Visit the Historic Concord Homes

Spending your days soaking up the rich Concord history is a must while staying at Concord’s Colonial Inn. When you’re looking for things to do in Concord, MA, you’ll find a variety of historic Concord homes and landmarks that you’ll want to take the time to explore. Keep reading to find the best Concord homes to tour during your stay in our beautiful historic town in Massachusetts. 

Louisa May Alcott’s Orchard House

Once occupied by the Alcott family and where Louisa May Alcott wrote Little Women back in 1968, the Orchard House has now become a historical museum that’s open to the public. There have been no profound structural changes, and the Alcotts owned 80% of the home furnishings on display here. Walking into the home, you’ll truly get a sense of what the house looked like and felt like when the Alcott family occupied it. 

The Old Manse

We encourage you to take a tour of The Old Manse, as you’ll be fascinated by the amount of Concord history that has taken place here. Once occupied by famous mid-19th-century writers like Ralph Waldo Emerson and Nathanial Hawthorne, you’ll feel as though you’ve made a step back in time upon entering the house. Outside you’ll also find a vegetable garden that was planted by Henry David Thoreau for Hawthorne’s wedding. The garden has since been re-created and can still be viewed to this very day. 

The Emerson House

The Emerson House was initially built back in 1828 and was occupied by Ralph Waldo Emerson’s family in 1835. Over time the household became a highlight of Concord’s social life as well as a literary center throughout the American Transcendentalist movement. The home still holds original furniture as well as artifacts and can be viewed through the guided tour from April through October in Concord, MA. 

Thoreau Farm

The Thoreau Farm was the birthplace of David Henry Thoreau and is referred to as the Wheeler-Minot Farmhouse on the National Register of Historic Places. While Thoreau’s family only occupied the house for a short period after David’s birth, it has become a Concord, MA, destination for many tourists and scholars. Seasonal visits and tours are available but must be booked in advance. To learn more, visit www.thoreaufarm.org. 

The Wayside

Also known as the house of authors, The Wayside was occupied by Nathaniel Hawthorne, The Alcotts, and the Lorthops (Margaret Sidney). As you look at the exterior of The Wayside, you’ll find a writing room built at the top of the home where Hawthorne would lock himself in the small space to write. The house has since become a part of the Minute Man National Historical Park and can be seen through a guided tour. 

Have a True Colonial Experience

Visit our Things to Do page to learn more about the Concord homes and historical attractions that are worth exploring while you’re in town. Concord’s Colonial Inn was previously a home owned by a doctor during the revolutionary war era, which means you’ll be stepping into a piece of Concord history as soon as you enter our inn. The portion of our home that dates back to 1716 is made up of 15 individually decorated rooms that will give you a true Colonial experience and can be viewed on our accommodations page. To inquire about a stay in one of our historic rooms, please speak with our friendly staff by calling 1-800-370-9200.