Brook Farm

Brook Farm is a 179-acre site with trails that wind through meadows, woods and wetlands where visitors observe local wildlife and vegetation. The grounds stretch across gentle hills and offer views of undeveloped countryside alongside remnants of old structures.

George Ripley established the settlement in 1841 as an experiment in income sharing and communal living. The project ended in 1847 after financial troubles and a fire that destroyed the main building.

The community followed a daily routine in which mornings were spent teaching and afternoons working in the fields. Members rotated between classroom instruction and harvesting, treating education and farming as equal activities.

The site at 670 Baker Street is open from sunrise to sunset, with parking available near the entrance. Paths are unpaved and become muddy in wet weather, so sturdy footwear is advisable.

After the community dissolved, Union troops used the grounds for drilling during the Civil War. Later, a Lutheran organization took over the buildings and ran an orphanage there into the 20th century.

Location: Boston

Inception: 1841

Address: 670 Baker Street

GPS coordinates: 42.29136,-71.17409

Latest update: December 5, 2025 16:32