Wheeler-Minot Farmhouse
Also known as: Henry David Thoreau birthplace
Why it's listed
Built around 1730, this farmhouse at 341 Virginia Road in Concord, Massachusetts, is best known as the birthplace of Henry David Thoreau. It began as a large saltbox with a massive center chimney and a rear leanto, but was moved about 300 yards in 1878 and reduced to a simple two-and-a-half-story, five-bay, side-gabled block with clapboard walls and a fieldstone foundation. Inside, the lobby entrance keeps a three-run staircase and raised-field paneling that reflect the means of its 18th-century farming owners, and exposed frame members and early floorboards survive. The house was long a two-family dwelling; the Thoreau family rented the east half in the year of Henry's birth, while the farm was under the Minot family. Today it sits within about 20 acres of fields, meadows, stone walls, wells and wetlands. The town bought the property in 1997 and removed several 20th-century outbuildings.
Significance in brief: The house is the birthplace of Henry David Thoreau, who was born there in 1817 while his family lived in the east half. It also preserves 18th-century architectural features, including a high-style paneled entry stair, and is tied to the farming history of the Wheeler and Minot families. The surrounding fields and walls retain an agricultural landscape.
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 04000190, listed March 19, 2004. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 341 Virginia Rd., Concord |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | March 19, 2004 |
| Reference number | 04000190 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Colonial: postmedieval English; Colonial: Georgian |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Community Planning and Development, Literature |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Owned by the town since 1997; current functions listed as education (research facility) and agriculture. Late outbuildings were demolished after the town purchase. |
| Acreage | 20.3 |
| Coordinates | 42.47000, -71.31092 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
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 04000190.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6948294
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.