Just a 40-minute train ride from Boston is one of the nation’s most historic small towns. Its name fills history books across the nation, but Bostonians can hop in a car, train, or on a bike and immerse themselves in the historic town firsthand.
Concord, Massachusetts is one of the top 10 historic small towns in the US, and while its well known for its place in the American Revolution, it’s also home to a famous pond that inspired literary leaders, a scenic bike path, and a quirky downtown that feels different enough from Boston to count as an escape.
Things to do in Concord, Massachusetts
Concord is a must-visit town for history buffs. Round out a historic trip with a visit to neighboring Lexington and uncover some of the ground from the nation’s early history. There are over 15 historic museums and sights to explore in Concord, most of them free to visit.
Visit Walden Pond, where Concord native and legendary American author Henry David Thoreau sourced inspiration. The Walden Woods Project conserves the land and maintains the world’s largest collection of Thoreau-related materials, located a half-mile from Walden Pond.
Staying on the literary track, head downtown and visit Orchard House, the centerpiece of the beloved 1868 classic, Little Women by Louisa May Alcott. The first and second adaptations for the screen were filmed in nearby Massachusetts towns.
Make your way over to Concord Town Center; the space is especially picturesque in spring and autumn when the leaves come to life with a myriad of colors! Enjoy a latte from Haute Coffee on the town green!
Significance of Concord in American History
The native Nipmuc groups inhabited Concord, Massachusetts, naming the village of Musketaquid, which translates to “reedy river.” In 1635, the town became the birthplace of the American Revolution, with the Minutemen pushing the British back out to Boston.
The town also boasts a rich literary history, with Alcott and Thoreau among the most recognized names, but also Nathaniel Hawthorne, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and several modern-day authors drawing inspiration from this Massachusetts suburb. Many of those notorious names also lived in this popular Boston neighborhood.
Getting to Concord from Boston
Just 20 miles outside of Boston, those who feel ambitious can ride the Minuteman Bike Path from Cambridge to Concord, Massachusetts. It’s as close to Paul Revere’s midnight ride as you can get in modern day, although that ended in Lexington.
The town is about 30 minutes by car, or a 40-minute train ride on the Fitchburg MBTA Commuter Rail from North Station.
