Discover Concord

When someone says, “Concord is a special place,” they could likely be referring to its history, whether that be its role in the American Revolution or its literary tradition. But those things belong, after all, to the past, and so they are more reasons for saying Concord was a special place than that it is. Many towns have history, especially in New England, but few of them, like Concord, retain the sense of a living historical legacy. Concord, then, is a special place, as much as it was a special place, because of a long and ongoing tradition of conservation. Conservation in Concord means caring both for historical sites and indigenous natural beauty, protecting lands from development, and keeping away pollution and invasive species. The shared commitment of residents, nonprofits, and state agencies has made the quality and extent of conservation in Concord exceptional, or, put otherwise, special.

Concord has a reputation for being the epicenter of both the American and literary revolutions as well as home to classic authors, philosophers, and artists. But this small town of barely 17,000 residents boasts another wonder - Great Meadows, a world-renowned refuge dedicated to the preservation of native plants, insects, fish, birds, and animals.

“I have traveled a good deal in Concord,” said Thoreau, with his usual Yankee irony. To explore this small town, far away from any oceans or urban centers, would not seem to qualify as “travel.” But Thoreau was a man who could see Homeric drama in the movements of an ant colony; a New England town, then, with its social and natural life, was more than enough to have “traveled a good deal” in. Thoreau belongs to a long line of Concordians who have taught us how to travel a good deal in seemingly quiet places.

Concord’s October Farm Riverfront is a special place. Its 80 acres include more than a mile of river frontage, where the Concord River makes its great bend and turns to the north around Ball’s Hill. More than 100 years ago, noted ornithologist William Brewster purchased this land to save it from the developer’s axe, but it was not finally protected in perpetuity until 2016, when the Concord Land Conservation Trust and the Town of Concord teamed up to acquire the property with the generous support of many private donors and town and state funds. 

The stunning blooms of the Buttrick Gardens offer a colorful respite to visitors of Minute Man National Historical Park. Developed during the early 20^th century, the gardens were tended by several generations of the Buttrick family until 1963 when the National Park Service acquired the property. The Buttrick house now serves as the North Bridge Visitor Center and the gardens overlook the North Bridge, the location of one of the first battles of the American Revolution on April 19, 1775. The gardens attract 500,000 visitors annually from near and far and are regularly enjoyed by the local community.

Spring is here!  Warmer days and beautiful flowers call us outside to enjoy the fresh air.  And Concord’s restaurants are responding with inviting terraces, refreshing cocktails, and delicious foods to entice us to gather around the table al fresco style! With so many restaurants to choose from, we’ve put together highlights of some of our favorite places to watch the world go by while enjoying a delicious meal. Bon appétit!

Have you ever seen a Monster? Odds are, if you drive through Concord Center early on a weekday, or West Concord on a Saturday morning, you probably have. Maybe more than one! Monsters in the Basement is a cycling club based in Concord and has about 200 active members, mostly from Concord and surrounding towns but some from all over the country.  

In a town with a plethora of franchise real estate agencies, Zur Attias’ family business wanted to create a space for a more personal, thoughtful approach to buying or selling a home in and around Concord. Their unique approach combines cutting edge strategies, calculated and quick responses to real world market conditions, and laser-focused attention to the unique needs of each individual client. The Attias Group is distinguished by its family business model, where every detail reflects on the reputation of the owner, his sons, and a team consisting of talented colleagues, who live in Concord and want to see their friends and neighbors succeed with all of their real estate needs.

A trip to Concord, Massachusetts is a must for any lover of American history. The town boasts a dazzling literary history and is also home to the celebrated “shot heard ‘round the world,” aka, the first battle in the American War for Independence. Additionally, there are at least ten thousand years of Native American history to explore, and a remarkably complex African American history beginning in the 1600s.

With several centuries’ worth of attractions in a small geographical area, there is more than enough to keep people of all ages bewitched and busy for days. But, the vast substance of Concord’s history can also be its greatest challenge, especially for visitors. 

Do you love a beautiful butterfly, a busy honeybee, or an adorable ladybug? What about a spider, or a tiny wasp, or a ground beetle with its snapping jaws? They may look scary, but they won’t hurt you and are important players in your backyard garden. 

To join the Walden scene, enjoy the ring-around-the-pond trail. Ever changing close-up views of the pond, its engineered pondside, and the hillside include periodic large stone steps welcoming walkers to lapping water.

But to discover nature’s ecology, explore the diverse woodland trails and special places. Here I highlight the intriguing land beyond the pond.  

The Robbins House – Concord’s African American History started with a map. Local resident Maria Madison, PhD, who would go on to co-found the the nonprofit organization, The Robbins House Inc., noticed streets in Concord named after early Black residents such as Bristers Hill (33), Peter Spring (27), and Jennie Dugan (39) Roads. Who were these people? Dr. Madison and a few other Concord METCO (Metropolitan Council for Educational Opportunity) family friends created a map of Concord’s African American history so that students of color from Boston and Concord could see their own history reflected in this storied town. When the Robbins House, a residence which occupied two locations (23 & 24) from 1823-2007, was threatened with demolition, The Robbins House nonprofit was formed to save, move, and restore the building as a center for telling Concord’s lesser-known Black history.

In the wild places of Concord linger old Puritan superstitions and Transcendental possibilities. We begin in the year 1620 when, bearing sea-weary Puritan separatists, the Mayflower arrived off Cape Cod’s coast revealing what Pilgrim leader William Bradford noted as “a hideous and desolate wilderness, full of wild beasts.”

To the Puritans, the Wilderness was the devil’s territory. Satan would not linger in the exposed coastal regions where the Puritans first settled and kept him at bay with devout prayer, but he was always there, in the wild forests, the swamps, the unexplored places, tempting them to leave the seaside settlements of early Massachusetts and stray from righteousness.

On April 19, 1775, the long-simmering uneasiness between the American colonies and the British Crown broke out into open warfare with the Battles of Lexington and Concord. A year later, rebellion turned into revolution and, in 1783, after eight years of war, the United States of America gained its independence from Great Britain.

Today, visitors to Minute Man National Historical Park can experience firsthand where the American Revolution began. The Park passes through three towns; from the Battle Green in Lexington, past the Hartwell Tavern and Bloody Angle in Lincoln, and westward to the Old North Bridge in Concord. Parts of the five-mile-long Battle Road Trail literally follow in the footsteps of the Colonial militia and British Redcoats. Along the way, there can be seen many buildings, called “Witness Houses” by the National Park. These were the homes and farms of the people who lived here in the 18^th century, and these houses bear mute testimony to the violence, chaos, and bloodshed of April 19, 1775. 

Here are four of the eleven historic buildings you’ll see on the Battle Road Trail, highlighting the lives of the people who experienced the first day of the American Revolution. 

The great outdoors is an endless source of fun, learning, and excitement – and bites, bumps, and bruises. So, what do you do when your summer fun needs a bit of first aid?

In September 2019, Concord’s 2.5-mile section of the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail was opened — an integral part of what will be, upon completion, a 25-mile-long rail trail running from Lowell to Framingham. How did this all begin, and what does this mean for area residents and visitors?

Sprinkled throughout Concord is an array of green spaces perfect for hiking, biking, bird watching, and, best of all, picnicking. The spaces are varied; some are wide open acres of green lawn while others are nestled into the woods with stone benches just wide enough to hold a picnic basket. Some spaces are filled with swings, slides, and monkey bars to keep children happy and active. No matter what you’re looking for, with summer just a glance away, picnic season is here and you’ll find the perfect spot in Concord.  

Getting out on the water is a wonderful way to escape to the outdoors, and Concordians are fortunate to have three rivers and several ponds on which to play, explore, and relax. These waterways provide opportunities to enjoy the natural world in a way that is quite different from experiencing our roadways, parks, and trails. On the water, one can imagine being in a distant place.

Henry David Thoreau called White Pond the “gem of the woods”, and with good reason. This beautiful and fragile ecosystem suffered from neglect and over-use for decades. Today, White Pond is recovering thanks to the vision and commitment of the Town of Concord, the White Pond Advisory Committee, and legions of volunteers.

White Pond provides a stunning place for swimming, fishing, and walking the clearly marked trails. This is a delicately balanced environment, though, and visitors are encouraged to follow the list of rules posted at each main entry point. While the rules may seem to limit use, they are vitally important to restoring the ecology of the area. 

As part of the exhibition, Every Path Laid Open: Women of Concord and the Quest for Equality, the Concord Museum is hosting a film series called Summer Under the Stars, a celebration of movies made by and about women. The films will address historical and contemporary issues of women’s rights, reform, and activism, celebrating female heroes - the fictional, historical, and super. The series kicks off on Thursday, June 10 at 8:15 p.m. with the 2019 film adaptation of Louisa May Alcott’s beloved novel, Little Women. On the eve of Juneteenth, to celebrate and continue the conversation raised by Harriet Tubman’s heroic efforts to free enslaved people through the underground railroad, the Museum will host Harriet (Thursday, June 17 at 8:15 p.m.). Two additional films will be scheduled for later in the summer.

Summer is here and along with that comes bountiful blooms. Concord is a kaleidoscope of colorful periwinkle iris, diamond frost euphorbia, and purple bellflowers, all on full display. They arrive at the hands of many gardening clubs and organizations whose members enjoy getting their hands dirty, literally.