What Is The Old Manse?
This was the home and farm of Ralph Waldo Emerson’s grandfather, Reverend William Emerson!
What Makes It Historical?
What the heck’s a manse? Well, it’s the home of a Presbyterian minister, and that’s just what William Emerson was when he and his wife, Phebe, moved into this 2 1/2 story house in 1769. For six years, he riled up his congregation for independence, and on April 19, 1775, the Battle of Concord played out practically on his front lawn! From there, he marched to Fort Ticonderoga to serve as chaplain for the Continental Army, but sadly, he died of dysentery on his way home in 1776.
For years later, Mrs. Emerson married the new reverend, Ezra Ripley, and their son, Samuel, would much later rent out the Old Manse to newly married Nathaniel & Sophia Hawthorne for four years. Here, the famed author wrote Mosses from an Old Manse, and here, their first daughter, Una, was born! After the Hawthornes moved out in 1846, the Ripley family continued living in the Old Manse until 1939 when it was acquired by the Trustees of Reservations to become a public park!
How Can I #HelpTheHelpers?
- Pay the entrance fee to help maintain trails, signs, structures, and other visitor services!
- Volunteer with The Trustees!
- Donate to The Trustees!
- Be a responsible visitor! Please respect the signs and pathways, and treat all structures and artifacts with respect. They’ve endured a lot to survive into the present. They’ll need our help to make it into the future!
How Do I Get There?
269 Monument St
Concord, MA 01742
(Take Me There!)
When Should I Visit?
The grounds are open daily from sunrise to sunset, while the Manse itself is open daily 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM between April and October. In winter, it’s only open on weekends from 11:00 AM until 5:00 PM!