In the center of Concord, Massachusetts, stands a building that was built in 1747 and has witnessed significant events in the founding and progress of the United States. After serval years of study, analysis and priority repairs, the building is now open for private tours and for hosting meetings, events, and celebrations. It will be open occasionally for special events in Concord’s history.
The project to repair, restore, renovate and manage the Wright Tavern is being led by the Wright Tavern Legacy Trust. First Parish in Concord currently owns the building. The Trust is an independent, non-profit trust that has leased the building from First Parish and is leading the effort described below. We, the Trust, seek your support to help us realize our vision and aspirations for this building and enable the Wright Tavern to take its rightful place in telling the stories of Concord’s history and the founding of the United States.
The Importance of the Wright Tavern
1747
The Wright Tavern was built in 1747 and operated as a place where people gathered, debated and engaged in actions to protect their rights. It is one of the few buildings in Concord that has remained fundamentally unchanged. The Wright Tavern also played host to several notable events.
1774
In October 1774, the Massachusetts General Council met in Concord and reformed itself into the First Massachusetts Provincial Congress in response to punitive actions taken by the British crown. In this and subsequent meetings, at high risk by its delegates, the Congress:
Established Massachusetts as the first colony to separate from Britain,
Created a government based on the principles of independent representative government and rules based on justice and citizen participation,
Developed a democratic governance process that became a model for other colonies – John Hancock was elected President of Congress.
Their meetings were held in the Meetinghouse (now First Parish in Concord) when they met in Concord. The leaders and committees met in the Wright Tavern to plan the agenda, make decisions and develop processes for guiding the Provincial Congress. When you are in the Wright Tavern, if you are quiet, you can almost hear their voices.
1775
At around 2:00 AM on April 19, 1775, Dr. Samuel Prescott arrived in Concord, having just escaped capture by the British while riding with Paul Revere and William Dawes. He engaged the courthouse caretaker to ring the bell, alerting the citizens of Concord that the British Regulars were coming to Concord. Shortly thereafter, over 150 minutemen and militia met in and around the Wright Tavern as this was the agreed meeting place. They planned and prepared how to respond to the impending military action.
Later that morning, over 700 British Regulars marched into Concord after completing a short battle in Lexington. Their mission was to search the town and seize all munitions and supplies of the growing rebel cause. They established their headquarters in the Wright Tavern. Later that day, having been defeated at the North Bridge and fooled and misled by the Concord citizens, the Regulars left with a failed mission on a long and treacherous march back to Boston.
1864
Even after the Wright Tavern ceased being a tavern, it witnessed many events in the forming of our country. For example, in 1864, Mary Rice and Mary Peabody Mann gathered the signatures of 195 children for a petition to President Abraham Lincoln asking him to free the enslaved children. This is known as the “Little People’s Petition.” This petition was led from her kindergarten classroom in the Wright Tavern. A copy of the petition and pictures of Mary Rice are on display in the Concord Museum.
1961
In 1961, the Department of Interior designated the Wright Tavern as a National Historic Landmark for being a “historic site of exceptional value in commemorating and illustrating the history of the United States.”
Historical Preservation Efforts
In 1885, First Parish in Concord received ownership from Judge Ebenezer Hoar and Mr. Reuben Rice. Many of the historic buildings were being torn down to support a growing township. Scholars often say it takes 100 years before a building or item is viewed as historic. Hoar and Rice realized the historical importance of the building and the risks it faced in the growing Concord of the late 1800s. They desired to preserve the building, and because of their foresight, First Parish has been able to preserve and retain many of the unique qualities of the Wright Tavern.
Over the years, the building has provided First Parish with much-needed income and kept the building in good operating condition. The building has been used as a restaurant and inn, a place of many shops and stores (e.g., Tri-Con Gift Shop), and offices. For most of the past thirty years, the building has been closed to the public because of the professional offices in the building.
In 2014 a study group of Concord historians and First Parish members was commissioned by First Parish to determine the best use of the building. As a result, the Concord Museum leased the building for three years and used it for offices, reenactments, and public tours. The agreement ceased in 2019, and First Parish commissioned another group to study and determine what should be the future of the Wright Tavern.
The Wright Tavern Futures Task Force determined that the building should be restored, renovated, and opened to the public based on its roots in the formation of democracy and historical importance. They established the Wright Tavern Legacy Trust to oversee this project and establish the Wright Tavern as a fully functioning site for the public to learn and experience its history.
