Pest House

The Pest House is an 18th-century isolation building in Concord designed specifically to treat patients with contagious diseases. The structure reflects the medical practices of that era and now stands protected as a historic landmark.

The building was constructed in 1792 and stands among the earliest purpose-built isolation facilities in New England. It emerged during a time when communities began taking organized steps against epidemic outbreaks.

The building shows how early American communities dealt with disease and what solutions they created. It offers insight into daily life during epidemics and the measures people took to protect their communities.

The building is viewable from outside and sits in Concord where it can be easily reached via local streets. Visitors should know that as a historic site, interior access may be limited to specific times or occasions.

The building was the site of early experiments in fighting smallpox through isolation and treatment. These methods laid the groundwork for quarantine practices that remained standard in America for many years.

Location: Concord

Official opening: 1792

Address: 153 Fairhaven Road

GPS coordinates: 42.44647,-71.35545

Latest update: December 14, 2025 11:05