How a TV Show Brought New Fans (And Furniture) to Emily Dickinson's House

Emily Dickinson's home in Amherst, Massachusetts, has been a site of fan tourism for over a century, with admirers drawn to the poet's deeply personal and place-specific work. The Emily Dickinson Homestead, now owned by Amherst College, was restored to its 1855 state and opened as a museum two decades ago. Dickinson's poetry is deeply connected to the natural world and her home, making the Homestead a unique space for fans to connect with the poet. The recent Apple TV+ series Dickinson, which aired from 2019 to 2021, has brought a new wave of fans to the site, many of whom are drawn to the show's portrayal of a gay Emily Dickinson. The show's creators collaborated with the Homestead on pre-production research and virtual programming during the pandemic, which helped to attract a global audience to the site. The museum aims to meet fans wherever they are in their understanding of Dickinson, and to provide them with more knowledge about the poet. Dickinson's work remains contemporary and continues to resonate with readers today, making her home a compelling destination for fans seeking a deeper connection to the poet and her work.