Few American writers are as closely connected to a place as Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862). The landscapes of Concord and the surrounding towns—today part of Freedom’s Way National Heritage Area—shaped his ideas, inspired his writing, and helped define a philosophy that continues to influence readers around the world.
This itinerary follows Thoreau’s journey through the places that mattered most to him. From his birthplace at Thoreau Farm to his final resting place in Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, these homes, buildings, fields, forests, and waterways reveal the people and topography that helped form one of America’s most influential thinkers.
One of the most important decisions we can make is where to spend our time – either on a visit, or when thinking about where to put down roots and build a family and community. One of the aspects of Concord that attracts so many people from around the world to come here – to spend time, or to stay – is the unique essence of ‘place.’
