The Old Manse

The Old Manse Built in 1769, adjacent to Concord's Old North Bridge: Witness to Revolution, and home of Hawthorne, Emerson and American Transcendentalism.
(1)

A property of The Trustees of Reservations, this National Historic Landmark witnessed the "shot heard round the world," and, less than a century later, Emerson, Hawthorne, and Thoreau spawned a revolution in American philosophy from here.

"In the spring and summer time all sombre thoughts should follow the winter northward with the sombre and thoughtful cro...
06/18/2026

"In the spring and summer time all sombre thoughts should follow the winter northward with the sombre and thoughtful crows" - Nathaniel Hawthorne

Looking for a way to celebrate the 4th while learning more about the Revolutionary War? Stop by the Old Manse from 11AM-...
06/16/2026

Looking for a way to celebrate the 4th while learning more about the Revolutionary War? Stop by the Old Manse from 11AM-12N on July 3 and hear from Concord Fife and Drum about how music shaped everyday life for soldiers, from camps and marches to active battlefields!

This event is free and open to the public, but pre-resignation is encouraged. Visit https://thetrustees.org/event/446923/ for more details

Theodora Thayer was an accomplished artist at the turn of the century, mainly known for painting miniatures such as this...
06/15/2026

Theodora Thayer was an accomplished artist at the turn of the century, mainly known for painting miniatures such as this beautiful portrait from the MFA, Boston's collection that only measures about 4x3in! Theodora was a great-granddaughter of Phebe Emerson and Ezra Ripley and likely spent summers at the Old Manse with the extended family.

Image 1: Painting of Theodora Thayer from the Old Manse Collection, OM.2001.1.
Image 2: Theodora Thayer, Portrait of a Model, 1885, watercolor on ivory, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, 2002.407, gift of Polly Thayer Starr.

Our ever-evolving garden rainbow now features these delightful pink peonies!
06/13/2026

Our ever-evolving garden rainbow now features these delightful pink peonies!

Stop by the Old Manse on Saturday, June 13, from 11AM-12:30PM for a special drop-in program inspired by the many generat...
06/10/2026

Stop by the Old Manse on Saturday, June 13, from 11AM-12:30PM for a special drop-in program inspired by the many generations of family and community that's found a home at the Manse!

Write and draw on a colonial-era "puzzle purse" and create your own note to pass on to someone in your life or leave it for a stranger!

"He loved each tree, doubtless, as if it had been his own child. An orchard has a relation to mankind, and readily conne...
06/05/2026

"He loved each tree, doubtless, as if it had been his own child. An orchard has a relation to mankind, and readily connects itself with matters of the heart. The trees possess a domestic character; they have lost the wild nature of their forest kindred, and have grown humanized by receiving the care of man" - Nathaniel Hawthorne

Up next on “What’s This?,” the fun game where you guess the purpose of some mysterious object found in the Old Manse, we...
06/04/2026

Up next on “What’s This?,” the fun game where you guess the purpose of some mysterious object found in the Old Manse, we have this object! Any guesses?

06/01/2026

The summer season is starting at the Old Manse, and we have some exciting programs coming up in June (plus a sneak peek into July)!

💌 Love Notes from an Old Manse returns on June 13, stop by between 11AM and 12:30PM to create a historically inspired note for someone in your life that unfolds before their eyes!

⛓️‍💥 In honor of Juneteenth we'll have a special offering of our American Contradictions: Enslavement and the American Revolution tour.

📜 Our next Afternoon of Poetry is on June 28, featuring poets Jim Zimmerman, Ed Meek, and Carla Panciera.

🗽 To help celebrate the 4th of July, we'll be open extra days before and after the holiday!

🥁 On July 3, we're welcoming Concord Fife and Drum, who'll be leading a demonstration and teaching about the music heard throughout the Revolutionary War!

For more info about any of our upcoming programs, visit https://thetrustees.org/ManseEvents

The garden is looking very pretty in purple lately! It’s been a joy to watch the parade of colors as the seasons go on!
05/31/2026

The garden is looking very pretty in purple lately!

It’s been a joy to watch the parade of colors as the seasons go on!

A huge thank you to the students from the Norfolk Agricultural High School who helped plant Thoreau’s Vegetable Garden t...
05/29/2026

A huge thank you to the students from the Norfolk Agricultural High School who helped plant Thoreau’s Vegetable Garden today! All the produce from the garden will go to local food pantries!

Address

269 Monument Street
Concord, MA
01742

Opening Hours

Monday 11am - 5pm
Wednesday 11am - 5pm
Friday 11am - 5pm
Saturday 11am - 5pm
Sunday 11am - 5pm

Telephone

+19783693909

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when The Old Manse posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Museum

Send a message to The Old Manse:

Shortcuts

Share

Category