9. Minute Man National Historical Park, Massachusetts

               Happy Independence Day!  Today we celebrate the anniversary of the birth of our country by sharing with you a post focused on the National Park Service unit dedicated to preserving the places associated with the beginning of the American War of Independence, Minute Man National Historical Park.

Entrance sign

BACKGROUND:

               April 19^th, 1775.  Following the end of the French and Indian War, friction increased between Great Britain and her colonial possessions in North America.  A series of taxes levied on the colonies in order to repay Britain’s war debts had caused widespread protests, especially in New England which saw severe cuts to its trade and commerce as a result.  As the British government cracked down on the unrest with an increasingly heavy hand, Boston in particular became a powder keg ready to explode into open revolt.  Fearing that the Massachusetts militia, (the 18^th century version of today’s National Guard) called Minute Men as it was said they could assemble at a minute’s notice, would turn on British troops, orders were given for the British garrison in Boston to march west and confiscate a stockpile of militia arms and ammunition in the town of Concord.

               In Boston, two members of the Sons of Liberty, an organization opposed to British policies in the colonies, Paul Revere and William Dawes, rode out of Boston to warn the countryside that British troops were on the march and to raise the Minute Men.  After passing through the town of Lexington, the two encountered Dr. Samuel Prescott, a fellow Patriot who was returning to Concord after visiting his fiancée.  The three rode on until coming across a mounted patrol of British soldiers.  Revere was captured, Dawes escaped but was unable to continue, leaving Prescott, who had not even originally been a member of the mission to complete the ride to Concord.  As Prescott rode on through the night, word spread to more and more towns and Minute Men began making their way toward Concord.

The site of Revere, Dawes, and Prescott's encounter with a British cavalry patrol

               Around dawn, the column of British troops marched into Lexington.  Assembled on the town green were seventy-seven militiamen under the command of Captain John Parker.  As the two forces faced each other on the village green, it first appeared as though the militia would disperse.  However, a shot was fired.  To this day it is unknown as to who fired the shot, the most likely explanation being an accidental discharge.  Both sides however believed the other to be firing on them and leveled their muskets.  After the brief exchange of fire, the militia fled leaving eight dead on the green.  The British pressed on to Concord.

Lexington Green today.  The stone in the foreground marks the site of the town's three historic meeting houses.

               Upon reaching the town, the British soldiers began searching for the cache of weapons and ammunition said to be hidden there.  Most of the supplies had already been hidden or taken to safety.  Those supplies that were found in town were burned, though this would have unintended consequences.

               To the north end of Concord, hundreds of Minute Men had assembled on a hill overlooking a bridge over the Concord river saw smoke rising from the town and believed the British to be burning homes.  The militia advanced to the bridge below as a British unit approached from the far side.  The British unexpectedly opened fire, killing two Minute Men.  The colonists returned fire.  With several of their own men now lying dead and wounded, the British fell back from the North Bridge and began marching back to Boston.  The situation by now was past the point of no return however, and more Minute Men were flooding into the area.  A short distance from Concord, the Minute Men attacked the British column in earnest and a day long running battle began on the road back to Boston.  The American War of Independence had begun.

Concord's North Bridge

THE PARK:

               Although the area around Boston is mostly built over with modern suburbs, Minute Man National Historical Park preserves a roughly five-mile-long stretch of land bordering the colonial era road that ran between Lexington and Concord.  The main section of the park is a thin ribbon extending from Interstate 95 to Old Bedford Road.  Along this stretch of preserved land are the over two century old houses of colonists who witnessed and participated in the battles of Lexington and Concord, as well as the Hartwell Tavern.  Three other areas protect the area surrounding the North Bridge, the Colonel Barret House which had been where the British had expected to find the militia’s stockpiled weapons, and The Wayside, which in addition to being an historic home dating to the time of the battle later became the home of authors Louisa May Alcott and Nathaniel Hawthorn.  The park features two visitor centers, one at the eastern entrance of the park near the Interstate, the other on the hill overlooking Concord’s North Bridge.  The eastern visitor center also features a multi-media show describing the events associated with April 19^th 1775.  The main stretch of the park includes miles of trails tracing the route of the march and battle back to Boston, as well as five stones marking the graves of British soldiers who were killed during the battle.  Reenactors are a common sight at the park, and major reenactment events occur annually around the anniversary of the battle.

The main visitor center at Minute Man NHP

TRAVEL TIPS:

               While it is not part of Minute Man NHP, it is recommended for the sake of better continuity and understanding of events, to begin a visit in nearby Lexington at the village green.  The center of Lexington is now a bustling suburb and the road passing by the skirmish site is heavily trafficked.  At Lexington is the town visitor center, as well as Buckman Tavern, where Captain Parker and his men gathered prior to the approach of the British troops.  At the crossroads in front of the green is a statue of a militiaman.  While the statue is officially anonymous, it is traditionally considered to be Captain Parker.

The statue at Lexington unofficially depicting Captain Parker

               After stopping at Lexington, visitors should take the left road at the fork at the statue and follow it straight to Minute Man NHP.  Once reaching the park and stopping at the visitor center, visitors can take two methods of seeing the entirety of the park.  Those inclined to be more ambitious or physically active, can follow walking trails the entire length of the park from Fiske Hill adjacent to the Interstate all the way to Meriam’s Corners, where the first major follow-up attack by the Minute Men after Concord bridge occurred.  The other option is to hop from parking lot to parking lot by car.

A stretch of the original road on which British troops marched to Concord

               Heading west from the first visitor center prominent stops include the site of Paul Revere’s capture, which correctly takes great effort to give Dr. Prescott credit for his role in the famed “Midnight Ride,” and Hartwell Tavern, where British troops were caught in a crossfire by Minute Men at the Battle Road’s “Bloody Angle.”

Grave marker to British soldiers at the "Bloody Angle"

               Further down the road in Concord is The Wayside, home of Louisa May Alcott and Nathaniel Hawthorn, and which had connections to several other prominent authors which are celebrated at the site.  The final stop for most visitors will be Concord’s North Bridge, because while the Barrett House further down the road is preserved, it is not open to the public.  On the far side of the bridge across from the parking lot is the famed Minute Man statue, a farmer pushing aside his plow and taking up his musket to defend his liberty.

The Minute Man

Atop the hill beyond the statue is the second visitor center, located inside the Buttrick Estate.  While the mansion where the visitor center is now located was built in 1911, the property was owned by the Buttrick family since the 1600s, and one of the family Major John Buttrick was the officer who gave the order for the Minute Men to return fire at British troops at Concord Bridge.

The North Bridge visitor center at the Buttrick Estate

               The grounds of the park are open from sunrise to sunset, with the visitor centers open from 9:00am-5:00pm.  The Wayside, Hartwell Tavern, and Jacob Wittemore House, are only open from Mid-June through October, and only on specific days, so it is recommended to check the park website first to plan ahead.  The park does not have an entrance fee except for The Wayside house.  Passport stamps can be found at both visitor centers.

               We hope you have enjoyed this brief summary of Minute Man National Historic Park.   Once again, Happy Independence Day and safe travels!

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS:

Buckman Tavern in Lexington

Hartwell Tavern alongside the Battle Road

Meriam's Corners where the Minute Men conducted their first serious attack on the retreating British column

Memorial Obelisk at North Bridge.  The Minute Man statue is on the far side

The grave marker for British soldiers at North Bridge

Foundations of the historic houses of the Buttrick family across from the North Bridge visitor center