Concord Monument Square-Lexington Road Historic District
Also known as: See Also:Emerson,Ralph Waldo,House; Wright's Tavern
Why it's listed
This compact district in the center of Concord, Massachusetts, covers about 46 acres along Monument Square, the town green, and Lexington Road. It holds a green, churches, an early burying ground, the Colonial Inn, and a street of mostly 18th-century houses, with later Greek Revival, Italianate, and Second Empire buildings blending in. Concord was settled in 1635, and Lexington Road served as the town's commercial center in the 1700s. Wright's Tavern hosted local resisters on the eve of April 19, 1775, and British troops occupied it the next day. The Peter Bulkeley House held prisoners during the British occupation. In the 1800s the area was home to Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau, the Alcotts, and Nathaniel Hawthorne. In 1923 the Concord Art Association moved into the John Ball House, adding an artistic chapter. Most properties remain in excellent condition and in everyday use.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls the district nationally significant as the site of one of the first English settlements on the Bay Colony's western frontier. Its buildings figured in the events of April 18-19, 1775. In the 19th century it was home to major American literary figures, and in the early 20th century it was the scene of developments in American fine arts.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 77000172, listed September 13, 1977. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | MA 2A, Concord |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | September 13, 1977 |
| Reference number | 77000172 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | 1600-1699, 1700-1799, 1800-1899, 1900- |
| Architectural style | Georgian, Federal, Greek Revival, Italianate, Second Empire, Georgian Revival |
| Areas of significance | Art, Military, Literature, Exploration/Settlement, Politics/Government |
| Level of significance | National |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition marked excellent and altered; properties are used mainly as residences and small businesses, with some museum, church and government uses. |
| Acreage | 46 |
| Coordinates | 42.45969, -71.34712 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 77000172.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5158826
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.