Description
Herman Melville Home - Pittsfield
Herman Melville's home, Arrowhead, is located on Holmes Rd. in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. The famed author lived here from 1850 to 1863. The home was originally built in 1780 as a tavern and inn by David Bush. Melville's uncle, Thomas, lived on an adjoining piece of land and Melville, having visited frequently, found he enjoyed the area. In 1850, at the age of thirty one, Melville bought the property from Jan Brewster. While working in the fields, he found Native American artifacts, and named the property "Arrowhead." By the time he moved here, Melville was an established writer, having published "Typee" in 1845 and "Omoo" in 1847 to great success. While living here he embarked on his most famous work, "Moby Dick" in 1851. Released to mixed critical reception, the novel was a major failure, as was his next work, "Pierre" in 1852. He also wrote several short works of fiction during this period, including "Bartleby the Scrivener" in 1853. His career and his finances took a decline that he was never able to reverse. Also during this period Melville also developed a strong friendship with writer Nathaniel Hawthorne, who visited him here at "Arrowhead" during the winter of 1850. From October, 1856 to May, 1857 Mellville embarked on a tour of England, in part to clear his head from the anxieties he was feeling. His last novel, "The Confidence-Man" was published in 1857, and was another failure. In 1863, his finances depleted from lack of success he found he was no longer able to afford Arrowhead, so he moved to New York City, where he purchsed his brother Allan's home on East 26th Street. Allan, in turn, purchased "Arrowhead." The home remained in private hands for the next hundred years. In 1975 the property was acquired by the Berkshire County Historical Society, who restored the house and opened it up as a museum. "Arrowhead" has been designated a National Historic Landmark and is on the National Register of Historic Places.
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