Concord, New Hampshire
About the Tour
By the time Mary Baker Eddy arrived at this rented house in New Hampshire’s capital city, she was the recognized leader of a religious movement. She spent three productive years here, culminating in a landmark revision to her cornerstone work, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures. The tour includes an exhibit about Pleasant View, the property on the outskirts of town that Mrs. Eddy moved to in 1892 (no longer standing), where she would live for nearly 16 years until her return to Boston in 1908.
Through an engaging comprehensive exhibit and knowledgeable guides, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of the labors and achievements of a remarkable woman who would go on to become one of the most famous in the United States, as well as learn about the details of day-to-day life in the late 19th- and early 20th-century.
Tour duration: 45 minutes
Location
62 North State St.
Concord,
NH
03301
Admission
Adults (18+): $10
Youths (7–17): $5
Children (under 7): Free
Members: Free (View membership information.)
For groups of 10 or more, or if you have questions, please call 617.278.9000.
Hours
May 1 through Oct. 31:
Open by appointment.
Please call 617.278.9000 to schedule a tour.
Minimum 72-hour (three-day) notice required.
Closed Friday, June 12
Directions and Parking
Address:
62 North State St.
Concord,
NH
03301
Parking:
Free street parking is available directly in front of and north of the house on North State Street and on Court Street (on the side of the house).
Frequently Asked Questions
The house is not accessible. The tour involves standing and walking, some climbing of stairs, and only limited opportunity for sitting. If you will be accompanied by a service animal, please indicate this when you purchase tickets.
Backpacks and large bags are not permitted.
Food or drinks, including water bottles and children’s drink containers, are not permitted inside the house.
Yes. Photography taken with a handheld device is permitted for personal use. Flash photography is not allowed, nor is the use of selfie sticks. No photos or videos, whether of the inside or outside, may be used or published in print or online for any commercial or academic purposes without permission. Professional/commercial photographers and members of the media should contact the Office of Communication at 617.278.9000, Ext. 250.
Strollers are not permitted in the house, and parents should plan on carrying very young children during the tour.
Free street parking is available directly in front of and north of the house on North State Street and on Court Street (on the side of the house). Other parts of North State Street offer paid parking.
More Mary Baker Eddy Historic Houses
The Story
At the end of the fruitful decade of the 1880s, as she established and built up her church, Mary Baker Eddy withdrew from the hectic demands of Boston. A few weeks after leaving Massachusetts in May 1889, she rented this furnished house for herself and her small staff.
From here, the now 70-year-old Leader of Christian Science rallied her followers in June 1891: “My Beloved Students: … I am still with you on the field of battle, taking forward marches, broader and higher views, and with the hope that you will follow” (Miscellaneous Writings 1883–1896, 135–136).
Throughout 1890, she revised the textbook of Christian Science, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, until the landmark 50th edition was ready for publication in 1891. Later that year, Mrs. Eddy summed up the substance of her life and work in another book, Retrospection and Introspection.
This house stands as a reminder of the work Mrs. Eddy carried out for the better part of two decades while living in Concord. In 1892, she moved from this busy downtown location to a home of her own on Pleasant Street, on the outskirts of Concord. She named her home “Pleasant View.” There, in the demanding years ahead, she would reorganize her church as The First Church of Christ, Scientist, direct the building of its edifice in Boston, write its Manual of by-laws, ordain the Bible and Science and Health as its pastor, establish the educational system for teaching Christian Science, and respond to growing interest from the press and the wider world.
Years Mary Baker Eddy Lived Here
1889–92
Highlight
Mrs. Eddy completed the landmark 50th edition of Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures while living here.
House Fact
A paint analysis in 2007 returned this Greek Revival house to its original vibrant Victorian color scheme.
The House
This stately Greek Revival house, built circa 1850, is one of three similar houses erected before the Civil War near the state capitol. In 1985, it was given to Longyear Museum. The exterior underwent a major restoration in 2007 and 2008.
During that restoration, the roof was returned to slate; the elaborate cornices were repaired; and beneath white paint, researchers discovered and dated the decidedly more colorful palette of the 19th century. The exterior was then returned to the vibrant Victorian color scheme we think Mrs. Eddy would have known.
