The Concord Museum

Concord Museum

A Walk to Emerson's HouseSitting between Louisa May Alcott’s Orchard House and Ralph Waldo Emerson’s home is the Concord Museum.

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You cannot help but let your imagination go wild, as you glance up through the boughs of an old fruit tree.

A Walk to Emerson's HouseOne day while photographing Emerson’s home, I glanced over at the Museum and couldn’t help but notice the grand old fruit tree sitting in front of the building.

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Concord MuseumI walked across the street and looked at the beautiful old tree from every angle.

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Concord MuseumSuch beautiful old trees. I wondered if Louisa May might have sat beneath this very tree while babysitting Emerson’s children.

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Concord MuseumI became curious about this majestic building, and the ivy covered brick facing which frames the gorgeous old green front door.

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Concord MuseumI thought, was this the passage that Louisa May took when going to Emerson’s home?

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Concord MuseumInside the museum you will find the most amazing exhibits. Yet, what about this handsome old building outside.

"In 1886 Mr. Cummings E. Davis moved into the Reuben Brown House house with his unique collection of antiques and would exhibit his collection of local American furniture and other items for a price. During Mr. Cummings feeble years The Concord Antiquarian Society safeguarded his items and became possessor of the house. The Antiquarian Society utilized the house to display their collection of artifacts from American Revolution until 1930 when the Antiquarian Society moved their collection to the present Concord Museum in fear the Reuben Brown House might burn down and destroy there priceless artifacts."

Concord Museum

Concord MuseumThen while rummaging through one of my favorite old book shops the other day, I came across this little obscure little book called the Handbook Concord Antiquarian Society, Concord, Massachusetts 1932.

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Concord MuseumWhen I opened up the book I read:

"In 1930 the old collection of the Concord Antiquarian Society was installed in the new house which had been built for it.

In the middle of the eighteen-hundreds a Concord character, Cummings E Davis had the unusual crotchet of collecting antiques. Long before the value of such things was recognized, he gathered everything he could."

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Concord MuseumThere inside was an old rendering of the Concord Museum. The Emerson family had donated the land where the museum stands today.

Concord Museum

Concord MuseumThe front door has also been preserved, and you enter through another door to visit the museum. A trip worthwhile. One of my favorite exhibits is the Emerson Library. To learn more about the museum you can click HERE.

Concord Museum
You just cannot help but let your imagination run wild...



Antique tree in front of the Concord Museum

as you glance up through the boughs of an old fruit tree. Dreaming of who might have sat beneath and written lovely words of the days they knew. Many people have come and gone admiring it's strong trunk and found shade underneath it's lovely branches. Yet it alone still stands, rooted in the history of the place and inviting the new guests to sit and to daydream for awhile.

The Concord Museum
Cindy said...

Fabulous, I found this to be very interesting. thank you. take care.

Castles Crowns and Cottages said...

LOVELY, LOVELY, and again, LOVEY post. My memories of this place are many and fond, and no one else in blogland that I know of can present my second home in such a beautiful way. Thank you dear Karen. Enjoy your day! Anita

Penny from Enjoying The Simple Things said...

That tree is magnificent isn't it? What a lovely place to visit. Hopefully some day I will get a chance to see it in person. But in the meantime, I will just enjoy it through your wonderful post!
xo
Penny

Joyce said...

This Saturday is the 5th birthday for Nesting on Main. Will you be going? Colby has a game, but I'm hoping to get there sometime on Sat.

The French Bear said...

What a magical and enchanting place to see....thank you for sharing this. I love this post....so interesting and I just love the feelings you create from just imaging Louisa May sitting under the tree....
Fabulous! I also wanted to say thanks for stopping by, I love to meet new friends!
Hugs,
Margaret B

myletterstoemily said...

oh, i loved every moment of this lovely
post. what a gorgeous site.

and! i have a fun story.

after the birth of our first baby, my
husband attended harvards PMD
program. our plan was to see each
other every three weeks.

alas, we were so miserable that he
moved our baby and be into a tiny
carriage house on a gorgeous estate
in concord, massachusetts.

he could still only leave to visit us
each saturday and sunday and
couldn't tell anyone, because it
broke every rule.

so all the other students thought
he was having a clandestine affair.

i guess he was! :)

Kathleen Grace said...

I adore gnarly old trees. Their maturity and all the storms they have been through give them such character and beauty.

The Quintessential Magpie said...

I loved this, Karen, and I would have to also wonder if any of the trees are old enough to have known Thomas or any of his descendants. One day I hope to get there. I would love to see it SO much, and I appreciate all the things you have shared about Concord both on and off the blog.

So glad you got the book and liked it! I loved the vintage illustrations. My grandmother's neighbor gave me her original book when I was a child, and it had the same illustrator. Not sure how old Mona was, but I received it about fifty years ago. And she was a grown woman, and I, a small child. When I saw this copy, I just jumped on it for you! So glad you liked it. :-)

XO,

Sheila

~Lavender Dreamer~ said...

What an amazing adventure! Those are our favorite kind of trips! You enjoy the surroundings and learn so much as a bonus. Very beautiful! I will put it on our list of places we would like to visit! Thanks! ♥

Lori said...

what a wonderful piece of history...thank you for sharing Karen:)

Bargain Decorating with Laurie said...

Karen, I would love to just live in your imagination for a day. I'm sure it is much more vivid and beautiful than my imagination. The thought of walking where Louisa May walked, or sitting where she sat - wow! You always take me on a journey - whether real or imaginary, and I love the journey I take with you, through your blog and through your creative art. laurie

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