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All 23 Concord Attractions »

The Old Manse

269 Monument Street, Concord, MA
978-369-3909
Ranked #6 of 19 attractions in Concord
4.5 of 5 stars 10 Reviews
Activities: City walk sightseeing
Owner description: The first shots of the Revolutionary War were fired nearby – and, less than a century later, Emerson, Hawthorne, and Thoreau spawned a revolution in...... more » Owner description: 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. « less
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10 reviews from our community

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Date Rating
Massachusetts
Senior Reviewer
7 reviews 7 reviews
Reviews in 5 cities Reviews in 5 cities
13 helpful votes 13 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 19 April 2012

Took a tour in March on the weekend when the Old Manse was scheduled to be open for tours. The tour guide was very informative and shared a lot of interesting information about Ralph Waldo Emerson, Nathaniel Hawthorne, & even Henry David Thoreau. It was fascinating to be able to see some of the "graffiti" left behind from Hawthorne and... More

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Marlow
Contributor
20 reviews 20 reviews
Reviews in 16 cities Reviews in 16 cities
9 helpful votes 9 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 6 September 2011

The guides here are so very knowledgeable and informative, that one feels that you can hear and see the Ladies and Gentlemen of old living in the house. It is so well maintained, a testament to the guides. More

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USA
Senior Contributor
32 reviews 32 reviews
Reviews in 18 cities Reviews in 18 cities
17 helpful votes 17 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 10 August 2011

This has something for everyone - can serve as an introduction to the history of Concord and some of its more famous residents, yet it also gives a deeper understanding of Emerson, Hawthorne, Thoreau and the realities of that particular time in New England. Our guide was extremely articulate and gave a clear presentation. He obviously knew his history and... More

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Washington DC, District of Columbia
Senior Contributor
48 reviews 48 reviews
Reviews in 16 cities Reviews in 16 cities
22 helpful votes 22 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 28 July 2011

Ralph Waldo Emerson lived here. Nathaniel Hawthorne lived here too, as a tenant of Emerson's relatives. You can still see messages which Hawthorne and his wife etched into a few of the windowpanes. Also, a desk, said to have been made for Hawthorne by Henry David Thoreau. We had an enthusiastic and knowledgeable young tour guide. Thoroughly enjoyed visiting this... More

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See 5 more reviews by DrivingScooter for Concord
NewEngland
Contributor
13 reviews 13 reviews
Reviews in 6 cities Reviews in 6 cities
3 helpful votes 3 helpful votes
4 of 5 stars Reviewed 13 June 2011

If you love history, poetry, nature and a break from the hustle and bustle of regular tourist spots, The Old Manse in Concord,MA is a perfect destination. The home is beautifully kept with antique instruments, furniture, and all the items that make a house a home. I visited on a rainy day during Riverfest and the house was definitely a... More

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Salem, Massachusetts
Senior Reviewer
9 reviews 9 reviews
Reviews in 5 cities Reviews in 5 cities
5 helpful votes 5 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 26 October 2010

The Old Manse is absolutely stunning inside and out, and has so much to look at and take in. The tour was very well done, the best historic house tour I've been on (and I've been on a lot). Our tour guide was very knowledgeable and entertaining! She seemed to have genuine interest in what she was talking about, and... More

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Top Contributor
53 reviews 53 reviews
Reviews in 25 cities Reviews in 25 cities
102 helpful votes 102 helpful votes
4 of 5 stars Reviewed 8 October 2010
1
person found this review helpful

If you are in the area for Minuteman Park take a litttle time for this attraction. Very interesting. You will not be sorry. More

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See 3 more reviews by iluuvhawaii for Concord
Lexington, VA
Reviewer
3 reviews 3 reviews
Reviews in 3 cities Reviews in 3 cities
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 24 August 2010

A must-see for anyone visiting Concord: it was from this house that Ralph Waldo Emerson's grandfather witnessed the outbreak of the Revolutionary War. Later, Nathaniel Hawthorne and his new bride lived here and etched messages on the windows with her diamond ring (worst tenants ever!). The Old Manse is a hotbed of history and charming stories about the people who... More

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Greenville, TX
Top Contributor
78 reviews 78 reviews
Reviews in 38 cities Reviews in 38 cities
59 helpful votes 59 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 13 May 2009

It's a great tour of one of the most famous houses I've ever seen. Hawthorn, Emerson, even Mae Alcott learned how to play piano at this place. The guide was fantastic and really showed us everything and really painted the picture of what it was like to be there in that house and what many were doing there from the... More

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Las Vegas
Reviewer
4 reviews 4 reviews
Reviews in 4 cities Reviews in 4 cities
9 helpful votes 9 helpful votes
4 of 5 stars Reviewed 15 November 2008

For those with a sense of history, or simply a love of American literature, this home was a treat. Ralph Waldo Emerson lived in this home, inherited from his grandfather, and it became a center of literary and intellectual Transcendentalist pursuits. Thoreau and Hawthorne spent time there as well. The Old Manse offers guided tours for $8, well worth the... More

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