Concord Museum

About

We are the museum of historic Concord, Massachusetts, housing one of the oldest and most treasured collections of Americana in the country. Come visit the gateway to Concord's remarkable revolutionary and literary history.

Story

The Concord Museum is the one place where all of Concord’s remarkable past is brought to life through artifacts from the Museum’s outstanding collection, rarely-seen images, period room settings, audio presentations, and creative hands-on activities. Highlights include "Why Concord?"—six history galleries accompanied by a film, "Exploring Concord"; a nationally-significant collection of decorative arts, featuring Concord-made clocks, silver and furniture; Native American stone tools; the 1775 lantern ordered by Paul Revere to be hung in the church steeple and made famous by Longfellow’s poem “Paul Revere’s Ride”; Emerson's study where he wrote his influential essays; and the world’s largest collection of Thoreau's possessions, including the desk on which he wrote “Civil Disobedience” and "Walden." In addition to the changing exhibitions in the Graham Gund-designed galleries, the Museum features a Museum Shop and a complete year-round calendar of programs for adults and children. The Museum is wheelchair accessible.

Mission

The Concord Museum educates visitors of all ages about the history of Concord and its continuing influence on American political, literary and cultural life. The Museum’s nationally significant collection serves as a catalyst for changing exhibitions, extended classroom learning, dynamic programs and publications relevant to an ever-changing world. Founded in 1886, the Museum is a center of cultural enjoyment for the region and a gateway to the town of Concord for visitors from around the world.

The Concord Museum has been continuously accredited by the American Alliance of Museums since 1973.