Concord, Massachusetts may be one of the most historically rich towns in the Greater Merrimack Valley. Whether you see yourself as a bit of a history geek or not, the preservation of the times in Concord will leave you speechless. Between artifacts from the American Revolution and a handful of authors’ roots being set in Concord, it’s a true historical goldmine for anyone interested in our country’s past.
Tour Concord’s Own Museum
The Concord Museum is the ideal place to go if you want to pack your brain with as much historical knowledge as you can. It’s the one place that is home to a nationally significant collection of Concord’s historical, cultural, literary, and art treasures. The museum is home to over 45,000 artifacts from the 17th century on; this includes objects such as ceramics, silver, household goods, photographs, documents, prints, paintings, historic clothing, and textiles.
Enjoy the ever-changing exhibitions offered at the museum that will make you feel as if you have been transported back in time and indulge in Concord’s history. The museum features 16 galleries you are free to explore, and the experience is crafted to educate visitors of all ages.
One of the current popular aspects of the museum is the interactive multimedia installation. Dive into the history of April 19, 1775, and gain a deeper understanding of the “shot heard around the world”. You can even go stand on the North Bridge where the shot was fired. After your visit, make sure to check out the museum’s website and explore the rest of the virtual exhibits.
Three Centuries of Literary History
The Wayside: Home of Authors, is one of those places that is sometimes hard to believe exists. The house holds the preserved lives of 4 infamous historical figures and it is a gift that the public is able to see inside firsthand. Book a tour or explore the interior at The Wayside during your Concord stay.
Its history begins in 1775 with Samuel Whitney; the building’s first inhabitant and muster master of Concord’s minute men. Almost a decade later, from 1845-1852, author Louisa May Alcott lived in the house with her family. Her novel Little Women is largely based on her childhood in the house they used to call “Hillside”. It is believed that the Alcott family had aided at least one freedom seeker in their fight for freedom during the family’s time in the house.
From 1852-1896 Nathaniel Hawthorne, author of The Scarlet Letter and other famous pieces moved into the house with his family and they renamed it “The Wayside”.
The last family to have owned the house was the Lothrops in 1883. Author Harriett Lothrop and her family helped preserve the house during the Revolution and thanks to that, in 1965, The Wayside became part of the Minute Man National Historical Park for the public to explore.
