Concord, Mass.: A Literature Lover's Vacation

Concord Museum, a AAA GEM® attraction, displays an array of historical items, but literary buffs’ favorites are sure to be Ralph Waldo Emerson’s study and the Henry David Thoreau collection. The original items and furniture from Emerson’s study at Emerson House (see description below) have been at the museum for decades, revealing the atmosphere in which he created so many of his enduring works. The Thoreau collection features more than 250 pieces—art, books, documents, furniture and other household items belonging to Thoreau and his relatives. A highlight is his desk from Walden Pond on which he wrote “Civil Disobedience” and “Walden.”

Right on the town square, this AAA Three Diamond property makes a great base for all your literary visits. It was built in 1716, and Henry David Thoreau lived here 1835-37 while he studied at Harvard. His quarters are now the Thoreau Suite, which includes a kitchen and living/dining area. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are offered in several dining areas; don’t miss a chance to dine on the front porch facing the square if weather permits.

Ralph Waldo Emerson lived here from the time of his marriage to Lidian in 1835 until his death in 1882. Not only is this house remarkable for the works he penned while in residence, but just think of the remarkable conversations that occurred between RWE and guests like Bronson Alcott (Louisa May Alcott’s father), Margaret Fuller, Elizabeth Peabody and Henry David Thoreau. The home features many of his belongings, including furniture and books.

Louisa May Alcott wrote “Little Women” in 1868 at Orchard House, where she lived 1858-77 with her parents and sisters, who inspired her beloved March family characters. The house remains much as it did during the Alcotts’ residency, and the majority of household items you’ll see belonged to the family. Louisa’s small desk, built by her father, sits between two windows in her bedroom.

COVID-19 note: Reservations are recommended. The garden and grounds remain open to all. Visit Louisa May Alcott's Orchard House website to purchase a virtual tour.

Built in 1770, this Georgian house was home to Ralph Waldo Emerson for a short time in the 1830s and also Nathaniel Hawthorne 1842-45. In this home Emerson drafted “Nature,” and Hawthorne wrote “Mosses from an Old Manse.” Perhaps the most endearing part is reading the brief but sweet phrases Hawthorne and his wife, Sophia, etched in a window pane. The grounds are just as interesting. Pathways lead to the North Bridge, where “the shot heard round the world” rang out in 1775.

COVID-19 note: Book in advance since space is limited.

Take time to wander the paths among the 10,000 graves of Sleepy Hollow, the largest of Concord’s three cemeteries, but Authors Ridge is your ultimate destination. This section contains the family plots of Bronson Alcott, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Nathaniel Hawthorne and Henry David Thoreau. Most of these authors’ headstones are fairly modest, but Emerson’s epitaph adorns a massive rose-colored boulder. Visitors often leave small mementos like stones, pens and pencils near the graves to honor their legacies.

When Henry David Thoreau declared his intention to move to the woods to be alone with nature, Ralph Waldo Emerson offered his friend part of his land near Walden Pond. Thoreau accepted, built a one-room cabin and made it his home 1845-47. He filled his days studying, gardening and enjoying the natural beauty of Walden Woods—all of which he chronicled in his journal, which led to “Walden.” Only a few foundational stones remain from his cabin, but a replica has been built nearby. You can experience the author’s much-loved Walden with interpretive programs and guided walks as well as recreational activities, including boating, hiking and swimming.

Among the home’s occupants over the years were Bronson Alcott, Nathaniel Hawthorne and children’s author Harriett Lothrop. Louisa May Alcott spent several years of her childhood here; her memories served as abundant inspiration years later when she wrote “Little Women.” Louisa’s parents aided a runaway enslaved person at one point, so the house is commemorated as part of the Underground Railroad. In 1860 Hawthorne added the three-story tower, which became his study.

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