Wright's Tavern
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Why it's listed
Wright Tavern is a red-clapboard inn at the corner of Lexington Road and Main Street on Monument Square in Concord, Massachusetts. Ephriam Jones built it in 1747 on land bought from the town, and it soon served as a center of political, military and social life. It takes its name from Amos Wright, the landlord in 1775. In October 1774, committees of the Provincial Congress met there while the full body sat in the neighboring meeting house. On April 19, 1775, the Concord Minute Men gathered at the tavern, and British officers Colonel Smith and Major Pitcairn waited there while their troops searched the town. The original block keeps its monitor roof and 18th-century character, with a 19th-century addition and a 1924 dining-room addition. Later used as a bakery, hotel, residence and restaurant, it has belonged to the Society of the First Parish since 1886 and now houses commercial tenants.
Significance in brief: The tavern is argued to be nationally significant for its link to events in 1774 and 1775 that marked the shift of American opposition from constitutional argument to organized rebellion. Committees of the Provincial Congress met there, and Concord Minute Men gathered there on April 19, 1775. Its original section is also valued for surviving with few changes.
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 66000793, listed October 15, 1966. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Lexington Rd. opposite the Burying Ground, Concord |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | October 15, 1966 |
| Reference number | 66000793 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1747, 1774-1775 |
| Areas of significance | Military |
| Level of significance | National |
| National Historic Landmark | Yes, designated January 20, 1961 |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as well maintained and structurally sound; open to the public and rented to commercial tenants and the Concord Chamber of Commerce. |
| Acreage | 0.3 |
| Within district | Concord Monument Square-Lexington Road Historic District |
| Coordinates | 42.46003, -71.34875 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
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 66000793.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q8038155
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.