Concord Landmark Old Manse Reopens After Coronavirus Closure

CONCORD, MA — The Trustees of Reservations has reopened most of its open spaces across the state, including Concord's The Old Manse, following a coronavirus shutdown in late March.

Only the grounds of The Old Manse will be open for normal hours, but Trustees ask visitors to practice social distancing. Buildings and inside areas of the park are still closed. The Old Manse was one of about 88 of the Trustees' properties that were reopened on Tuesday. Some popular spots include World's End in Hingham, Pegan Hill in Natick, and Redemption Rock in Princeton.

Three more popular spots — the Fruitlands Museum in Harvard, Naumkeag in Stockbridge, and Crane Beach in Ipswich — were set to open beginning May 20.

Mass Audubon and the Trustees closed access to all outdoor activities on March 24 following Gov. Charlie Baker's ban on gatherings over 10 people. The two groups oversee more than 60,000 acres of outdoor space in Massachusetts.

Outdoor activity has been one of the few escapes during the coronavirus pandemic. The Old Manse is a historical location that sits nearby where the first shots of the revolution were fired. The home on the property also saw Emerson, Hawthorne, and Thoreau spawned a revolution in American philosophy. A short network of footpaths connects the Old Manse to the North Bridge and boathouse on the Concord River.

• See all the Trustees of Reservations spaces open now
• See Mass Audubon spaces open now

Patch employee Neal Macnamara contributed to this report.