West Concord has never been a place that stood still. Its identity has been shaped and reshaped by the Assabet River, mills and factories, railroads, a prison, farms, shopkeepers, artists, and entrepreneurs. Buildings have repeatedly found new purposes; new arrivals have affixed their
own layers, adding to what came before.
Few people have watched that process longer than Maynard Forbes. He arrived in West Concord in 1951 at fourteen and, nearly seventy-five years later, still describes the village in terms of three forces that preceded him: “The railroad, the prison, and industry. Those are the entities that developed West Concord as we know it today.”
Seven years ago, in the first issue of Discover Concord, we introduced readers to Kristin Canty—entrepreneur, filmmaker, farmer, restaurateur, mother of four, and passionate advocate for changing the way we think about food.
Even then, Canty was thinking big. Today, the ideas she put into practice in West Concord have reached one of the culinary world’s most respected stages. Woods Hill Pier 4, her restaurant overlooking Boston Harbor, has earned a MICHELIN Guide recommendation—an impressive milestone in a journey that began close to home.
In 1989, opening a store devoted to organic foods, natural remedies, bulk ingredients, and environmentally responsible products was hardly an obvious business proposition. But Debra Stark knew that you could feed your family—and that it could still be delicious—with nothing artificial, nothing chemical, no refined sugars or flours. The idea was clean food, period. Thirty-seven years later, it is difficult to imagine West Concord without Debra’s Natural Gourmet.
Few places in the United States offer a wealth of history, literature, anthropological clues, and examples of Early American architecture along a one-mile stroll. Concord’s American Mile invites you to enjoy the great outdoors while learning about the town’s fascinating history. Begin your adventure at Monument Square and head east along Lexington Road.
There was a time when fine jewelry spent most of its life tucked away in a velvet box, reserved for weddings, anniversaries, and other milestone occasions. At Fairbank and Perry Goldsmiths, owner Geraldine Perry is helping to rewrite that story. “We want people to wear and enjoy their jewelry every day,” she says. “It should be part of your life.”
As the nation prepares for the America 250 celebrations in 2026, the meaning of patriotism feels especially resonant. Few organizations embody that spirit more fully than the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR), whose members work to preserve the legacy of those who fought for American independence. Members of the SAR are all direct descendants of someone who fought in the Revolutionary War.
On a spring evening in early April, Concord’s creative community gathered under a starscape of giant whimsical poppies decorating the ceiling of The Umbrella Arts Center for an event that celebrated the arts and honored the acclaimed author of Wicked and a long-time Concord resident, Gregory Maguire. There was much to celebrate as Maguire is actively supporting the rollout of a film adaptation of Wicked, as well as touring for his fifth book in the Wicked series, Elphie.
April 19, 2025, in Massachusetts was a festive occasion with hundreds of thousands of people from around the world gathering to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the first battles of the American Revolution. Across Concord and surrounding towns, hundreds of volunteers, museums, shops, restaurants, art galleries, and town staff worked tirelessly for months leading up to the commemorations. They worked hard to showcase the very best of the historic region to visitors from around the world – from American Revolutionary history to literary legends, beautiful parks and nature, and a wide array of cultural institutions.
As the historic moment approached, two independent, women-owned Concord publishers – Barefoot Books and Voyager Publishing – rose to the occasion and created lasting tributes to this historic anniversary.
Each year, hundreds of thousands of visitors from across the globe come to Concord, Lexington, and the surrounding towns to witness the time-honored traditions, tactical demonstrations, and festive commemorations that pay tribute to the first battle of the American Revolution. These amazing living history moments are only possible with the dedication and support of hundreds of passionate historical reenactors who work year-round to ensure the stories of our nation stay alive in the hearts and minds of visitors to our national parks.
The American Revolution, a new six-part, 12-hour series directed by Ken Burns, Sarah Botstein, and David Schmidt and written by Geoffrey Ward will premiere on PBS on November 16, 2025. The series examines how America’s creation turned the world upside-down. Thirteen British colonies on the Atlantic Coast rose in rebellion, won their independence, and established a new form of government that radically reshaped the continent and inspired centuries of democratic movements around the globe.
