Wheeler-Minot Farmhouse facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Wheeler-Minot Farmhouse
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Wheeler-Minot Farmhouse
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | Concord, Massachusetts |
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| Area | 20.3 acres (8.2 ha) |
| Built | 1730 |
| Architectural style | Colonial, Georgian |
| NRHP reference No. | 04000190 |
| Added to NRHP | March 19, 2004 |
The Wheeler-Minot Farmhouse is a very old house in Concord, Massachusetts. It's also known as the Thoreau Farm because it's famous for being the birthplace of a well-known writer named Henry David Thoreau. He was born here in 1817. Today, this house is a historic house museum, which means people can visit it to learn about its history and about Thoreau. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2004 because of its importance.
History of the Farmhouse
The Wheeler-Minot Farmhouse sits on a 20-acre (8.1 ha) piece of land in eastern Concord. The house is a two-and-a-half-story building made of wood. It has a roof that slopes down on two sides and a large chimney in the middle. The outside is covered with wooden boards called clapboard siding.
The house was first built around 1730 by a person named John Wheeler. Later, a man named Deacon Samuel Minot bought the farm. He bought it for his second son, Jonas. Jonas Minot became the stepfather of Thoreau's mother. This means he married Thoreau's grandmother after her first husband passed away.
Even though the house has been changed a lot over the years, it was an important farm for 200 years.
Henry David Thoreau's Birthplace
Many famous writers and thinkers lived in Concord, like Ralph Waldo Emerson and Louisa May Alcott. But Henry David Thoreau was the only one who was actually born in the town. He was born on this family farm on July 12, 1817. He lived in Concord for most of his life.
After Thoreau passed away in 1862, people who admired his work started looking for his birthplace. They wanted to see where this important writer came from.
Restoring the Farmhouse
In 1995, a group called the Thoreau Farm Trust bought the house. This group is a non-profit organization, which means they work for a good cause, not for money. They worked hard to restore the house, making it look like it did in the past.
Now, the house is a museum that is open to the public. You can visit it on weekends between May and October. It's a great place to learn about Henry David Thoreau and the history of the area.
See also
