About The Old Manse |
9 acres |
Experience the site of two American revolutions: the first shots of the Revolutionary War were fired nearby – and, less than a century later, Emerson, Hawthorne, and Thoreau spawned a revolution in American philosophy from here.
What makes the Old Manse a special place?
Built in 1770 for patriot minister William Emerson, The Old Manse, a National Historic Landmark, became the center of Concord’s political, literary, and social revolutions over the course of the next century. In the mid-19th-century, leading Transcendentalists such as Bronson Alcott, Henry David Thoreau, and Margaret Fuller discussed the issues of the day here, with the Hawthorne and Ripley families.
A handsome Georgian clapboard building, The Old Manse sits near the banks of the Concord River among rolling fields edged by centuries-old stone walls and graced by an orchard. From upstairs, you can look out over the North Bridge, where the famous battle of April 19, 1775, took place. Ralph Waldo Emerson and Nathaniel Hawthorne both called the Manse home for a time – and each found inspiration here. Emerson would draft his famous essay “Nature” from an upstairs room, and Hawthorne would write a tribute to the homestead called Mosses from an Old Manse. Hawthorne and his wife, Sophia, started their married life here, and you can still see the poems they wrote to each other, etched on the Manse’s window panes. The heirloom vegetable garden, which has been recreated today, was originally planted by Henry David Thoreau in honor of the Hawthornes’ wedding.
Inside, you’ll find rooms filled with antiques and memorabilia reflecting the tastes of writers, philosophers, politicians, poets, and artists who helped to shape a distinctive American culture.
The stone boathouse provides access to canoeists along the Concord River. The Old Manse is a National Historic Landmark and a link in the Bay Circuit Trail.
Trails
A short network of footpaths connects the Old Manse to the North Bridge and boathouse on the Concord River. Easy walking.
When to Visit
House: Guided, walk-in tours and pre-booked group tours are available year-round. Tours are offered daily, mid-April through October, 10AM – 5PM, Mon - Fri, and weekends from 10AM - 5PM on Saturdays and from 12Noon – 5PM on Sundays. From November through March, weather permitting, walk-in tours and pre-booked group tours are available on Thursdays and Fridays at 2PM, 3PM, and 4PM, and on weekends from 12Noon – 4:30PM. Allow a minimum of 1 hour (including North Bridge), 2 hours if also taking a house tour.
Grounds: year-round, daily, sunrise to sunset.
Facilities
The museum shop is open the same hours as the house. The shop specializes in books but also sells stationery, activities workbooks, games, toys, and assorted souvenirs. We also offer exclusive editions of Wee Forest Folk collectible figurines. All merchandise is designed to educate visitors about the Old Manse, 19th-century Concord authors, women's history, and the American Revolution. Trustees members receive a 10% discount on all merchandise in the museum shop (except Wee Forest Folk).
Regulations & Advisories
- Mountain biking is not allowed.
- Canoes or kayaks may not be launched from the property. Landing only.
- Photography is not permitted inside the house.
Directions
269 Monument Street
Concord, MA
Telephone: 978.369.3909
E-mail: oldmanse@ttor.org
Get directions on Google Maps.
From Concord Center, take Monument St. north 0.5 mi. Entrance and parking (20 cars) on left just before the North Bridge.
Please direct all mail to:
The Old Manse
PO Box 572
Concord, MA 01772
Admission
When to Visit
Grounds: Year-round, daily, sunrise to sunset.
House: Guided, walk-in tours and pre-booked group tours are available year-round. Tours are offered daily, mid-April through October, 10AM – 5PM, Mon - Fri, and weekends from 10AM - 5PM on Saturdays and from 12Noon – 5PM on Sundays. From November through March, weather permitting, walk-in tours and pre-booked group tours are available on Thursdays and Fridays at 2PM, 3PM, and 4PM, and on weekends from 12Noon – 4:30PM. Allow a minimum of 1 hour (including North Bridge), 2 hours if also taking a house tour.
Admission
Grounds: FREE.
House tours: Trustees members FREE. Nonmembers: Adult $8; Child (6-12) $5; Senior $7; Student (with valid ID) $7; Family (2 adults and up to 3 minor children) $25 (25% savings). Group tours by prior appointment (min. of 10 people): $6 per person.
Property History
Built in 1770 for patriot minister William Emerson, the Old Manse became the center of Concord’s political, literary, and social revolutions over the course of the next century. The iconic house overlooks the North Bridge where the famous battle of April 19, 1775 took place, triggering the Revolutionary War.
In the mid-19th-century, leading Transcendentalists such as Bronson Alcott , Henry David Thoreau, and Margaret Fuller discussed the issues of the day here, with the Hawthorne and Ripley families.
Property Acquisition History
Purchased in 1939.
Programs
In addition to our regular guided tours, you can enjoy a variety of special events through the year. For details on the events below, as well as other programs and activities in the Greater Boston region, check our events calendar.
- Patriots Day Weekend Events: Special house and landscape tours, with terrific views of the re-enactments at the Old North Bridge.
- Mother's Day Music Concert
- Riverfest: early June: poetry, music, and art
- Summer Solstice Celebration: Witness the sunsets enjoyed by Emerson and Hawthorne.
- Fall Festival: Columbus Day Weekend: Celebrate the harvest.
- Haunted Attic Tours and Events: last week of October.
Volunteer Opportunities
There are no volunteer positions at this reservation at this time; please check again later or click here to find other opportunities near you.
Work Parties
There are no work parties at this reservation at this time; please check again later or click here to find other work parties near you.
Maps and Resources
You can download a watercolor map of the house and ground before you visit.
Planning Your Visit
Community Links
The Friends of Minuteman National Park
Before You Go
We encourage you to visit as many Trustees properties as you can.
Wherever your travels take you, please observe all posted regulations, follow special instructions from property staff, and keep in mind the Stewardship Code:
- Protect wildlife and plants.
- Guard against all risk of fire.
- Help keep air and water clean.
- Carry out what you carry in.
- Use marked footpaths and bridle paths.
- Leave livestock, crops, and machinery alone.
- Respect the privacy of neighboring land.
- Enjoy and share the landscape with others.
Click on links below for further visitor information:
Before Setting Out
Tell Us What You Think
We’d love to hear about your visit. Click here to take our visitor survey. If you have a question for us about this reservation, you can use this form to send it to us, too.
Share your experiences with other visitors! Simply fill out the form below and we’ll post your comment here on this page.
Announcements & Alerts
Upcoming Things To Do
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