Brewster and the Birds: Walking Tour

A young William Brewster and his childhood friend Daniel Chester French explored the rivers and forests of Concord and observed birds - an ornithological interest which later manifested in both of their careers.

An early conservationist, Brewster knew that protecting birds meant protecting their habitats, and in 1890, he purchased land along the Concord River to protect old trees from developers. Brewster’s Concord home, October Farm, became the center of his noted ornithological work. Brewster and his assistant, constant companion, and the first African American landscape photographer Robert Gilbert carved trails through the woods around October Farm, explored the river, and created extensive documentation of Concord’s ornithology and ecology. Follow Brewster, French, and Gilbert’s trails through Concord’s human and ecologic history with a Concord Museum guide. 1-mile walk, mostly flat terrain, rain or shine.

Date: Saturday, May 1st, 2021

Time: 8:30 am - 10:00 am

Location: October Farm, Ball's Hill Road, Concord, MA

Weather Policy: The tour will run rain or shine unless otherwise communicated by the Museum.

Parking Instructions: Access with parking for five vehicles is at the end of Ball’s Hill Road off Monument Street. Please park only in the designated area and not on Ball’s Hill Road.

Space is limited to 12.

Family-Friendly

Reservations Required

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Celebrate May Basket Day at The Wayside Inn!

This May Day, families are invited to The Wayside Inn to learn about the 19th and 20th century May basket tradition, listen to a read-aloud about Henry David Thoreau, and take a short, guided walk around our garden and Josephine’s Pond. Supplies to make one take-home May basket and a nature journal will be provided to children participants.

Date: Saturday, May 1, 2021

Time: 10:00 – 10:45 a.m. OR 11:00 – 11:45 a.m.    

Location: The Wayside Inn, 72 Wayside Inn Rd, Sudbury, MA

Weather Policy: In the event of rain, the walking/touring portions of the program will be cancelled. Take-home activities will continue in a covered area at our site.

Parking: General parking is available in one of two lots across from Longfellow's Wayside Inn.

Special Instructions: For children ages 5 and up with accompanying caregivers. Please note that this is not a drop-off program.

Space is limited to 15 children per session. Accompanying caregivers are limited to 4 caregivers per registration

Family-Friendly, Restrooms available on site

Reservations required

Mrs. Coolidge gets a basket of flowers and a kiss (1927).

Source: Library of Congress, National Photo Company Collection

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