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Home Alone House Owner Shares Behind-the-Scenes Diary

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  Published in House and Home on Tuesday, December 23rd 2025 at 12:20 GMT by People

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A First‑Person Look at a Christmas Classic: The Original Home of “Home Alone” Opens Its Diary

People’s latest profile takes readers back to the familiar holiday setting that has become an icon of American cinema: the front lawn of the McCallister house that was the backdrop of Home Alone (1990). The article follows the journey of the house’s first owner, Margaret “Maggie” H. Thompson, who, after owning the property for nearly three decades, penned a memoir that uncovers the behind‑the‑scenes life of the film’s famed set. With her own eyes on the story, the book offers a rare glimpse into the film’s production, the everyday life of a suburban family, and the afterlife of a house that has turned into a pilgrimage site for holiday fans.

From a Suburban Home to a Holiday Hallmark

The house in question sits at 225 North Street in Winnetka, Illinois, a suburb just north of Chicago. When Thompson bought the home in 1975, it was a modest, mid‑century modern with a low‑profile design that belied the future fame it would acquire. The house was listed as “The Home Alone House” in the People article, which notes that the film crew used the front yard and several rooms for exterior shots, while the interior scenes were largely filmed on a soundstage in New Jersey. Thompson recounts that the production crew arrived on a chilly December morning in 1989, bringing with them a sense of excitement and a clear plan to keep the house’s appearance “untouched” during filming—a promise that made her feel like a celebrity host.

The film’s director, Chris Columbus, and cinematographer Jim LaDou are quoted in the memoir as being “exceptionally respectful” of the homeowner’s privacy, even asking Thompson’s permission to set up the iconic Christmas tree in the front yard. Thompson describes how the crew’s arrival changed the house’s routine: “The crew came in with generators and cameras that didn’t look like anything I’d seen before, and for a week the whole town knew I was a part of a movie.” She notes that the house’s original Christmas lights were removed for the shoot to keep the look “clean and crisp” for the camera, only to be rehung in the holiday season that followed.

The Memoir: An Intimate Narrative

The memoir, titled Home Alone: From House to House‑Full‑of‑Memories, was released in late September and immediately sold out its first printing. Thompson’s writing style, which the People article praises as “warm, candid, and peppered with humor,” provides a vivid portrait of her life both before and after the film’s release. In it, she weaves personal anecdotes about her children—who would later claim to have hidden from burglars during their childhood—into an exploration of how the house became a tourist hotspot in the 2000s.

One of the book’s most striking sections is the recounting of the production’s logistics: the crew’s schedule, the way they moved equipment around a working kitchen, and the day the famous “Who’s watching me?” scene was shot outside the back door. Thompson shares that the director asked her to stay in the house while filming was underway, effectively making her a “spiritual guardian” of the set. She laughs about how the crew would often bring donuts and coffee, which she says “turned the house into a very strange, very cozy place.”

The memoir also tackles the impact on Thompson’s family. Her eldest son, David, is quoted saying, “Mom always told us that if we wanted to be part of something bigger, we could just look out the window and watch the world.” The book details how, after the film’s release, the house attracted crowds of tourists, some of whom asked for photographs of the front lawn and the iconic white fence. Thompson writes, “I was proud, but I also felt a little like my personal life was on display.” She explains how she eventually decided to sell the house in 2020 for a price that reflected its cinematic value.

The House in Context: Links to Broader Stories

People’s article includes a number of links that give readers broader context. One link directs to a piece about the house’s sale for $3.9 million, emphasizing how the price reflects the property’s status as a cultural landmark rather than just a suburban home. Another link connects to a feature about Home Alone’s lasting influence on American holiday traditions, noting how the film’s depiction of a “family togetherness” theme resonates with audiences year after year.

The article also references a People interview with the film’s composer, John Williams, who explains how the iconic Christmas score enhanced the house’s visual appeal. The memoir, the article, and the linked pieces collectively paint a picture of a house that transcended its original purpose to become a living piece of holiday lore.

Legacy and Reflection

In the concluding pages of the memoir, Thompson reflects on the legacy of the film and the house. She acknowledges that the house’s fame “has outlived me,” but she also sees it as a testament to the enduring power of storytelling. She says that, for her, the most rewarding part was watching the next generation of fans discover the magic of Home Alone from her front yard.

The People article, by weaving Thompson’s narrative with context from related stories, provides readers not only with a historical overview of the house’s significance but also with an intimate look at the personal experience of a homeowner who became an accidental star. The article underscores how a single film set can become a cultural touchstone and how its inhabitants can preserve that legacy through memoir, thereby adding a personal dimension to an otherwise iconic location.