Historic Sites in Concord

On September 6, 1847, Henry Thoreau left his small house at Walden Pond and moved back into the town of Concord. Having lived at Waldon Pond for over two years, he was, he would write, “a sojourner in civilized life again.” 

Concord is a town steeped in history. From the American Revolution that began here in 1775, to the beginnings of transcendentalism in the 1830’s. From ground-breaking social justice activists who opposed slavery and supported women’s rights, to authors whose works are pillars of the American literary canon. While we could happily spend a lifetime studying the myriad aspects of Concord’s history and its vibrant contemporary society, here are just a few of our favorite places to visit.

The Battle at the North Bridge on April 19, 1775, was well documented, but the running battle of the Minutemen and militia companies chasing the Regular Army out of Concord back to Charlestown along what we now call Battle Road is lesser-known. Records are incomplete and make the first five miles of the retreat impossible to reconstruct accurately. Nevertheless, the National Park Service has hunted down slender clues to provide a more complete history to the forgotten families who experienced fighting on their front lawns. Minute Man National Historical Park Ranger Jim Hollister was able to share some stories about families that lived on the Battle Road. 

Louisa May Alcott’s Orchard House Executive Director Jan Turnquist knew that thousands of fans would be disappointed not to be able to visit the home of the world-renowned author during the pandemic – particularly in light of the Little Women film, released this past Christmas. Drawing inspiration from the classic novel’s words of wisdom “Hope and Keep Busy,” Jan launched a series of Facebook Live events to bring the Orchard House experience to viewers around the world. Her hour-long virtual tours covered topics ranging from a ‘get to know’ session on the various Alcott family members, to tours of the house, to a peek at the emerging Spring gardens. Several of the events drew more than 3,000 viewers! You can see the sessions on Facebook @louisamayalcottsorchardhouse.  

Close to 500 people gathered at The Robbins House with masks, signs, and an open mind to listen, learn, and add their thoughts to a difficult and painful dialogue happening across the country around inequity and the quest for social justice for people of color. The peaceful gathering of solidarity was organized in less than 24 hours and moderated by Nikki Turpin, Robbins House Programming Chair.  

Concord is a favorite destination for visitors from all over the world: literary pilgrims, Revolutionary War buffs, and nature lovers crowd our streets all summer long, right through foliage season. 

But in 2020, many travelers want to steer clear of crowds, so we Concord-area residents have the place pretty much to ourselves. There was never a better time to enjoy the local attractions. In the words of our favorite townie,¹ Henry David Thoreau, “It is worth the while to see your native village . . . as if you were a traveler passing through it.”² The summer has brought ideal weather for fresh-air fun, and outdoor spaces are now welcoming visitors. 

Just hours after their wedding on the 9th of July 1842, a honeymooning couple moved to Concord, MA and into the house they would rent for the next three years. Shortly after their arrival, the groom, who was also an aspiring author, noted the following, “Houses of antiquity in New England are so invariably possessed with spirits that the matter seems hardly worth alluding to.”