About Us

Located in historic Concord, MA, the 1780 House has served as both a private residence and retail store over its nearly-250 year history. It was the home to notable residents such as Henry David Thoreau’s family (who lived upstairs and ran a store downstairs) and John Shepard Keyes (the bodyguard of Abraham Lincoln during his inauguration who was present for his Gettysburg Address). For many years, many of us remember it as The Country Store with its penny candy counter. It’s a building that has had many lives and been at the center of Concord life for centuries.

Owned by a Concord couple with four children and a shared passion for architecture, design, and restoring old homes, the 1780 House has undergone a three-year long renovation to fully strengthen and restore the building. Every inch of the building has been intentionally designed to reclaim as much original charm and history as possible, while also creating a more beautiful, thoughtful, and creative space.

The 1780 House is open to the public as an art gallery and store, available for private event rentals, and also used privately by the owner as a creative studio space. It also features candy once again.

This project has been a true labor of love and we hope that you enjoy it as much as we do. We think of this building as part of our community. Whether you’re interested in viewing art or not, please feel free to visit us at any time.

“Our goal was never to create an art gallery alone. What drew us to this project was the possibility of creating more than that. A building with a history as rich as this needs to be used and shared. In addition to enjoying art, our hope is that the building becomes a place where community and creativity thrive.”

— Owners of 1780 House