Why tour with Gatepost

What is Gatepost Tours all about?

And why should you book a tour with us?

We’re all about historic Concord!

Concord, Massachusetts has a truly extraordinary history for one small town and, accordingly, attracts visitors from all over the world. In one day, you can experience the serenity of Thoreau’s Walden, visit the home of “Little Women” and enjoy the thrill of standing on the battleground from which “the shot heard ‘round the world” was fired.

Concord’s literary past is notable for both its concentration of famous authors and the outstanding preservation of the homes they once lived in. It’s amazing to think back to the 19th century and imagine Hawthorne and Emerson strolling home after a walk down Main Street, only to run into Thoreau along their way.

Today, you can follow those same paths and step through those exact rooms for an authentic literary experience like no other. This is our passion at Gatepost and we make it as easy as possible to tour Concord’s history without missing a thing!

We’re truly all-inclusive

Downtown Concord has lots to do, great shopping, places to eat, and many historic sites. However, if you do plan to visit Walden Pond, did you know it’s two miles away from town center? Sure, Thoreau may have enjoyed this leisurely walk, but he didn’t have a plane to catch.

In addition to the scattered nature of the historic sites, they’re all owned and operated by different organizations and maintain varying admission fees and hours. Where to even start?

Navigating Concord is simple with Gatepost because we offer comprehensive, complete tour packages in which you’re chauffeured through town. Each house visit is streamlined to highlight its most important aspects without overwhelming. This gives us the opportunity to focus specifically on the literary history while ensuring we have time for each special place on our itinerary.

Furthermore, through Gatepost your admissions are all prepaid, your entry to each house pre-booked and your entire experience narrated by two knowledgeable and entertaining guides who will be delighted to answer all your questions!

We’re here all year

Traditionally, the busy season in Concord is June-October. Summer is a fabulous time to visit, and booking with Gatepost is a great way to guarantee you’ll get to the sites you want - without risking a tour being unavailable and filled to capacity when you arrive.

But did you know that Concord is just as lovely in the winter? And the best part is, it feels like you get the whole town to yourself! Most of the sites stay open year round so all our tours can still be enjoyed. Plus, many of the inns and hotels run special deals throughout the winter making it even more enticing to come and stay a while. Gatepost can help plan a snowy morning adventure out at Walden Pond, an exclusive tour of an historic house in the afternoon and then a cozy evening at one of Concord’s historic inns, complete with warm drinks and roaring fire. A perfect New England winter day!

We know what it’s like to have an inner-literary geek

The fascination with an esteemed author’s home has been at the root of literary pilgrimage for hundreds of years. There’s something profound and satisfying about being in the same room as where a great work has been conceived and written. To look upon Louisa’s desk, or to linger quietly in Emerson’s famous study is an experience that touches everyone in a singular way. At Gatepost, we feel privileged every time we have the opportunity to get close to these influential writers and know that you will too.

Our tours bring together the best that Concord has to offer in an exclusive, yet informal environment. We’ll help reveal the authors as tangible and relevant - not just names on a dusty book cover.

But most of all, we want you to have so much fun during your visit that you won’t even notice how much you’re learning!

So stick around, check out our tour menu, or just spend some time getting to know Concord through our website. You can book a tour, send us an email or peruse some of the beautiful places to stay and visit while you’re here.

Have fun looking around and we hope to see you in Concord soon!

Some inspiring links about literature and why the concept of a literary pilgrimage remains so fascinating!

“House Hunters”

A fantastic piece by A N Devers exploring the origins of literary pilgrimage.

“Like Thoreau, I drank deep from Nature”

How reading “Walden” changed Guy Grieve’s life.

“The American Literary Blog”

An almost-daily celebration of important (and not so important) dates in 19th-century American Literary history