There is something about this small town that continues to draw magnetic personalities who shape our country over and over. One such luminary is Doris Kearns Goodwin – Pulitzer Prize-winning author, respected presidential historian, and wife of the internationally acclaimed presidential speechwriter, the late Richard (Dick) Goodwin. Together, this inspirational couple witnessed the turbulent events of the 1960s and worked hard to do their part in shaping a more positive outcome for future generations.
Tea’s association with Great Britain began in the 17th-century when it was introduced to British society by Portuguese and Dutch traders. Initially, it was considered a luxury item, affordable only to the elite. However, the British East India Company’s monopoly on tea trade and the subsequent expansion of tea cultivation in British colonies like India and Sri Lanka, made tea more accessible to the masses.
Have you ever wondered what it’s like to be a modern-day minuteman? The Concord Minute Men, established on December 10, 1962, in advance of the bicentennial, is the quintessential colonial unit here in Concord.
With the end of the French and Indian War in 1763, Great Britain was now in control of North America: the 13 British colonies along the seaboard were safe and sound from their enemies, while all French territory east of the Mississippi, as well as Spanish Florida, now belonged to King George III. For the first time since 1701, Great Britain was at peace. But the empire was also broke.
The Wright Tavern Legacy Trust invited visitors and residents alike to a fun celebration of Concord history on the lawn of the tavern this past Patriots’ Day. Did you know that the Wright Tavern is where the Massachusetts Provincial Congress met in 1774 and took the decision to rebel against the crown?
As hostilities grew between Massachusetts and the English government in the 1770s, popular opinion was divided. Concord’s “patriot preacher,” Rev. William Emerson, spoke out for liberty and served as chaplain for Concord’s Minutemen. Meanwhile, his brother-in-law, lawyer Daniel Bliss, remained loyal to the King, and would be forced to flee for his life to Canada when war erupted in 1775.
Welcome to Concord! Wondering how to make the most of your time here? Whether you are in town for a morning, a day, or a weekend, this itinerary will help you get started!
Max Chapnick, of Northeastern University, has been in the news lately for possibly uncovering another of Louisa May Alcott’s pseudonyms. I was delighted to meet Max, not only to discuss his current work, but also to talk about the long, winding trail he followed to determine if Jo March’s thriller writing was something Alcott actually did. That trail begins in 1942 with Madeleine Stern and Leona Rostenberg, two of the most extraordinary women I’ve ever met.
Summer 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!
One of the most important decisions we can make is where to spend our time – either on a visit, or when thinking about where to put down roots and build a family and community. One of the aspects of Concord that attracts so many people from around the world to come here – to spend time, or to stay – is the unique essence of ‘place.’
It had rained that day in Boston, and now, even though the moon was full, there was little light in the sky as three men left Cambridge and headed for Concord. No, it wasn’t the midnight ride of Paul Revere, but another of unusual significance. For riding in a dark wagon was a fugitive from justice and two rescuers, unwilling to let another human being be returned to slavery.
Laura Davis laughs as she ticks off all the ways she’s built her family’s life around the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail in Concord. “I basically moved everything in my life to West Concord so I could get to it on a bike,” said the 35-year-old Concord resident.
We take for granted that nature—and the physical, mental, and emotional health benefits that it provides—should be available to everyone. But for people who have mobility challenges, use wheelchairs, or are pushing heavy strollers, nature trails over rough terrain can be anything but a walk in the park.
When history and inspiration collide, great things happen. And so, when Jennifer Burton and Julie Dobrow, founders of the “Half the History” project at Tufts University, heard the amazing story of Concord’s Ellen Garrison, they knew they had found the perfect subject for their project series, which places a spotlight on the incredible achievements of women and their important contributions to society.
Stories, if well-told, can inspire. Tours of historic sites, like those in Concord, are fertile grounds for inspiration. So it was for Gary Graham, an American fashion designer and artist who visited The Old Manse Museum in 2023.
I had the pleasure of introducing Gary to the museum in a tour, entitled, Flipping the Script: The Women of The Old Manse. What followed was the launch of his collection entitled, Tnumarya's Object Lessons of The Old Manse. The name is derived from Ralph Waldo Emerson who referred to his beloved Aunt Mary Moody Emerson with the anagram, Tnumarya.
Welcome, dear readers, to the story of The Barrow Bookstore, a unique shop featuring rare and gently-read books down the lane at 79 Main Street, Concord, Massachusetts. For 54 years, the Barrow has been owned by three generations of women whose passion for history and literature personify Louisa May Alcott’s quote, “She is too fond of books and it has turned her brain.”
Fiction is a fun introduction to history! Allison Pataki encourages her readers to visit Concord, where her novel is predominately set—to tour the Emerson House, The Old Manse, and Orchard House—as she did while writing. Indeed, shortly after Finding Margaret Fuller: a novel’s publication (Ballentine Books, 2024), book clubs scheduled group tours at Emerson’s home.
Ralph Waldo Emerson referred to her as Tnumarya, an anagram he created for his beloved aunt, Mary Moody Emerson. Many scholars believe her to be Emerson’s most seminal influencer.
Nothing says summer quite like fresh produce. Tomatoes bursting with ripeness, sweet corn on the cob, and, of course, watermelon. Concord’s farm stands are here for you. Nothing could be simpler than stopping by and picking up the season’s best for your dinner table.
Meet Bethany Noël and Alice Rosa. Noël is a pointillist, or rather divisionist, by circumstance and not choice, and Italian artist Alice Rosa had a love of botany from a young age. Discover their remarkable art in this Artist Spotlight.
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