend.
Taken care of by The Trustees of the reservations so donations are welcome to keep the property in tip top condition. Pictures a must.
They used to have a great judged craft fair to help pay for maintenance but have stopped. It was a great time for all!
Taken care of by The Trustees of the reservations so donations are welcome to keep the property in tip top condition. Pictures a must.
They used to have a great judged craft fair to help pay for maintenance but have stopped. It was a great time for all!
Written April 25, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ingrid M
Leominster, MA85 contributions
Oct 2016 • Couples
It has history, a nice view, knowledgeable guides, well kept house and grounds, almost all the furniture and items belonged to the Bryants but it also has some spooky stuff. We went to visit because we heard a story about another visitor that was spooked because "somebody" blew hard in his ear while he was near the barn. I can only say what we heard. But we did not have an experience like that. It could be a perfectly understandable incident but we think that this museum is clearly an interesting place to visit. Check the Bryant collection of books.
Written July 24, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
dave d
Bradford, MA321 contributions
Jul 2017 • Couples
Beautiful farm on a hill. We did a short hike to check out the "Site of the first church" noted on the map. Didn't see anything. Also walked out the Sugar Bush Road and checked out the Ruins of the Sugar House. This was pretty cool. You could see the remains of the sugar house operations and even a very old wrecked car. We have to return to get a tour of the house!
Written July 17, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Edie D
Northampton, MA47 contributions
Sep 2016 • Family
Enchanted Circle Theater and The Trustees at the Bryant Homestead created a unique living history experience!
It was where the past and present converged in this site-based history play. It was set in 1866 when literary, conservation, and political ideals flourished. This is a play was about love, passion, and justice.
We got to know the man behind the poet and experienced the homestead as it came to life! We wore our comfortable walking shoes as the play moved throughout several rooms of the house and outside. The 45 minute play featured Court Dorsey as Bryant and Melissa Redwin as our modern day docent. Fabulous Presentation...
It was where the past and present converged in this site-based history play. It was set in 1866 when literary, conservation, and political ideals flourished. This is a play was about love, passion, and justice.
We got to know the man behind the poet and experienced the homestead as it came to life! We wore our comfortable walking shoes as the play moved throughout several rooms of the house and outside. The 45 minute play featured Court Dorsey as Bryant and Melissa Redwin as our modern day docent. Fabulous Presentation...
Written October 3, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Boxman43
Boston, MA88 contributions
Aug 2016 • Couples
Beautiful homestead on the side of a hill with outstanding views. The home has an interesting history. The guided tour was worth the time. Our tour guide was friendly and extremely knowledgeable. The house is not completely renovated but still worth the time to visit.
Written August 23, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Loves2Research
Agawam, MA464 contributions
Jul 2016 • Solo
The William Cullen Bryant Homestead is located on Bryant Road in Cummington, MA. The property is beautiful, from the driveway lined with maple trees leading to the main house to the iconic red barn, this property is a wonderful testament to living mindfully on the land.
The peaceful vista of the Westfield River Valley inspired one of America's greatest poets and helped inspire the 19th-century land conservation movement. Bryant served as editor and publisher of The New York Evening Post for 50 years. A conservationist and horticulturalist, he used his editorials to rally support for Frederick Law Olmsted’s Central Park.
From 1865 until his death in 1878, Bryant summered at the Homestead. He converted the two-story farmhouse into a three-story Victorian cottage and expanded the red barn to store apples and pears from his orchards. Inside the house are colonial and Victorian pieces from the poet’s family. House tours are available on designated Saturdays and Sundays in July, August and September.
A highlight of the property are the hiking trails through pastures, fields, and woodlands. A self-guided map highlights the Rivulet Trail which is a nice walk near the Rivulet, a stream immortalized in Bryant’s 1823 poem. Trails are of moderate hiking. The grounds are open year-round from sunrise to sunset.
A favorite time of year to visit is the summer and fall when the scenery is magnificent. Picnic tables are on the property to enjoy a picnic lunch or dinner.
The peaceful vista of the Westfield River Valley inspired one of America's greatest poets and helped inspire the 19th-century land conservation movement. Bryant served as editor and publisher of The New York Evening Post for 50 years. A conservationist and horticulturalist, he used his editorials to rally support for Frederick Law Olmsted’s Central Park.
From 1865 until his death in 1878, Bryant summered at the Homestead. He converted the two-story farmhouse into a three-story Victorian cottage and expanded the red barn to store apples and pears from his orchards. Inside the house are colonial and Victorian pieces from the poet’s family. House tours are available on designated Saturdays and Sundays in July, August and September.
A highlight of the property are the hiking trails through pastures, fields, and woodlands. A self-guided map highlights the Rivulet Trail which is a nice walk near the Rivulet, a stream immortalized in Bryant’s 1823 poem. Trails are of moderate hiking. The grounds are open year-round from sunrise to sunset.
A favorite time of year to visit is the summer and fall when the scenery is magnificent. Picnic tables are on the property to enjoy a picnic lunch or dinner.
Written August 3, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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