Arnold Arboretum Transformed Into 1860s for ‘Little Women’ Filming

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On Halloween the Arnold Arboretum was transformed back to the 1800s era in which it was created for the filming of "Little Women" starring Meryl Streep.

Filming at the Arnold Arboretum was only scheduled for one day for the Columbia Pictures feature movie. It was not clear whether Streep was on set at the arboretum.

For the filming, horse-drawn carriages and actors wearing Civil War era clothing were in the tree museum, which was created in 1872. It wasn't clear what scenes were being filmed of Louisa May Alcott's novel that is set in a New England town, and often believed to be based upon Concord, Mass.

The Arnold Arboretum was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted as part of the 7-mile stretch of parks and roadways called the Emerald Necklace.

Filming the movie at the arboretum made a lot of sense to the director of the Arnold Arboretum, Ned Friedman.

“Where else could you possibly film anywhere in the country that would have the feeling of a 19th century European park?” said Friedman, to The Harvard Gazette. “When you look at the environment here you are transported in time. Olmsted created these landscapes for the ages.”

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