Concord, Massachusetts: Henry David Thoreau's Beanpatch
An engraved granite slab marks the spot where part-time hermit Henry David Thoreau grew his beans. He wrote a book about it.
Walden Pond State Reservation
- Address:
- 915 Walden St., Concord, MA
- Directions:
- Walden Pond State Reservation. Park at the Walden Pond parking lot. Walk along the north shore to the cabin site. Make a left at the site, then take the next right onto Wyman Rd (a dirt path). Follow it straight. It is well marked. The bean field is on the left, near the gate.
- Hours:
- Daylight hours. Local health policies may affect hours and access.
- Admission:
- Parking $15. Free parking down the road.
Visitor Tips and News About Henry David Thoreau's Beanpatch
Reports and tips from RoadsideAmerica.com visitors and Roadside America mobile tipsters. Some tips may not be verified. Submit your own tip.
Concord is wealthy, historical, and intellectual; and the town is full of itself. The city has more boring monuments per square foot than any other spot on the planet. Occasionally one of these falls into the category of the surreal, such as the monument to Thoreau's beanpatch. Who would have thunk! I understand they are planning to excavate Thoreau's privy. When the marker goes up for that, it will be time for another Roadside entry.
[Bill LaCivita, 12/04/2017]Nearby Offbeat Places
Authors' Ridge - The Literary Dead, Concord, MA - 2 mi.
First Woman With Drivers License Grave, Concord, MA - 2 mi.
Ponyhenge (Retired Rocking Horses), Lincoln, MA - 3 mi.Latest Tips Across Roadside America
Catch up on the latest discoveries from the road.
Explore Thousands of Oddball Tourist Attractions!
Unique destinations in the U.S. and Canada are our special obsession. Use our attraction recommendation and maps to plan your next road trip.
Thoreau scholar Bradley P. Dean published an excruciatingly long article in The Concord Saunterer establishing the precise location of the beanpatch. The marker was dedicated on July 9, 2006.