Centennial Stereographs (1875)
Stereoscopic view photographs, also known as stereographs or stereoptic cards, are photographs designed for viewing in a stereoscope. Stereoscopes were a popular Victorian-era pastime similar to the more recent Viewmaster. Stereographs consist of two similar versions of a single image mounted side-by-side on a small rectangular board. Placing the stereograph inside the stereoscope allowed users to view the two photographs as a single image. Local photographers created and sold multiple sets of stereographs following the 1875 Centennial. Marketed as "Centennial Views," images were taken during the festivities in both Concord and Lexington.
This interactive map marks where twenty-six "Centennial Views" stereographs were taken during the 1875 Centennial. Some locations are exact, while others have been estimated. Click on each pin to view the photograph in the location it was captured! Click on the images in the grid below the map to view them in full.
A group of men pose in front of the Elisha Jones ("Bullet Hole") House, which is marked with a banner. Now part of Minute Man National Historical Park, the house was hit by a musket ball as the British retreated after the Concord Fight in 1775.
A group of people pose in front of the Old Continental Tree, labeled with a banner.
The Centennial Ball was held in the Agricultural Hall, which was richly decorated with flags and bunting for the occasion.
A snowy view of the North Bridge in 1875.
Two children pose on the North Bridge.
A decorative arch marks the entrance to the path to the Battleground at what is now Minute Man National Historical Park.
A photograph of Wright's Tavern, decorated for the Centennial with an informative banner reading, "Pitcairn stirring his brandy with bloody finger said 'I hope to stir the damned Yankee blood so before night.'"
A photograph of Ulysses S. Grant (third from left) and several cabinet members in front of Judge Samuel Hoar's home during the Centennial.
A photograph of the Minute Man statue soon after its placement.
The inside of the very large dining pavilion, which was equipped for 4,000 diners.
The interior of the oration tent, which was located on the field behind the North Bridge. The dining tent was also located in this area.
The 1836 Battle Ground Monument shortly after the placement of the Minute Man statue. The monument was placed in honor of Concord's Bicentennial (Town Birthday) in 1835.
The Concord Free Public Library, which had opened only two years earlier in 1873.
Parked horses and carriages along Monument Square with spectators visible in the background.
The Old Hill Burying Ground marked with a sign for the Centennial celebration. The sign reads "Graves of Revolutionary Heroes." Many veterans of the Concord Fight are buried in this cemetery.
The Soldiers Monument in the center of Monument Square, erected in 1867. The monument memorializes 48 Concordians (an additional 49th name is missing) killed in the Civil War.
The Old Manse during the 1875 Centennial. During the celebration, many historically significant locations in Concord were labeled with large signs explaining their importance for out-of-town visitors. The sign in front of the Old Manse in this photograph notes that it was the "House of Rev. Wm. Emerson, April 19, 1775."
Now part of Minute Man National Historical Park, the Wayside has been home to many notable Concordians. These include Samuel Whitney (original Muster Master of the Concord Minutemen), Nathanial Hawthorne, Louisa May Alcott, and Margaret Sidney.
The First Parish Church decorated for the Centennial celebration, with large garlands hanging from the middle of the ceiling and draped onto the sanctuary's balcony. The photograph is taken from the church's pulpit and the organ in the back of sanctuary is visible.
A house at Walden Pond with several children playing outside. By the time of the Centennial, Walden Pond had become a popular destination that included an amusement park.
Ralph Waldo Emerson's study at his home along what is now Lexington Road and Cambridge Turnpike. Emerson witnessed and served on the committees for three major Concord celebrations: the 1835 Concord Bicentennial, the 1850 Concord Fight 75th Anniversary, and the 1875 Concord Fight Centennial.
The graves of Major John Buttrick and Colonel James Barrett, both major figures in the Concord Fight. Buttrick was a leader of the Concord Minutemen and, famously, gave the order to his men to fire on the British. Barrett was also a leader of the militia and is most known for hiding their guns, gunpowder, and cannons on his farm.
Buildings along Monument Square close to Wright's Tavern. Homes and businesses along Monument Square and Main Street decorated with bunting and flags for the Centennial, a custom which persists to this day.
A large group of people pose for a photograph at Walden Pond. The women, children, and a few men stand on the grass while most of the men stand in and around a gazebo behind them. A large building is visible in the background. In the 1870s, Walden Pond was home to an amusement park, which burned down in 1902.
The Old Block House decorated with bunting, flags, and a sign denoting its significance. The sign indicates that the house was built in 1634, but this is not known for certain. The house was likely labeled for the Centennial because Reverend John Jones, a town founder, may have lived there. The home may also have served as a garrison during King Philip's War. The house's pin on the interactive map is its original location on Main Street. In 1929, it was moved to its present location at 57 Lowell Road.
The Milldam area on Main Street in downtown Concord. The area was originally home to a grist mill built only a few years after the town's founding. Mill Brook, which now flows underground, originally led to a pond that powered the mill. Though its namesake has long since disappeared, the short stretch of Main Street between Walden Street and Monument Square retains this moniker.