The Pierce Manse
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5.0(5)yelp
IndoorGuided TourEducationalHistoric Building
Overview
The Pierce Manse is a historic house museum located in Concord, New Hampshire. It was the home of the 14th president of the United States, Franklin Pierce, who lived there from 1842 to 1848, not long before his presidency.
Practical Info
MonClosed
TueClosed
WedClosed
Thu10:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Fri10:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Sat10:00 AM – 3:00 PM
SunClosed
Suggested Duration1-2 hours
Best TimeBest visited Thursday through Saturday mornings right at 10:00 AM opening from June to October. This preserved historic Greek Revival wooden home was the residence of President Franklin Pierce; morning light pours beautifully through the side glass, perfectly illuminating the rare personal artifacts and period wallpaper without lines.
Getting ThereLocated north of downtown Concord at 14 Horseshoe Pond Lane. Driving is effortless: from I-93 Exit 15N, head north straight onto North Main Street for 1 mile, and make a right turn onto Horseshoe Pond Lane. The colonial historic site features a free flat gravel parking loop situated right outside the welcome picket fence.
Travel Tips
- As President Franklin Pierce's historic home, operations rely on volunteers and run strictly from June to mid-October, with total winter closure.
- The historical floors lack modern acoustic dampening; visitors must walk softly, maintain silence, and leave beverages, pets, or selfie poles outside.
- Surrounding residential zones enforce strict neighborhood permit rules; tourists must park exclusively within designated 'Museum Visitor' stalls.
Reviews
Positive
- The only surviving Concord home of President Franklin Pierce; the brick structure perfectly retains its historic 1830s vintage aesthetic.
- Run purely by volunteer historians; docents offer incredibly deep, touching narratives on Pierce's politics and tragic family loss.
- Exhibits feature authentic Pierce family antique furniture, original letters, and personal porcelain, carrying immense historical weight.
- The home is incredibly quiet and free from tourist bustle; tickets are purely a low-cost donation, delivering an elite cultural stop.
Heads up
- Relying strictly on volunteer hours, opening availability is very sparse and seasonal; check online meticulously to avoid a locked gate.
- The site footprint is tiny, consisting of just a few rooms; a self-guided independent look takes barely 10 minutes without a docent.
- Accessibility is deeply limited by the historic floor layout; the turning wooden stairs are narrow, blocking wheelchairs or twin strollers.
- Sited in a residential block without private visitor decks or eateries, forcing driving tourists to hunt for tight street parking spots.