The Concord Planning Division works closely with the Concord Historical Commission and Historic Districts Commission to preserve irreplaceable historic structures and sites of Concord. It provides technical and research aids on historic properties and advises property owners on preservation issues.

Concord Historical Commission

Historical Commission Founded in 1973, the Concord Historical Commission "identifies and safeguards for posterity the unique physical attributes of the town as exemplified by the various sites, buildings, and other edifices of history, literary, architectural or archaeological significance of Concord." The Commission disseminates information about Concord history, protects designated properties and those with Preservation Restrictions, reviews proposed demolitions, and participates in reviews of state and federal projects that impact historic resources town-wide. 

Concord Historic Districts Commission

Historic Districts Commission Founded in 1960 by a Special Act of Legislature, the Historic Districts Commission has jurisdiction over projects large and small within the six Historic Districts of Concord. The HDC "promotes the educational, cultural, economic and general welfare of the public through the preservation and protection of buildings, places and districts of historic or literary significance through the development and maintenance of appropriate settings for said buildings, places and districts and through the maintenance of said buildings, places and districts as sites and landmarks compatible with the literary and historic tradition of Concord." 

Concord's Historic Districts:
The American Mile
Barrett Farm
Main Street
North Bridge / Monument Square
Church Street
Hubbardville

Researching Historic Properties in Concord 

To help you research historic properties in Concord, a new webpage offers guidance and links to resources such as the statewide cultural resources survey MACRIS, the Town of Concord GIS, and the Middlesex County Registry of Deeds, and Historic Maps of Concord.  

The Concord Free Public Library-Special Collections and the Concord Museum are excellent resources for researching Concord history. They professionally manage the archival and museum collections of the former Concord Antiquarian Society. Concord does not have a historical society.  

National Guidelines for Historic Preservation 

National standards and guidelines guide the work of historical commissions, historic district commissions and owners of historic properties throughout America. For historic properties other than museums, Rehabilitation is typically the most appropriate treatment.

The Secretary of the Interior's Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties (website)

The Secretary of the Interior's Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties with Guidelines for Preserving, Rehabilitating, Restoring and Reconstructing Historic Buildings. Part 1 Preservation and Rehabilitation (print/PDF version)

The Secretary of the Interior's Standards for the Treatment of Cultural Landscapes (website)