Thoreau Farm - Birthplace of Henry David Thoreau

Thoreau Farm - Birthplace of Henry David Thoreau The birth house of Henry David Thoreau in Concord, Massachusetts. Part of the Thoreau Alliance since 2026.

It is not desirable to cultivate a respect for the law, so much as for the right. — Henry David Thoreau, “Civil Disobedi...
07/17/2026

It is not desirable to cultivate a respect for the law, so much as for the right. — Henry David Thoreau, “Civil Disobedience”

"For all nature is doing her best each moment to make us well. She exists for no other end. Do not resist her. With the ...
07/04/2026

"For all nature is doing her best each moment to make us well. She exists for no other end. Do not resist her. With the least inclination to be well we should not be sick. Men have discovered, or think that they have discovered the salutariness of a few wild things only, and not of all nature. Why nature is but another name for health."

Thoreau wrote this in “Huckleberries,” an essay he left unpublished at his death at age 44 from tuberculosis. Thoreau celebrated health even as he battled his final illness. He found ways to flourish in spite of a body, and a society, that was anything but well. In our own time, when civic and natural ailments are both chronic and acute, what can Thoreau, and his time, show us about the conditions that promote flourishing—physical, mental, spiritual, social, ecological—as well as the conditions that hinder or prevent it? How can we be well in a troubled world? How can we live well in troubled times?

For the 2026 Annual Gathering, we hope to explore some of the many aspects of health in Thoreau’s world and ours.

Link in bio.

This Independence Day, we're reminded that Henry David Thoreau believed true freedom begins with living deliberately.In ...
07/04/2026

This Independence Day, we're reminded that Henry David Thoreau believed true freedom begins with living deliberately.

In just a few days, visitors from around the world will gather in Concord to explore this year's Annual Gathering theme: Living Well: Thoreau, Health, and Flourishing.

While you're in Concord, step inside the birthplace where Thoreau's story began. Our guided tours are free, air-conditioned, and offered Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday at 11:00 AM, 1:00 PM, and 3:00 PM.

Whether you're attending the conference or simply looking for a meaningful summer outing, we'd love to welcome you.

📍Thoreau Farm
341 Virginia Road, Concord

06/04/2026

Through his writing, Ross Gay reminds us to notice the small wonders of life, to approach the world with curiosity, and to find delight in the ordinary—expanding what we think of as nature writing in ways that are both tender, insightful, and exuberant. Join us as he receives the 2026 Henry David Thoreau Prize for Literary Excellence in Nature Writing.

Ross Gay receives the Thoreau Prize at TriCon Church, Concord (and streaming online.)
SUNDAY, JUNE 14, 7:00 pm
$20/person; Teachers and students attend FREE. Registration recommended for in-person attendance.

Learn More: https://www.thoreaualliance.org/event/thoreau-prize-honoring-ross-gay/

Did you know you can explore our grounds from dawn to dusk? And that we are now featuring Freedom’s Silhouette by Massac...
05/17/2026

Did you know you can explore our grounds from dawn to dusk? And that we are now featuring Freedom’s Silhouette by Massachusetts artist Liz Helfer?
Inspired by the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution and the legacies of Henry David Thoreau and Ellen Garrison, this installation uses reflective acrylic silhouettes on two benches to connect viewers with Concord’s history and enduring ideals of justice and freedom.
The artwork was originally commissioned for temporary display in Monument Square by the Town of Concord, in collaboration with the New England Foundation for the Arts (NEFA), the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC), and the Massachusetts Cultural Council.
We also have a picnic table, Little Free Library, and nearby Walking Trails. All the makings of a great afternoon in Thoreau’s backyard! We hope you will Visit (or revisit) Thoreau Farm soon and discover more.

Live in each season as it passes; breathe the air, drink the drink, taste the fruit, and resign yourself to the influenc...
05/17/2026

Live in each season as it passes; breathe the air, drink the drink, taste the fruit, and resign yourself to the influences of each.—Henry David Thoreau, Journal, August 23, 1853

05/11/2026

Join us for a free public webinar of leading Thoreau scholars discussing the new PBS Thoreau documentary.

Register on Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_gcc90rzzSAajQTfOTGVD5A #/registration



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Panelists will reflect on the themes of the film, the historical context surrounding Henry David Thoreau, and additional insights from the making of the documentary. This is an opportunity to hear directly from scholars who appear in the film as they unpack the ideas and questions that frame the series.

TODAY at Thoreau Farm (and streaming online) the Write Connection welcomes Donald Davis to discuss THE AMERICAN CHESTNUT...
05/03/2026

TODAY at Thoreau Farm (and streaming online) the Write Connection welcomes Donald Davis to discuss THE AMERICAN CHESTNUT.

05/01/2026

While many associate Thoreau with Transcendentalism and his iconic work Walden, or his influential essay Civil Disobedience, Ken Lizotte's new book WALDEN FOR HIRE uncovers a different dimension: Thoreau as an innovative professional, creative problem-solver, and quietly successful entrepreneur. In this conversation with James Pouliopoulos, Ken talks about business lessons from Henry that can be found in the book.

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341 Virginia Road
Concord, MA
01742

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