My mom and I visited the Gropius House when we spent a day in Concord a week or so ago, and it was incredible. Walter Gropius was one of the most influential architects of the 20th century. He founded the Bauhaus, a German art, design, and architecture school in 1919. It's incredible how influential Bauhaus was and continues to be, considering it only lasted until 1933 (when it was closed by the Nazis). Gropius left Nazi Germany in 1934 and arrived in the United States in February 1937, with his wife and 12-year-old daughter. Gropius became a professor at the Harvard Graduate School of Design and built this house in Lincoln, Massachusetts, for himself and his family. Gropius lived in the house until his death in 1969, and his wife lived in the house until own death in 1983. The house opened to the public in 1985, operated by Historic New England. I arranged a tour in advance for my mom and me, and about 5 other people joined our tour. Our tour guide Christine showed us around both floors of the house. She was great and so was the tour! The house is really incredible. It features design elements of Gropius and Bauhaus, but Gropius also featured design elements inspired by New England (the exterior's vertically-oriented white planks and stone elements). The house is just cool - an incredible staircase in the entry hall, an open coatroom, glass blocks, and more. On the tour, you can enter every room of the house, and there's so much to say about each one. The furniture is incredible, and so is the art. The Gropiuses had famous and talented friends that stayed at the house, and the house is filled with art and mementos from those friends. The tour is incredible. If you're at all interested in architecture, this house is a must visit! read more

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Beautifully executed house by Gropius is a must see for architects or anyone interested in modernism. It is very well maintained, and the guides are well informed. read more

We stopped in today hoping for a tour and wow did we get a tour!!!! Our wonderful docent David was beyond knowledgeable about the home and its occupants. He was a pleasure to listen to and he was extraordinarily patient as we took photos and asked questions. This is a home with some gorgeous furniture and art in the Bauhaus style. The home is artfully and thoughtfully decorated by Walter's wife and daughter after his passing. What a wonderful legacy to leave to the public who can learn and appreciate a time of simple pleasures and classic style. This is a well worth the money...it's comprehensive but still highly engaging. We found it stunning in all aspects. Highly recommend!!! read more

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Yes, very worth going. The tour was intimate and informative. Kanye is right. I was disappointed with how it looked on the outside, but took away a lot of ideas for the interior spaces for my own home. read more

Honestly not much to see, reminded me of a creepy house you'd see out in the hamptons or something. Also not much area to walk around and see. read more

at first glace or by the non-architectural eye this home is un-welcoming. But once you take a moment to visit the site and understand the building you too will call this place home! When it was first built neighbors called this place "the salt box on the hill" its worth the trip to Lincoln to view this home. read more

The Gropius House - photo I took at the site - Museums Near Me - Lincoln, Massachusetts

I have had this on my list of things to do for over 15 years. Yesterday I finally got there. It was a mixed experience but I am giving it a four star rating because the iconic architecture carries the day. The pluses: built in 1938, this building evokes the 1980s to many visitors. Yup, you could say that it was waaay ahead of its time. But I think that it would be more accurate to say that the ideas of its designer, which it embodies, shaped the history of our built environment irrevocably and so fundamentally that it is easy to take it for granted. I enjoyed the level of access given by the tour, it included both bathrooms and the kitchen. The minuses: This facility fails on visitor readiness. A portajohn!?!?! Inadequate parking. Limited availability of timed tours. This is a very small and intimate residence built for a family of 3. My tour group was 11 people. We did not all fit into the spaces. Sometimes it was hard to hear the guide. Although photography without flash was allowed, the crowded conditions made it very challenging. Because of a very large specially scheduled group that followed us, the visitors shed was not open after our tour and we could not buy any merchandise. The landscape was over grown and should be restored. It would be ideal that if someday Historic New England could acquire the neighboring Marcel Breuer home and operate them jointly. Even better if the house across the street could be acquired and used as a visitor center with adequate parking, restroom facilities and added interpretive space (addressing the Bauhaus with graphics, the impact of the Nazis on the intelligentsia, the body of Gropius's work, and his impact on architectural education). read more

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I took architecture in high school, and I was surprised to see that Walter Gropius had a house here. So when I had a free weekend, I decided to visit. The visitor's center/gift shop/ticket counter is a small hut-like place just outside the house. There's a porta-potty just next to it, which doesn't exactly lend itself to the experience. You have to wear shoe coverings before you enter and you're definitely not allowed to touch anything inside the house. You'll probably cover this house in about 30-45 minutes. A lot of the furniture inside reminded me of going to my relatives' house during the 80's. Some of this too could fit in with an Ikea showroom. My tour guide was absolutely patient and informative. The rest of my tour group had to leave 10 minutes into the tour (what the heck was the point of going to this museum if you knew you had a tight schedule?) so he gave us a really quick tour of the house. However, once the others left, he took time to discuss more about the house and the items inside. He didn't really have to do it, but I really appreciated it. Another tour guide (not mine) was extremely discourteous towards me and I wrote a complaint email to Historical New England. I received an apology promptly, which was really considerate. If it weren't for the prick, I would've given this museum 5 stars. Aside from that, everything was educational and enjoyable. read more

Fabulous tour and a beautiful home. The Gropius House offers a glimpse into design in the 1930s and beyond, and lets you experience it all peacefully, without crowds or lots of planning. My dad and I came here for a Father's Day trek, and got on the 3 PM tour (the house is only open to tours, so come on the hour! The last one is at 4). We loved the narration but also the freedom to experience each room ourselves, rather than leaning in from a doorway. It wasn't always easy to take pictures, but that just reminded us to experience the home in person. My personal favorite (and new design inspiration): the porch / balcony with its ivy and PINK WALL! So beautiful and peaceful, I need one of those in my home! Make a day out of this trip by going to the deCordova sculpture park / design school at the same time. read more

My sister and I just got back from the Gropius House, and it was a very fascinating tour. Our tour guide, Mary Woodward (I believe) was very knowledgable and readily answered all our questions. Some of the room were a tight fit, but we saw everything. The furnishings were as fascinating as the house, and I even got some design tips for my own humble apartment. FULL DISCLOSURE: We went on the free admission day. But I would have gladly paid the $15 admission fee. TIP: Be sure to check in at the visitors center at the entrance. And grab some brochures, as there are many great houses to visit as a part of Historic New England. read more

not a large amount of land to checkout. no crazy garden or anything. seeing the outside was enough to get a kick out of without needing to pay the admission to see inside --when there's pics of the inside online. weird vibes overall. would not rush back. read more

The house is interesting but given its relatively small size the admission is on the high side. To counter this we tried to take advantage of a deal where if you go to the DeCordova Sculpture Museum the same day you get half off your admission here. It should have been $7.50 which is 50% off for adults and $6.00 which is 50% off for seniors. I was told I had to split this into two transactions due to the senior discount, then was charged $7.50 anyways for the senior admission. The staff blamed the computer and would not or could not fix this error. The tour is informative but on the long side. By the end half the people who started out had bailed. I don't know if the length is because they are trying to justify the admissions price, but the systems and tour here could both be improved. read more

Major piece of European history in an up market town. If you love Modernism, it is a must see!! The house is 2,400 square feet. Before Gropius arrived at Harvard U, he founded Bauhaus in Berlin in 1919. He came to America before the War to become the architecture professor at Harvard University. I would have loved to have been a guest at his dinner parties. read more

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Visited a few years ago. Found the booties that guest have to wear so as not to scrape the floors kind of funny looking. Tour guide was well versed and I found it interesting to see the house just as it was left... as if the family had just run to the store and would be back any minute. read more

I love that is architectural gem is so close to Boston! We arrived shortly after a tour already started so it gave us the chance to walk around and take some pictures. The tour started promptly at noon and we went on our way. To enter the house you need to wear some booties so you don't ruin the floors. The space is preserved beautifully. There are two things you can touch- the handrail (safety issue) and a reproduction chair. Our tour guide was well informed about the house but we asked some questions she had never been asked before- love when an architect student notices things within 1 minute that the guide has never considered :-) I just wish you could take pictures inside. As a student those pictures are valuable when it comes for precedent studies. (You can take pictures at Fallingwater if you take the extended tour) Overall the great time! You def see how Gropius experimented with materials. Worth the time and its inexpensive. read more

A beautiful Modernist gem out in the middle of nowhere! We found the house just by happenchance. It was a grey and wet fall day when we went for a ride in the country. We oohed and ahhed at the stunning colonial mansions and estates and there it was justoup off the road a White Bauhaus Masterpiece built for and by Gropious in the 40's, it is stunning in its simplicity and artfulness. The grounds are wonderfully natural juxtaposing the simple white mathematical house. I look forward to going back in the spring or summer to see it in a verdant landscape. It is stark and serene now what will it be in the summer? read more

Wonderful tour guide. Fun to walk through the house and into every room, even the bathrooms! Lovely grounds for walking around. Could use some picnic tables, as we brought our lunch and ended up standing by the car to eat. Didn't see public bathrooms or food/drink for sale. Some small souvenirs available in gift shop. read more

My daughter & son-in-law live near the Gropius house,; I'm visiting from Texas and asked to see it. To Texas eyes, it seemed quite small at first. However, our guide pointed out details that made living in the house a comfortable experience. The cork floors, plaster ceilings, & wood siding walls were designed to soundproof the house. The glass bricks preserved privacy while letting in light. The separate office door maintained distance from the living part of the house. The smaller spaces of 1938 were completely adequate and gave a pleasantly intimate feeling. Among many notable features was the light over the dining room table. It was a spotlight focused on the table. The rest of the room would have been in shadow. Outside, the garden would have been illuminated. It was a conscious effect: the dinner guests enjoying the contrast between the dark and the light. read more

Fascinating jewel of moderne architecture and interior design eternally proving clean and simple can be warm and beautiful. Guide provided intimate and charming narration of the daily lives of the Gropius family. read more

The home of Walter & Ise Gropius built in 1938. They were both very happy to have this home in the countryside. The house is great. It is part of "Historic New England" and we got a membership there because the adult price for one is 15$ and this way you can get in for free into all the other properties too. Starting in the gift shop/visitor's center what used to be the garage, you go up to the main building. Our tour guide was very informative, he knew tha autor of almost every piece of furniture in the house. You see all the goodies they used back in the day, including some of her clothes, paintings they would get from their famous friends ( Miro, Moore, Nagy...), designer furniture and you hear the history of their life and the way they lived. All in all a great experience. I would def go back there! The only down side is that you cant take any indoor pictures, but i guess they want to sell more book that way. read more

New England is blessed with so many colonial and Victorian era houses to visit but if you enjoy all eras of historic homes put the Gropius House on your list. I came on the open house free day which Historic New England offered and was pleased. Each person on staff was so friendly and accommodating. Our tour guide was informative and was happy to answer all the questions. Most reviews have eloquently described the home but in simple terms the place looks like the inspiration behind an "upscale" IKEA look but the original, not a copy. If you are in the Lexington Concord area consider a visit to this property which offers a nice change of pace being a historic 20th century site. The only down side, as one reviewer stated, for guests was a lack of restrooms. read more

i love house museums. this one belonged to walter gropius, founder of the bauhaus school of design in weimar, germany. he built this home when he moved to lincoln, massachusetts to teach at the harvard graduate school of design. it's very special to have this treasure right here. from the architecture and design to the arrangement of personal belongings, this is a true design gem. the drive there, which takes you past many beautiful mansions, is also very nice. read more