robert frost farm state historic site

A Great Farm of Robert Frost . Also hiking trails to hike on. Very nice spot not too far away. A must see.

to be in the home of Robert Frost was exciting and to read his poetry and you walk though the house was very interesting

When I first found his home, I had to do a bat-turn in the family SUV. I was a high school English teacher and it was too compelling to miss. In fact, I wound moving 900 miles to Derry, NH. The staff, both state and volunteer have fascinating stories and tips that English books do not tell. Frost's Farm is immaculately maintained and retains much of its charm. The thirty acre farm reveals sources of inspiration for a poet. He and his family lived there for only eleven years but somehow references to that experience permeate his writings then and much later. Once you stand where he stood, and see what he saw his writings are more meaningful. About thirty minutes away you can also visit the home of one of the most popular Fireside Poets, John Greenleaf Whittier.

Our daughter the lit major took us here. WOW! Makes me want to re-read the complete works of Frost. Apparently he HATED this place but after years went by he realized it was here he was happiest with his family and writing. Here is where he wrote many poems. The fellows that take you around are extremely knowledgeable and do not rush you at all. There are videos you can watch if you wish. The 15 minute one that is done with his daughter is the best. You can also purchase a piece of the maple tree. I bought a jewelry box made from the tree for $60. Has his chair that he wrote many a poem in. The only concern I have is that it would be easy to steal things from this house! I wish they had cameras etc.That being said, This place is well worth the visit!

The grounds are beautiful. Peaceful and serene. Big barn that had authentic pictures and items of Robert Frost's. My daughter bought a book of poems that the clerk stamped with the Robert Frost farm stamp for authenticity. Bill, the tour guide, was very knowledgeable and added some humor to the tour of the home. You are free to enter the home, walk the grounds and the path that Robert Frost walked. My 20 year old daughter wanted to visit. I am her mother and I have to admit, I did not but, was pleasantly surprised and pleased with our visit. We ended up staying 2 1/2 hours!

We spent half a day exploring the house and taking the guided tour on our way to a Red Sox game. The tour guides were extremely knowledgeable and made their stories and the home of Mr. Frost come to life. You can stay as long or short as you choose but I would recommend taking a few hours and getting the feel of the place.

As a person with an A.B. in English Literature, I’m always interested in the works, homes, and lives of great literary figures. Robert Frost is one of special interest because he became a New Englander, and I remember seeing him on TV when he recited his poem "The Gift Outright" from memory at President John F. Kennedy’s inauguration of in January 1961. My two personal favorite poems of his are “Stopping by Woods” and “The Road Not Taken.” Frost received many honors during his lifetime. He is the only poet to receive four Pulitzer Prizes for Poetry. My two friends and I visited on a daytrip. This was a first visit for them and a revisit for me. Stop 1 was at the attached barn that houses a small display area, gift shop, admissions desk, and the small video theater. We signed up for the two-part tour which is the video and then the house tour. Afterwards, we’d be free to explore the garden, field, and trails on self-guided tours. Admissions$4.00 - NH Residents: Adults - ages 18-64 FREE - NH Residents: All other ages including seniors$5.00 - Non-Residents: Ages 18+ including seniors$3.00 - Non-Residents: Ages 6-17FREE - Non-Residents: Ages 5 & underThe tour began with watching the video in which Robert Frost read some of his poetry. His daughter Lesley Frost Ballantine, who was an author of children’s stories, talked about her father’s poetry and her life on the farm. She said poems needed to be read several times to pick up secondary and tertiary meanings in them. The film also showed her walking about the grounds of the farm with a group of children. The video was well done. Next was the tour of the house led by a New Hampshire State Park Historian. She was very well-versed in the history of the farm and the Frost family. The L-shaped farmhouse was built in 1884 by Nathaniel G. Head when he got married. In 1900, it was up for sale.In the fall of 1900, The Frosts were having financial and other troubles. Elinor Frost went to Grandfather Frost and asked for help in purchasing the farm in Derry. After an uncle inspected the property, Grandfather Frost agreed. The Frosts moved in early October. Frost started the farm with 300 Wyandotte chickens.When Grandfather Frost died in 1901, they learned of a stipulation in his will that stated that they had free use and occupancy of the farm during the first ten years after the time of his death. They lived here until 1909 when they moved to an apartment on nearer to Pinkerton Academy where Robert Frost was an English teacher. Meanwhile, they rented out the farm until 1911 when it was sold. We learned about the uniqueness of the structure itself. In southwestern Maine and much of New Hampshire, farmhouses were built with connected additions. One might think it was due to the cold winters, but that was not the case. It was because of the many activities on New England farms. The buildings needed to be centralized for ease of access to all farm operations. This type of construction was popular in the 1800’s in the post-Erie Canal era. The canal nearly ended any need for New England farm products outside of New England. Off the barn, en route to the house was the structure called the back house that connected the kitchen of the farmhouse to the barn. They had a variety of uses. The Frosts used it to store wood for the stove and to house the privy.In the kitchen, one will see an early model of a wall-mounted party-line telephone, an old-fashioned hand-cranked coffee grinder near the sink, the soapstone sink, the large Glenwood woodstove, and a chair next to the stove where Mrs. Frost would sit and rock her children. On the kitchen table is a Blickensderfer typewriter. In the parlor, one will see a black horsehair couch and a Morris chair which could become a recliner and that could also be fitted with a portable desk that Robert Frost liked to work at. The children were home schooled in this room. The Frost family also spent evenings reading together before the children’s bedtime. In the dining area, one will see Frost family Royal Doulton china in the Old Leeds Spray pattern laid out on the table. Upstairs are the three bedrooms. There are a couple of really nice old quilts on the beds. One is a shell pattern. One bedroom has a deep closet that was used to store luggage and other things. BRING YOUR CAMERA. Photography is allowed inside the house. After touring the house, I concluded that the Frost family lived very simply by today’s standards. Next, we explored the field next the house which had several magnificent trees that would likely be spectacular in the fall. The one toward the parking lot a little beyond the barn has an interesting set of primary branches stemming off the trunk. Friend #2 shares my serious interest in photography. We spent about 20 minutes photographing that tree and other points of interest in that area. We enjoyed this visit and will return again most likely in the early fall at which time we’d like walk some trails and appreciate the property as Frost did in his day as he drew inspiration for several of his poems here.If you found this review helpful, kindly click YES below.

If you are a fan of Robert Frost's poetry this is a lovely place to visit. Located on busy Route 28 between the shopping centers of Salem, NH and downtown Derry, it is a pleasant surprise. It is a charming New England farmhouse and barn with museum displays and a small gift shop featuring mostly books. You can walk the grounds, watch butterflies flit among the colorful flowers and just stop and think. There are tours and educational programs for those that desire them, but it is free to park and walk around and think about your favorite Frost poems.

As one strolls about the property along the trail it is easy to see the poetry of Frost come to life.

There is plenty of room to roam on the Robet Frost Farm. There are open fields a plenty that are very picturesque. There's a short walking path out back and the Derry Garden club donates their time to the gardens on the property. Functions are also held outside for luncheons and other gatherings. There's a detached garage that is used as a museum with a State Curator that offers a tour of the house and is full of information. So ask away. They offer a short film about Robert Frost and his life spent on the Robert Frost Farm. There is also a small gift shop. The house is in its original setting. The tour guide can get carried away with long winded stories about the farm, but overall, it's a very informative and relaxing visit.

A fantastic little tour of the house and grounds A must see while passing through Derry. If you live local and haven't been you should take the time to stop in. The grounds are beautiful for a little hike with the family and the tour guides are very knowledgeable and pleasant.

I was looking for something interesting and potentially photogenic over the Labor Day weekend. Wow, did I score big. The easy to find Robert Frost Farm State Historic Site in Derry, NH is a wonderful destination. Although self-guided tours of the property are available, you definitely want to take the guided tour of the Frost home. Lasting about 50 minutes, the tour gives you an incredible insight into this fascinating and gifted, as well as points out key locations serving as the basis for many of the poet's greatest works. There is an 18-minute video featuring Frost's daughter Deborah and that is well worth it, as well. Definitely worth a visit. And if you're not a Robert Frost fan when you arrive you sure will be by the time you leave.

Shared this little gem on a rainy Friday afternoon with friends visiting NH from NY for the first time. We watched the video and took the tour with the young guide who knew almost too much about Frost. But since we are old enough to recognize some of the items in the house from our own grandparents homes when we were kids it was a bit more meaningful for us. This was my third time taking the tour over the years and I will continue to bring friends to experience this important little bit of "Americana".

This quiet spot is a perfect setting to relax and learn about the life and poetry of one of our most well known poets who wrote a number of his poems while living here for over ten years. The park guards are very knowledgable about his life and there is a 45 minute tour that is very worthwhile. See the short video first, then,Take the tour. There are also walking paths on the property. Even if you are not really knowledgable about his poems, it is still a great tour.

I am not a Robert frost fan, but I was curious to explore this nature trail and see what I could learn. I didn't realize it wasn't open until we were right down the road, we didn't get to see inside the house, and I couldn't understand what any of the markers meant as no descriptions or map to look at. I don't read poetry so I was not able to put together what I was looking at with any meaning.