Spotlight: New England - Lexington & Concord

Spotlight: In the early morning hours of April 19, 1775, British troops, under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Francis Smith, made a "secret" march from Boston to Concord to destroy rebel munitions that were rumored to be stored there. Since the British were being constantly watched, the patriots were able to send word ahead on horseback. Couriers such as Paul Revere galloped from town to town informing the citizenry that the redcoats were coming. The minutemen rose to the call and assembled on the Lexington Green to challenge the British advance. By the dawn's early light, the redcoats and the minutemen faced off. Both sides had orders not to fire, but as the British officers ordered the militia to lay down their arms, someone fired a shot which led to the first shots of the conflict. Both sides claimed that the other fired first, but regardless of who fired the shot, the resulting volley left several patriots dead, and the others retreating.
     The British marched on to Concord, only to find that most of the hidden munitions had already been moved. Meanwhile, word of the skirmish in Lexington spread like wildfire across the countryside, and hundreds of minutemen flocked to Concord. As the redcoats searched the town, and burned the few weapons they could find, the local meetinghouse caught fire. The smoke prompted the minutemen, who were gathering in the hills to the north of town, to advance. The outnumbered redcoats defending North Bridge formed ranks on the far bank, and once again, despite orders on both sides to hold their fire, someone fired what came to be known as "The Shot Heard Round the World." Up until this point, war could have still been averted; but now, with the additional casualties, both sides wanted revenge. As the ranks of militiamen continued to swell, the British decided to return to Boston. The organized retreat soon turned into a rout as militiamen continually fired on the British column from behind stone walls and trees, inflicting many more casualties than they received in return. The whole column, which was running low on ammunition, might have been destroyed before making it back to Boston if they hadn't been rescued by Percy's Brigade near Lexington.
     Although the Battles of Lexington and Concord were rather small in comparison to other famous battles, they provided the spark that lit the fuse in what became known as the Revolutionary War. After a year of armed conflict, colonial leaders gathered in Philadelphia, where they formally declared independence from Great Britain, paving the way for the formation of a new nation governed by the will of the people.

Location: The Minute Man National Historical Park Visitor Center is located at 250 N. Great Road in Lincoln, MA.
- The North Bridge Visitor Center is located at 174 Liberty Street in Concord, MA.
- The Lexington Green is located at 1625 Massachusetts Ave. in Lexington, MA.

Time: The Minute Man NHP Visitor Centers are open from 9am - 5 pm daily from April 1 - October 31. Additionally, the North Bridge Visitor Center is open from 11 am - 3 pm on Tuesdays-Saturdays in March. It will probably take half a day or more to see the various sites.

Cost: Most locations are currently free.

Description:  Minute Man National Historical Park contains historical landmarks within the cities of Lexington, Concord, and Lincoln. The main Visitor Center shows a movie called "The Road to Revolution" that gives an excellent overview of the events that led up to the Revolutionary War. There is also a beautiful 40-foot mural depicting one of the skirmishes between the regulars and minutemen.

     At Concord's North Bridge, visitors can enjoy the tranquil environment as they study the famous Minute Man statue, a monument commemorating those who fought here, and the restored bridge. Nearby is the North Bridge Visitor Center where you can watch a short film on the battle and view the exhibits. Don't miss the 20-minute ranger presentation.

     The Battle Road Trail is a five mile trail that connects several of the historical sites from Meriam's Corner in Concord to the park's eastern boundary in Lexington. The theme of the trail is the Battles of Lexington and Concord, launching the American Revolution, and much of the trail follows the original Battle Road where most of the fighting took place. The trail can be explored on foot or by bicycle.
     Hartwell Tavern is an authentic period home that shows what life was like in the colonies at the time of the American Revolution. Ephraim and Elizabeth Hartwell raised their children on this prosperous farm, while also running a popular tavern. Ranger programs are offered here daily from late June through October.

     The Wayside: Home of Authors has been the home to three famous 19th century authors (Nathaniel Hawthorne, Louisa May Alcott, and Harriet Lothrop) who helped established the American ideal through their writings during the early days of our country.
     The Lexington Green is a public park with several monuments recognizing the events that took place there. Here is another Minute Man statue along the roadside. Nearby is the Buckman Tavern, which was used as the HQ for the Sons of Liberty.

Rating: 4 stars (out of 5)

Things You Should Know: - The Boston Marathon is held annually on Patriot's Day, the third Monday of April. It started in 1897, following the success of the inaugural Olympic games, and is the world's longest running annual marathon. The event attracts 500,000 visitors, so be prepared for heavy crowds if you are in the Boston area that week.
- Most locations in the park are only open seasonally. Since hours vary from location to location, check operating hours before you visit at http://www.nps.gov/mima/planyourvisit/hours.htm.
- For a list of upcoming special events and reinactments, visit  http://www.nps.gov/mima/planyourvisit/events.htm
- For a list of ranger led programs (locations and times), visit http://www.nps.gov/mima/planyourvisit/ranger-programs-and-tours.htm

Nearby: The Old Manse, The National Heritage Museum, The Freedom Trail, Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, Salem Witch Museum