The Old Manse
From the Revolutionary War to the revolution in American thought under its roof, The Old Manse was the center of Concord’s political, literary, and social zeitgeist for a century.
To visit the Old Manse—a handsome Georgian clapboard built on the banks of the Concord River in 1770—is to re-experience pivotal moments in our nation’s early history. Constructed for patriot minister William Emerson, the upstairs overlooks North Bridge, where the famous battle of April 19, 1775, took place. Later, some of New England’s most esteemed minds found inspiration inside its walls. In the 19th century, Ralph Waldo Emerson and Nathaniel Hawthorne both called the Manse home for a time: Emerson drafted his influential essay “Nature” in an upstairs study. Meanwhile, Hawthorne and his wife, Sophia, started their married life here; the recreated heirloom vegetable garden was originally planted by Henry David Thoreau in honor of the Hawthornes’ wedding.
Join us throughout the year for tours! Space is limited and pre-registration recommended. Sign up for one of our tours below.
The house is now open for tours! Advance registration is suggested. Guests to the grounds can also enjoy a self-guided tour on your mobile device, accessible here or through the Tour Trustees App, available for free through the app store on your iPhone or Android.
After approaching the rolling fields edged by centuries-old stone walls and exploring the grounds, walk the network of easy footpaths linking the Old Manse to the North Bridge and boathouse on the Concord River.
Unearthing the rich history of this National Historic Landmark begins with a selection of guided tours. We recommend booking tours in advance, registration and more information can be found below.
The Old Manse Bookstore is a specialty bookstore open the same hours as the house. It sells a variety of books about The Trustees of Reservations, The Old Manse, 19th-century Concord authors, American Transcendentalism, women’s history, and the American Revolution.
The Old Manse is OPEN during the National Park Service construction on the North Bridge. To view the North Bridge, visit the gift shop for instructions.
Grounds: FREE and open year-round, daily, sunrise to sunset. Please note that The Old Manse does not have public bathroom facilities.
Historic Museum Home & Giftshop: Open Thursdays-Sundays (and holiday Mondays). Tours on the hour starting at 11AM, with last tour at 4PM.
Advance registration for public tour is available online. With limited capacity on each tour, we recommend booking your spot online in advance of your visit. Prices vary by tour, please refer to individual listings.
Tours: We offer a selection of tours for every interest and recommend you book in advance. Please see below for more information and registration links.
Group Bookings: The Old Manse is pleased to offer tour experiences for private groups and schools through advanced booking. Educators and guests interested in reserving private group tours, please contact us at oldmanseeducation@thetrustees.org
Please note the Old Manse house is not wheelchair accessible and the house is not air-conditioned.
We also welcome school and youth groups for experiential educational programs. Please visit our Education Page for details and to initiate a visit request.
269 Monument Street
Concord, MA 01742
Telephone: 978.369.3909
E-mail: oldmanse@thetrustees.org
For inquiries about education and private group tours, please contact oldmanseeducation@thetrustees.org
Get directions on Google Maps.
From Points East: Take Rt. 2 West. Where Rt. 2 takes sharp left, continue straight onto Cambridge Turnpike. At end, turn left onto Lexington Rd. to Concord Center. Turn right to take Monument St. north 0.5 mi.
From Points West: Take Rt. 2 East. At Concord Rotary, take 3rd exit onto Barretts Mill Rd. for 2 mi. Turn right at Lowell Rd. for 1 mi. Take 3rd left onto Bow St., then left onto Monument St. Entrance and parking on left just before North Bridge.
The Old Manse does not have public bathroom facilities; however, bathrooms are available at the National Park Service parking area less than .25 mile from The Old Manse.
Note that the Old Manse house is not wheelchair accessible and the house is not air conditioned.
Weddings
The Old Manse heirloom apple orchard and riverfront is available for wedding ceremonies only. Ceremonies are limited to 50 people or fewer, and must take place after 5pm. The Old Manse is not available for indoor ceremonies. Please email oldmanse@thetrustees.org to for more information about having your wedding ceremony at the Old Manse.
There is a trail map posted on a kiosk in the main parking area. We recommend that you take a photo of the map on your phone so you can refer to it during your visit, or download a trail map here, before you head out.
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.
"We ‘re local but had never visited before. So glad we took visiting family here. It was interesting to hear how the house was part of local and American history."
– LJSC61, Trip Advisor
