Top 15 Exciting Activities in Concord, MA

Revolutionary and literary history intersect in this enchanting town where the “shot heard ‘round the world” rang out on April 19, 1775, signaling the start of the American Revolution when the first British troops were met by American colonial militia.

Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882), the renowned Transcendentalist and originator of that phrase, resided in Concord for the majority of his adult life and played a significant role as a mentor to several of America’s notable writers and intellectuals.

From the mid-19th century onward, Concord emerged as a vibrant hub of innovation and creativity, with prominent figures such as Louisa May Alcott (1832-1888), Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862), and Nathaniel Hawthorne (1804-1864) actively contributing to its rich cultural tapestry.

A multi-day visit to Concord is essential to fully appreciate its myriad historically significant sites, artifact-rich museums, and meticulously maintained historic residences, all capable of captivating today’s visitors.

1. Minute Man National Historical Park

In Concord, alongside Lexington and Lincoln, one can witness the exact locations where the American Revolution commenced.

At significant sites such as the Old North Bridge, where the first British casualties occurred, and the Lexington Battle Green, where American militia first fell, one can immerse themselves in the transformative experiences of April 19, 1775.

For a comprehensive introduction, the park’s primary Visitor Center is located a short distance from Concord in Lincoln, offering the 25-minute Road to Revolution multimedia presentation to set the historical context.

Equally notable is the Hartwell Tavern, a restored 18th-century inn with park rangers donning period attire to enhance the historical experience.

2. The Old North Bridge

A section of the National Historical Park encompasses the site where, on April 19, 1775, American forces first inflicted casualties upon British troops.

At this location, approximately 400 militia and minutemen engaged and repelled 90 British army soldiers. Three British soldiers were slain in this encounter, with two buried near the bridge, adjacent to the Old Manse property a mere few steps away.

Ralph Waldo Emerson later articulated the importance of this event, coining the term “shot heard ‘round the world.”

The bridge itself represents the most recent iteration of wooden crossings at this strategic point on the Concord River.

The current structure, established in 1956 and restored in 2005, reflects historical accounts from that time period. Nearby stands the Minute Man (1874) sculpture by David Chester French, which was cast in bronze using ten Civil War cannons.

3. Louisa May Alcott’s Orchard House

The residence where Louisa May Alcott penned and set Little Women (1868-69) is accessible to the public year-round, seven days a week, functioning as a historic house museum.

This clapboard Colonial farmhouse, originating from the late 18th century, was accompanied by a 12-acre apple orchard when the Alcott family relocated here in 1858.

The family, consisting of Bronson, his wife Abigail May, and daughters Anna, Louisa, and May, inhabited the dwelling until 1877. Elizabeth, the inspiration for Beth March, had sadly passed away shortly before their arrival.

The residence retains its historical appearance during the Alcotts’ occupancy, with most of the furnishings dating back to the 19th century and belonging to the family.

A visit offers an experience akin to immersing oneself in the book: the walls display portraits and watercolors created by May, while in the kitchen resides a soapstone sink purchased by Louisa and a drying rack built by Bronson, a man recognized for his practical skills, including the construction of the shelf desk at which Louisa wrote Little Women.

4. Battle Road Trail

At the Minute Man Visitor Center, visitors can acquire a map to retrace the route of the initial retreat undertaken by the British regulars, alongside the ensuing battles between them and numerous Colonial militia members.

Preserving many original features of the Battle Road, the trail extends five miles from Meriam’s corner to the eastern edge of the national park in Lexington.

Traveling through a historically rich Colonial landscape, the trail showcases gently rolling hills interspersed with forests, wetlands, and open fields.

Among the notable sights on the Concord section are the British graves at Meriam’s Corner and several residences that predate the conflict.

These include the Nathan Meriam House (c. 1705), Farwell Jones House (c. 1716), Stow-Hardy House (c. 1689), and Samuel Brooks House (1692).

5. Concord Museum

The town museum in a historically significant place like Concord is bound to house remarkable collections, reflecting both its Revolutionary heritage and its illustrious literary figures.

The Concord Museum excels in this regard, featuring the most extensive collection dedicated to Henry David Thoreau, including furniture from the cabin at Walden Pond, where he authored A Week on the Concord and Merrimack Rivers (1849) and commenced his most acclaimed work, Walden (1854).

Visitors can explore Ralph Waldo Emerson’s study, reconstructed as it was at his passing in 1882, as well as view the lantern from Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s poem “Paul Revere’s Ride” (1860).

The museum houses cannonballs, muskets, fifes, and powder horns from the American Revolution, alongside a distinguished collection of 17th to 19th-century decorative arts, displayed within period settings, encompassing furniture, clocks, ceramics, textiles, metalware, looking glasses, and more.

6. North Bridge Visitor Center

Appropriately, the North Bridge Visitor Center within the National Historical Park is housed in a mansion constructed by descendants of Major John Buttrick, the officer who initially commanded his militia to fire upon British troops.

An informative eight-minute film detailing the lead-up to this conflict with significant ramifications is available for viewing here.

An exciting exhibit includes The Hancock, one of four brass cannons smuggled from Boston, with the retrieval of which serving as one of General Gage’s primary motivations for dispatching British regulars to Concord on April 19, 1775.

The mansion is a brief yet picturesque stroll from the bridge, complemented by charming formal gardens that are open to the public.

7. The Old Manse

Situated by the Concord River, overlooking the North Bridge, this Georgian residence, built in 1770, boasts a wealth of fascinating history that is remarkable even by Concord’s standards.

The Old Manse is preserved by the Trustees of Reservations and was constructed for Ralph Waldo Emerson’s grandfather. Emerson took up residence here during his 20s and 30s, drafting his initial version of Nature (1836) and proposing to Lidian Jackson.

Later, Nathaniel Hawthorne resided here with his wife Sophia Peabody as newlyweds for several productive years in the 1840s, composing around 20 sketches and tales during their time together.

Just prior to their arrival, Henry David Thoreau cultivated a vegetable garden on the property as a wedding gift for the couple.

The physical structure has remained largely unchanged for over 250 years, featuring numerous rooms filled with memorabilia associated with some of America’s most revered thinkers.

Particularly sentimental are the tender poems engraved for one another in the window panes by the Hawthornes approximately 180 years ago.

8. Walden Pond State Reservation

Beginning in 1845, Henry David Thoreau resided in a simple cabin on the northern shore of this pond for two years.

This experience formed the foundation for his acclaimed book, Walden; or, Life in the Woods (1854), in which he contemplated a simple, natural lifestyle.

These reflections are credited with laying the groundwork for the conservation movement that emerged later in the century.

Visitors can connect with nature in this 335-acre state park encircling the kettle-hole pond, formed by glaciers approximately 10,000 years ago.

Granite markers indicate the original location of Thoreau’s cabin, and visitors can view a replica alongside exhibits and a Thoreau Society shop at the visitor center.

The pond is a favored destination for swimming and boating during the summer months, featuring a perimeter trail and picnic areas available along the shore.

9. Ralph Waldo Emerson House

The origins of Concord’s long-standing reputation as a literary center can be traced back to Ralph Waldo Emerson’s return to the town in 1835 with his wife Lidian shortly after their marriage.

Emerson resided at this house located at 28 Cambridge Turnpike for nearly half a century for the remainder of his life. During this time, he completed the final drafts of his pivotal essays, Nature (1836) and Self-Reliance (1841).

Emerson’s lectures and writings drew numerous writers and thinkers to Concord, many of whom visited him at this residence.

The property included a barn that not only housed farm animals but also served as a schoolroom for a period, educating the Emerson children and their peers, including Lizzy and Abby Alcott, Lizzy and Barry Goodwin, and Caroline Pratt.

The house remains open for tours through late October, presented in its post-restoration form from the early 1870s.

10. The Wayside

Believed to date back over 300 years, at the onset of the Revolution, this house was inhabited by Samuel Whitney, a member of the Massachusetts Provincial Congress in 1775 and muster-master for the Concord minutemen.

Adjacent to the Orchard House, The Wayside is renowned for its literary connections and requires a guided tour for its rich narrative. Louisa May Alcott resided here with her family from her early teens until the age of 20.

The acclaimed author Nigel Hawthorne subsequently moved into the house, the only residence he ever owned, remaining there from 1852 until his passing in 1864, followed briefly (1879-1881) by poet and novelist George Parsons Lathrop.

For the next four decades, The Wayside served as the home of Harriet Lothrop (pen name Margaret Sidney), a successful author of children’s literature, who resided there with her husband, a publishing executive named Daniel Lothrop.

11. Thoreau Farm

Situated on 20 acres in eastern Concord, the home where Henry David Thoreau was born in 1817 has been meticulously restored. The Wheeler-Minot Farmhouse is an aesthetically pleasing Georgian wood frame structure, constructed circa 1730.

The Thoreau connection traces back to Deacon Samuel Minot (1714–1786), who acquired the farm for his son, Jonas, who would later become the stepfather of Thoreau’s mother.

A highlight of the guided tour is the upstairs room where the writer was born. Thoreau Farm operates on weekends from May through October and serves as a suitable venue for panel discussions, author talks, and writing workshops in collaboration with the Thoreau Society.

12. Sleepy Hollow Cemetery

A short distance from Concord’s center lies the resting place of nearly all the prominent figures referenced in this article.

Ralph Waldo Emerson was in attendance to deliver a speech during the dedication of Sleepy Hollow Cemetery in 1855 and was among the many who enjoyed evening strolls here prior to its establishment as a burial ground.

The cemetery’s winding, natural layout reflects Transcendentalist Principles, serving not only as a tribute to the deceased but also as a sanctuary for the living.

Among the distinguished individuals interred here are Emerson, Louisa May Alcott (along with many family members), Nathaniel and Sophia Hawthorne, Henry David Thoreau, and poet William Ellery Channing.

All of these gravestones are located at Authors’ Ridge, while the notable Art Nouveau Melvin Memorial nearby commemorates the graves of three brothers who perished in the Civil War, a collaboration between sculptor Daniel Chester French and architect Henry Bacon.

13. The Robbins House

An intriguing facet of Concord’s history is revealed at this one-and-a-half-story residence, constructed at the outset of the 19th century.

The Robbins House served as the residence for the descendants of Caesar Robbins, a formerly enslaved veteran of both the American Revolutionary War and the French and Indian War (1754-1763).

This dwelling was shared by two families, including Jack Garrison, another former enslaved individual who attained his freedom in New Jersey.

African Americans resided at the Robbins House until 1870, and during a visit to the North Bridge, guests can arrive here (Friday-Sunday) to learn about Concord’s African American history.

14. Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuge

The original of the two units for this 12-mile-long wetlands conservation area is located in Concord. This area features a couple of pools along the Concord River, drained during the summer to expose mudflats that attract numerous bird species in the late summer months.

These mudflats serve as nutrient-rich feeding grounds for sandpipers, great egrets, great blue herons, Canada geese, and various duck species.

The refuge encompasses nearly three miles of trails, along with an observation platform and tower, making it one of the premier inland bird-watching locations in Massachusetts.

15. Verrill Farm

This sustainably managed farm in Concord has remained within the same family since 1918, while the land has been cultivated for over three centuries.

Through practices such as tillage, crop rotation, and the utilization of organic matter for fertilizers, the soils at Verrill Farm remain remarkably fertile. Starting in June, visitors can explore opportunities for PYO strawberries, self-cut sunflowers, PYO sweet corn, and engage with a pumpkin patch in the fall.

A variety of events take place during this period, such as Family Farm Day in September and the Annual Harvest Festival in October, featuring live music, hayrides, farm animals, and games.

The farm stand and greenhouse operate throughout the year, seven days a week, selling homegrown fresh produce, deli items, freshly baked goods, flowers & plants, and much more.