Life From The Roots: Before the Tourist Sites Open, See Two Historic Sites in Concord During Covid-19

The Life From The Roots blog topics have changed several times since I began this blog in 2009. I initially wrote only about the family history I had been working on for 20 years. Years later, I was into visiting gardens, historical homes, churches, libraries that had genealogical collections, historical societies, war memorials, and travel/tourism places. I also enjoy posting autographs and photos of famous people I've met or have seen.

Along with my New England roots, other areas include New York, New Jersey, Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin, and the Eastern Townships of Quebec, Canada.

Please check out the labels on the right side for topics (please note, they need work). Below the labels and pageviews is a listing of my top nine posts, according to Google. Four of them pertain to Lowell, MA. These posts change often because they are based on what people are reading.

Tuesday, May 25, 2021

Before the Tourist Sites Open, See Two Historic Sites in Concord During Covid-19

Before the Tourist Sites Open, See Two Historic Sites in Concord During Covid-19 is my title and before this is old news, I'm sharing now. Concord, Massachusetts had some beautiful spring days and I took advantage of seeing the sites, both of which I've seen many times. They were the Minute Man National Historical Park and the Louisa May Alcott Orchard House There is very little writing, this post is for showing what these sites offered or not for visitors. Normally, the two places are packed with tourists, either by car, bike, or by bus. On April 24, 2021, I drove to the North Bridge Visitor Center (one of two) for information about Minuteman Park. On May 8, 2021, I stopped by the Louisa May Alcott house.

Minuteman National Historical Park

The parking lot was partially full, and you see the sign that greeted me. The beautiful Barrett House was closed to tourists. There was one guide there to answer questions. He told me they might open late in the summer and that I'd be happy because it had been renovated and looked beautiful. It seems as tho their problem was with staffing.

Side view of the Barrett House.

I walked the trail from the Barrett House to the lower parking and saw a few familiar sites.

From the upper-level parking lot on Liberty Street, you walk downhill on a path.

Photos from the lower level walkway from the Monument Street parking lot.

On another day I went to the Louisa May Alcott Orchard House which wasn't open. Although the sign from my last May visit said they would open June 30, 2020. I was the only one there until a father and adult daughter from Michigan showed up and were very unhappy that it was closed. The parking lot is very small and usually is packed with cars even though there is a larger lot nearby. I have been inside for tours several times, but they have never allowed photographs to be taken. The house is open year-round.

This photo was taken exactly a year later on May 8, 2021. I chatted with an employee who told me he thought it would open in August. In the past year, shrubs and bushes were added, and the walkway changed.