Concord Museum | Concord

Information

Landmark: Concord Museum
City: Concord
Country: USA Massachusetts
Continent: North America

Concord Museum, Concord, USA Massachusetts, North America

The Concord Museum is a history museum located in Concord, Massachusetts. It preserves and interprets the history of Concord and its inhabitants.

Visual Characteristics

The museum building is a two-story structure constructed primarily of brick. It features a Federal architectural style with a symmetrical facade, a central entrance with a pediment, and multi-paned windows. The exterior color is a muted red brick with white trim around the windows and roofline.

Location & Access Logistics

The Concord Museum is situated at 200 Lexington Road, Concord, MA 01742. It is approximately 0.5km East of Concord Center. Parking is available on-site in a dedicated lot. Public transport options include the MBTA Commuter Rail Fitchburg Line to Concord Station, followed by a 1.5km walk or a short taxi ride.

Historical & Ecological Origin

The current museum building was constructed in 1937, designed by architects Perry, Shaw & Hepburn. It was built to house the growing collections of the Concord Antiquarian Society, founded in 1886, to preserve artifacts related to Concord's colonial and revolutionary history.

Key Highlights & Activities

Visitors can view artifacts from the Thoreau family, including furniture and personal items from Walden Pond. The museum displays items related to the Battles of Lexington and Concord, such as Paul Revere's lantern. Special exhibitions focusing on specific historical periods or themes are also presented. Guided tours are available daily.

Infrastructure & Amenities

Restrooms are available on both floors. Limited seating is provided throughout the exhibition spaces. Cell phone signal (4G/5G) is generally available within the building. No on-site food vendors are present, but several restaurants and cafes are located within a 0.5km radius in Concord Center.

Best Time to Visit

The museum is open year-round. Weekday mornings, particularly between 10:00 AM and 12:00 PM, tend to have fewer visitors. The best time for photography of the exterior is during daylight hours, with morning light offering softer illumination on the brick facade.

Facts & Legends

The museum houses the famous "Mother Goose" desk, believed to have been used by the author. A specific tip for visitors is to look for the display of the original "Concord Hymn" manuscript by Ralph Waldo Emerson, which contains the line "the shot heard 'round the world."