Concord Historic Walking Tour

Estimated Time

Distance

Works Offline

Tours & Maps Included

Tour Highlights

Concord Visitor Center

Once a humble roadside stand with no running water, now home to exhibits on the "shot heard round the world" and Concord's role in the American Revolution.

USS Concord Bell and Veterans Park

A ship's bell with a long, quiet history, moved between the Concord Free Public Library and Town Hall's basement before finding a permanent home here.

1780 House

Once home to Henry David Thoreau's father and his shop, now a free art gallery blending colonial charm with modern design.

Sleepy Hollow Cemetery

Final resting place of Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau, Louisa May Alcott, and Nathaniel Hawthorne along its famous Author's Ridge.

Mary Rice House

Home of a teacher and Underground Railroad stationmaster who gathered 195 Concord schoolchildren's signatures on a petition that reached President Lincoln himself.

Old Hill Burying Ground

One of Concord's oldest cemeteries, tied to the town's earliest colonial families.

Wright Tavern

Where the First Massachusetts Provincial Congress debated resistance to British rule, and where Minutemen gathered before marching to the Battles of Lexington and Concord.

Is This Tour Right for You?

Perfect if you:

Love history and fascinating stories

What To explore at your own pace

prefer a private experience

What to avoid expensive group tours

Maybe not if you:

Don't have a phone

Like to follow the tour guide

Don't like stories

Don't like to go at your own pace

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does the Concord walking tour take?

The full route takes about an hour and covers a little more than half a mile, all in the compact center of town.

Does this tour work offline?

Yes. Download the tour before you go and it works completely offline, with no data connection required.

Are there any admission fees on this tour?

No. Every stop on this tour, including the 1780 House gallery, is free to visit.

Is this tour good for kids?

Yes. The Mary Rice House story about Concord schoolchildren petitioning President Lincoln is especially memorable for younger visitors, and the whole route is short and easy to manage.

How much walking is involved?

The route covers just over half a mile through the center of Concord, all on sidewalks.

What does "the shot heard round the world" mean?

The tour explains how this phrase, popularized by Ralph Waldo Emerson, refers to the first gunfire of the Revolutionary War at the Battles of Lexington and Concord on April 19, 1775.

Where does the tour start and end?

It starts at the Concord Visitor Center and ends at the Wright Tavern Center.

Can I pause the tour to explore the cemetery or gallery?

Yes. The tour is designed to pause naturally at each stop so you can explore Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, browse the 1780 House gallery, or take photos before continuing.

What is the Transcendentalist movement, and why does it matter here?

The tour explains how this nineteenth-century philosophical movement, led by Concord residents like Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau, shaped American thought around individuality, nature, and social reform.