Perhaps no other natural setting has as much literary, spiritual, and environmental significance for Americans as Walden Pond. Some 700,000 people visit the pond annually, and countless others journey to Walden in their mind, to contemplate the man who lived there and what the place means to us today. Here is the first history of the Massachusetts pond Thoreau made famous 150 years ago. W. Barksdale Maynard offers a lively and comprehensive account of Walden Pond from the early nineteenth century to the present. From Thoreau's first visit at age 4 in 1821--"That woodland vision for a long time made the drapery of my dreams"--to today's efforts both to conserve the pond and allow public access, Maynard captures Walden Pond's history and the role it has played in social, cultural, literary, and environmental movements in America. Along the way Maynard details the geography of the pond; Thoreau's and Emerson's experiences of Walden over their lifetimes; the development of the cult of Thoreau and the growth of the pond as a site of literary and spiritual pilgrimages; rock star Don Henley's Walden Woods Project and the much publicized battle to protect the pond from developers in the 1980s; and the vitally important ecological symbol Walden Pond has become today. Exhaustively researched, vividly written, and illustrated with historical photographs and the most detailed maps of Thoreau country yet created, Walden Pond: A History reveals how an ordinary pond has come to be such an extraordinarily inspiring symbol.

... This report documents present (1997-1999) conditions and baseline data for Walden Pond that can be used to understand aquifer and lake water levels and water quality conditions; also available on the internet at: water.usgs.gov/pubs/wri/wri014137/ (or purl.access.gpo.gov/gpo/cps23685) ...

The first guidebook to the landscape and history of the literary shrine to Thoreau, Walden Pond.

On July 4, 1845, Henry David Thoreau moved into the cabin he had built on the shore of Walden Pond, thus beginning the most famous experiment in simple living in American history. On the 150th anniversary of that event, Houghton Mifflin, successor to Thoreau's original publisher, is proud to publish a new edition of Walden, annotated by the distinguished Thoreau scholar Walter Harding and illustrated with Thoreau's own drawings. Even those who have read Walden many times will find much that is new in this edition, and those reading the book for the first time will discover why it has changed the lives of generations of readers.

Presents a reference guide to transcendentalism, with articles on significant works, writers, concepts and more.

This lavishly illustrated volume examines the major figures of the Transcendentalist movement and explores the places that inspired them. Beginning with Transcendentalism’s birth in Boston and Cambridge, the book charts the development of a movement that revolutionized American ideas about the artistic, spiritual, and natural worlds. At the same time, it creates a vivid sense of New England in the nineteenth century, from its idyllic countryside and sleepy towns to its bustling ports and burgeoning cities. The book is divided geographically into chapters, each focusing on a town or village famous for its relationship to one or more of the Transcendentalists.

CLICK HERE to download author Jeff Romano's favorite hike from 100 Classic Hikes in New England * New England states covered: Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island * Only full-color guidebook to the region's best hiking trails * Hikes suitable for all fitness levels and abilities The wilderness of New England is a gold mine for hikers, offering an abundance of rolling hills, mountains, jagged coastline, and lakes. Historic trails are well-worn into the New England landscape, inviting outdoor enthusiasts to undertake epic backpacking adventures or short, satisfying day hikes. This new guidebooks covers the best trails in six states, including hikes on the Appalachian Trail, the lush hills of Maine, the White Mountains of New Hampshire, the Long Trail in Vermont, the Massachusetts coast, the dense forests of Connecticut, and the wildlife sanctuaries of Rhode Island. Written by a New England native, this trails guidebook provides measured distances and times for each hike, as well as difficulty ratings, elevation gain, permitting information, and more. Follow along with author Jeff Romano on his Facebook page to hear about the latest reviews, see images of hikes from the book, and tap into a wealth of knowledge regarding great hikes in New England!

Walden Pond is a sublime place of peace and spirituality. Writer and philosopher Henry David Thoreau built a one-room house in 1845 and lived on the shores of the pond for two years, two months, and two days. It is this "experiment in independent living" that draws millions of people to visit the pond and to pay homage to the man sometimes called the father of American conservation. Situated in woodland outside the town of Concord, the pond and the town itself also evoke history on a grand scale. The Revolutionary War and the literary revolution of the mid-nineteenth century both began in the area. Thoreau's Walden describes the beauty of this historical setting through the writings of Thoreau. The book uses many of his most captivating and inspiring quotations as a tribute to the man and his life, works, and philosophy. Beautiful images and descriptive historical writing combine to create a visual insight into the reasons why Thoreau lived at Walden and what he has to teach us about this most inspirational place. Thoreau's Walden also includes little-known facts about the writer and philosopher, including the stories behind his relationship with Ralph Waldo Emerson, his search for the perfect location for his experiment, and his many visitors, such as Nathaniel Hawthorne and the Alcott family.