Wonderful! Expansive, informative, complex museum. Friendly welcoming helpful staff. Excellent local host museum.

My mom and I stopped by the Concord Museum after visiting the Alcott House just down the street when we spent a day in Concord a week or so ago. The museum isn't large, but it's well worth visiting! It has a focus on Concord's role in the American Revolution, the writings of Transcendentalists who called Concord home, and the Indigenous communities of Cape Ann and their history and culture. Some of the highlights of their collection on display when we visited were the collection of Henry David Thoreau's possessions (including the bed, desk, and chair from his cabin at Walden Pond), a recreation of Ralph Waldo Emerson's study, and the room with the room that explores Concord's role at the beginning of the Revolutionary War (I'd forgotten a lot since school, and it was a great reminder!). We didn't spend too long at the museum (we only had a day in Concord and wanted to see as much as possible), but the museum was a great stop! read more

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Very disappointed. Staff was abrasive, and there were too many people in too much of a confined space. Was given a hard time because I had my bag in my hand and not hanging from my neck. And had a camera on me (perish the thought to have a camera at a museum), and water on the side of my bag (of course it was in my bag they never would've even known). Was there for the big celebration at Minuteman National Park and it started the day off wrong and put a damper on most of the day. read more

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There is so much at this museum!!! You can see the largest collection of Henry David Thoreau. You can also see the complete setup of Ralph Waldo Emerson. His house is across the street and his family donated his study since they would be able to care for it and more could see and learn. WAIT! There is more. Interested in seeing one of the lanterns that was lit to notify the British were coming? Its here and in the museum. read more

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A museum depicting the history of Concord from colonial times to beyond. I really enjoyed the video presentation of the Battle of Concord. The artifacts displayed were excellent. The museum had two floors of exhibits and it is well done. read more

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Ugh, hours listed were incorrect, as it was randomly closed when we tried to go today. :(

What an exquisite gem of a museum! This museum clearly underwent a recent renovation, and the result was a thoughtful history of the region. While it focuses on the obvious - the beginning of the war in Lexington & Concord, Henry David Thoreau and Louis May Alcott- it also takes great pains to incorporate the history of the African American community and women into the exhibits. While most visitors will come to see the lantern that famously hung in the North Church as part of Revere's midnight ride, the museum has many more gems to explore and is well worth the visit. read more

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This place is great! Well worth the money. Free parking. Lots of artifacts to see that I had no idea still existed. The lantern they hung in the window? The clock from the tavern that chimed while they waited? And a bunch of Emerson/Thoreau/Alcott things too. Very well done and guides are well informed. Highly recommend. read more

I was startled by how much I enjoyed this museum! Yes, it's on the small side but in a way it's just the right size to give proper attention to their artifacts. You don't want to blow by Thoreau's writing desk or a lantern that was hung in Old North Church to signal "two if by sea" because you have 78365793 other things to see. The balance between white western male history (writing desks, lanterns) and other experiences is excellent. Our knowledgeable guide went out of his way to explain what women were doing at that time and pointed to the relevant artifacts that might be less famous than the ones I mentioned. And there's an amazing map of the area with native names, and no "state lines" laid on top, not to mention the native artifacts. The history of enslaved people is highlighted as well. More than worth the price. read more

A really nice museum along the Lexington and Concord route - worth stopping in if you have a Go City Pass that provides you access - though I'm not sure if I'd be happy had I paid the admission fee. It's a cool little museum with lots of awesome artifacts, but you can make it through the whole place in 20 minutes or so, so be mindful of that when considering if it's worth it. We enjoyed the visit which was part of our Go City passes. read more

What a gem! Presenting important, sometimes complicated, American history in a clear, compelling way. So appreciative of the invisible hands and supporters who make this place the treasure that it is. Looking forward to returning. read more

I was blown away by the quality of this small museum. The exhibits and the space were truly exceptional.

A great museum to learn about Concord's history, the Revolutionary War, and Thoreau, Emerson, and Alcott. The exhibits are interesting. I'm glad I went. read more

My friend and l went to the Concord Museum, where we got to learn about the local history of the area such as the revolutionary battles that took place, famous authors, art, etc. It took about two hours to see everything on both floors. Overall the museum is nice to visit if you're looking for something to do in a rainy/snowy day :) read more

A very small yet full museum. Plenty of very unique things to see and to learn about. Staff member Susan was very friendly and knowledgeable of the exhibits and history. Most certainly worth the $15 admission. We plan on visiting again sometime in the future! read more

Concord Museum - Museum Sign - Museums Near Me - Concord, Massachusetts

Their map, the size of an SUV, of The Battle of Lexington & Concord really puts things into perspective specially for people new to the area. The timeline along with soldier counter really illustrates the changing situation well. This is all while you're surrounded by artifacts from that fateful day. read more

If you want a place that highlights all the greatest hits of the history of Concord, this is it! Each adult ticket was about $10 but they also have some activities for kids, so bring them along too. We spent at least an hour here, observing the recreations of scenes from colonial times. I recommend a visit if you want to explore our nation's history. read more

I went here late summer, but forgot to review this. It's a pretty nice museum, though it's a bit small and a tad bit pricey for what you'll get. The museum gives a timeline of how Concord has gone through the times. It covers major periods such as the colonial period and the Transcendentalists. I like the dining room and bedroom displays from the colonial period. Plus I like the wills that show what property was being dispersed. This museum is a bit weak on the paintings, but there are interesting photographs of Concord from earlier in the 20th century. Parking can be a little tricky. There's a small lot next to the museum, but if you can't park there, you have to park just off the street, which can get muddy. The employees here were all friendly and informative. read more

Concord Museum - Museums Near Me - Concord, Massachusetts

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When I plugged in the 200 Lexington Road address on my GPS, I was led right past the Concord Museum - oops! Turns out according to their website I should have typed in 53 Cambridge Turnpike, Concord, MA 01742 instead! Admission is normally $10 for adults, but it is free for Children 5 & under and for Active Military (with valid id). Children aged 6-17 are $5, Students 18 & over (with valid id) $8, and Seniors aged 62 & over $8. The staff here is quite friendly and helpful. There's a video to watch, then we headed on through the rooms on the first and second floors. Took us just over an hour to get through the museum in its entirety and the gift shop - and I read most of the posted signs. There's even an elevator for those who need a bit of assistance. Some cars parked on the Cambridge Turnpike, but we found ourselves a spot out on Lexington Street. We had a nice time, and were surprised to realize that Louisa May Alcott's Orchard House was right down the street (Lexington St. that is)! Tip - Photos are okay, just no flash photography. read more

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Excellent depiction of the battle at the old North Bridge, although, as the park ranger told us, the Minuteman monument is on the wring side. It is near where the three British soldiers were buried. Also the Museum is doung a good job of developing its early African American history collection and including stories of Arican Americans who fought in the Revolutionary war, some of whom were granted their release from slavery by their commanding officer. The Women's Anti-Slavery Society and recruitment for the 54th infantry division of the Union army, an all black regiment, was also included. Ongoing work to include the First Nations, or Indigenous people will add depth and inclusion to the collection. Enjoyed seeing RWEmerson's complete study and writing table with the paperweigtt from Italy that was a gift from his friend, women's rights writer and the Dial's editor, Margaret Fuller Ossoli. read more

This is a lovely museum. We enjoyed our visit. The exhibits were interesting and we enjoyed our time there.

Came for the lantern, stayed for the excellent exhibits. As a museum connoisseur, I am a tough critic. But the Concord Museum does such a nice job covering a lot of ground in a fair, concise, and visually pleasing way. The perfect size museum for an afternoon outing. We especially enjoyed the 1775 gallery and the incredibly interesting abolitionist material. What a great resource for the local community and beyond. I also need to mention the friendly and helpful staff, nice, clean, accessible bathrooms, and a small gift shop (which they really should further develop in order to increase revenue). Highly recommend this museum and will be back. read more

Amazing! We were pleasantly surprised by this informative museum tucked away in this quaint New England town. We appreciated learning the history of this area from the Native Americans who inhabited the area to the beginning of the Revolutionary War and the Civil War. There were a variety of exhibits - old things in glass boxes, a full room of Ralph Waldo Emerson's study, and unique video re-creations of the troop movements at the beginning of the Revolution. Docents were available throughout and very informative. The whole museum was recently remodeled in September 2021 and is well worth a stop if you're in the Boston area. read more

Impressive museum. I was surprised this small local museum was well developed and professional. Comprehensive coverage of the connections to Native Americans and women's history along with the expected Rev War and Transcendental wriers. Highlights for me were Native American artifacts, Thoreau's writing desk, and the original working models of the Minuteman Statue and Seated Lincoln by David French. The exhibition of the events of April 19, 1775 was outstanding! I highly recommend visiting. read more

This is a pretty decent museum for being as small as it is. That being said, the price of $10 per person is a little steep. There are lots of great artifacts in the lower level: clothing, weapons, deeds for property, arrowheads, etc, all from colonial times. The lower level leads you through a somewhat chronological history of the Concord area, starting with the Native Americans and taking you through all the famous authors who hung out in Concord. There is a video they show every 30 minutes or so, but the video is pretty antiquated, with pretty much every person in it dressed in disco outfits (a la 1975). So why only three stars? Well, the parking lot is a little difficult to access. It has no sign to direct you in from Rte 2, and you'll end up zipping right by, turning right on Lexington Rd, and seeing a parking lot you can't reach. The wallpaper in the restrooms are peeling off the walls.... a little creepy... made me think that water splooshes out of the toilet onto the walls frequently enough to un-gum the wallpaper. Finally, the short-haired lady at the front totally wanted to bone some Canadian tourist, so she sat there and talked with him for a good ten minutes, all the while ignoring my mother and I as we stood there patiently waiting... and waiting. Then, when we wanted to ask her a question, she was in another conversation with the same gentleman... So we waited again. Pretty rude, especially for the first point of contact at the Concord Museum. read more

Though I'm not a Concord native, I enjoyed the museum and the story of the town. They did a great job covering a lot of ground, from the Revolutionary period, to the literary boom, to the opposing points of view leading up to the Civil War. Probably their signature piece, which they use for their logo, is one of the signal lanterns used to warn Paul Revere. I more thoroughly enjoyed Emerson's study, which was moved to the museum from his house across the street. Most of the artifacts were mostly just normal stuff that told the story of the town. They also have a room that has a rotating exhibit (when I went it was strange purses and handbags). read more

I would keep on adding stars, but there is no room! What a gem in the burbs! A hidden ode to the rich literary and historical contributions of MA to the nation, the collection houses one of Paul Revere's midnight lamps... The ONLY known to exist to this day. It is so well maintained, fresh, bright and beautiful. The staff is amazing. I can't believe so much is hidden in this little gem. Open every day. If you love Emerson, Thoreau or Hawthorne. If you love Massachusetts. If you have a passion for American history and New England - visit! read more

Great tour and great place to read about everything that went on many many years ago. They're currently in the middle of adding on to the museum and when it's complete i can only imagine will be even more history. My favorite part was the old shoes and dresses that were worn for various occasions. read more

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Nice little local museum. The entry price is a little high but you get to see the "Paul Revere" lamp and the recreation of the Emerson Study so those alone are worth a few bucks. It doesn't take all that long to see everything so take your time and enjoy. The surrounding area (Concord in general) is a great place to walk and take in some of the other historical/famous homes and sites but if your here and doing the tour you need to make sure to take in the Concord Museum. read more

Nice museum in Concord. The exhibits are nice and at Christmas they have an exhibit called Family Trees, which is cool. Worth a trip. read more

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Astounding that so many of America's most important moments in history are documented by the collections of what some would consider to be a "small" museum. Ralph Waldo Emerson's study (preserved in a way that makes you feel like he'll walk through the door at any minute). Henry David Thoreau's writing desk. And one of the actual, "One, if by land, and two, if by sea" lanterns which Paul Revere ordered be hung in the belfry of Boston's Old North Church to tell fellow Patriots which way British troops were moving on April 18, 1775. Prepare to be awed. This gem of a museum makes history come alive. read more

No great art here, but plenty of medium-sized chunks of our American consciousness. The Concord Museum owns the contents of Emerson's study, the world's largest collection of Thoreau's possessions, rooms full of highboys and lowboys and windsor chairs that look as if they once sat in a spinster's parlor, and some relics of the Revolution, including the "one if by land, and two if by sea" lantern. Incessant ringing of cell phones aside, the Concord Museum is hardly touched by modernity and one leaves with the impression that nothing of note happened in Concord since the Transcendentalists transcended mortality. And that's OK, too. read more

We spent some time here during a rainy day. It's a lovely museum with loads of historic items. Information on Concord as well as Emerson, Thoreau and Louisa May Alcott. The program for families was very helpful in explaining the different areas of the museum. Staff was very helpful and gave us maps for the other points of interest in the area. Parking is tricky so be prepared for that. read more

Perfect little museum, worth the price of admission simply to see Emerson's study. It's an eclectic, small museum housed in a beautiful historic building. We had no trouble spending a couple of hours there an even the kids ( ages 16, 14 and 10 ) enjoyed it. We were off season and there was nothing but parking. I suspect it's expensive to maintain a collection like this, and with this in mind the ticket prices are perfectly reasonable. read more

Great museum! We joined today. The whole crew made us feel at home answering questions throughout the galleries. If you're a Revolutionary War buff or Transcendentalist fan, this place is a must stop. It's crazy how Concord was the epicenter for so much of our country's history! read more

My husband and I visited the Concord Museum on a Sunday afternoon. The museum is small and we felt the price of $10. per person is a little steep. We went to see the quilt exhibit because I have a quilt from the same time period. The quilts were lovely, but wish there were more than a dozen.. The rest of the museum was very informative on the history of Conord, There is a short film that is run every half hour. We enjoyed the period furniture especially Emerson's study which was moved to the museum . As others have reviewed, the parking lot is not well marked. We did not notice the lot until after we had finished touring the museum and walked around the grounds. We parked on the street as others did. Our other complaint has to do with the employees, or I guess you would call them "security" people that followed you from room to room. When you walked into a room an employee would show up and sit down in a chair and then leave the room when you left. They were not friendly, did not speak to you or smile and almost seemed snobish. We felt very uncomfortable with their presence. Did they think you were going to try to walk out with a quilt or a piece of furniture? read more

Although this is a small museum, it's a gem. I loved seeing Emerson's study & Thoreau's furnishings from Walden Pond. Worth the time & the money. read more

We recently took our kids to see the Family Trees exhibit at the Concord Museum, and it was such a lovely surprise! The building looks small from the outside, so we thought that we'd be in and out in 30 minutes, but the kids were so enthralled with the book-themed trees and the decorations that we spent all morning there. The staff was so friendly and helpful that the whole experience was just great. Those of you with children know that it's not often that a morning at a museum can be classified as great! We also checked out the permanent collection, and it was very impressive. They have a great collection of Americana and pieces relating to Thoreau and the existentialists. This is a not-to-be-missed stop if you're in the Concord area. read more

The Cape Symphony Guild took a day trip to Concord on April 2, 2016 and we visited the museum. So informative and interesting. Great gift shop as well. Our group had the "tea" and was a big hit with our members, especially on a cold, rainy Saturday. read more