Minute Man National Historical Park and Concord, MA

This morning we drove to the Minute Man National Historical Park. Our first stop was at the Minute Man Visitor Center. There we saw the multimedia presentation, “The Road to Revolution”, which tells of the historic events of April 19, 1775. It shows Paul Revere's ride, the battles at Lexington Green, North Bridge and along the Battle Road. There were actually 3 Midnight Riders - Paul Revere, Dr. Samuel Prescott and William Dawes. We told one of the Rangers that this was the best multimedia program that we had seen.


We stopped next at Paul Revere’s capture site. On Apr 19, 1775 at 1:30 a.m. Paul Revere was captured. William Dawes fled to Lexington and Dr. Samuel Prescott escaped and continued to Concord and beyond.


We visited the Hartwell Tavern, a 1733 historic home and tavern on the Battle Road. Ephraim and Elizabeth Hartwell owned the prosperous farm and tavern where travelers to and from Boston stopped and shared the latest news of the day.

From Concord, MA and Minute Man National Historical Park

Further on down the road we stopped to ask directions of a gentleman working in his yard and found out that the National Park Service had purchased many of the homes in the park - including his home. The National Park Service had renovated the homes and then rented them out. This gentleman was renting his old home from the Park Service. He told us that there were several vacant homes that had been renovated, but hadn't been rented.

From Concord, MA and Minute Man National Historical Park

We then went on to Concord to the North Bridge where the colonial militia was first ordered to fire on British regulars - "the shot heard 'round the world".  The first monument we saw was for the Grave of the British Soldiers. There are 2 soldiers buried there (British military records say there are 3 soldiers buried there); the third soldier is buried in Concord center.

From Concord, MA and Minute Man National Historical Park

The Minute Man statue is across the Concord River on the other side of the North Bridge. The original bridge, the "battle bridge", was torn down in 1788. The current bridge is a restoration of the last bridge built in 1956. The 1956 bridge is the fifth bridge built here since the battle.

From Concord, MA and Minute Man National Historical Park

The Minute Man statue represents a farmer who leaves his plow and picks up his musket to defend his land and liberty. The statue is the logo for the National Guard.

From Concord, MA and Minute Man National Historical Park

We then followed the path to the North Bridge Visitor Center. It is housed in the Buttrick Mansion which was built by descendants of Major John Buttrick, the colonial officer who gave the command to fire at the North Bridge. We saw a short video about the fight at the North Bridge. On April 19, 1775 3500 colonial militia men and 1700 British soldiers engaged in battle which continued all the way back to Boston along the "Battle Road". The British came to Concord to confiscate the arms supply that was hidden there.

Inside the Visitor Center we saw a cannon called "The Hancock", a rare Revolutionary War brass cannon. This was cannon was among the munitions that the British Army wanted when it came to Concord. In September 1774 some Boston Patriots stole four brass cannons that were under British Guard and smuggled the cannons out of Boston. The brass cannons and 10 iron cannons were reported to be hidden in Concord - the reason the British came to Concord. In 1843 when the Bunker Hill monument opened the "Hancock" and the "Adams" (two of the brass cannons hidden at Concord) were mounted in the upper chamber of the monument. "The Hancock" is on loan to the Minute Man National Historical park from the Bunker Hill Monument Association (the "Adams" is still at the Bunker Hill Monument).

From Concord, MA and Minute Man National Historical Park

The inscription on "The Hancock" reads:

The Hancock ~ Sacred to Liberty. ~ This is one of four cannon, which constituted the whole train of Field Artillery, possessed by the British Colonies of North America, at the commencement of the war, on the 19th of April, 1775. ~ This cannon and its fellow belonging to a number of citizens of Boston, were used in many engagements during the war. The other two, the property of the Government of Massachusetts were taken by the enemy. ~ By order of the United States in Congress assembled ~ May 19th, 1788.

We had perfect weather today and we even saw people canoing on the Concord River at the North Bridge.

Before going back to the RV we stopped at the Hanscom AFB PX and had a late lunch at the Burger King there. Then we stocked up on groceries at the Commissary since we're leaving here on Tuesday.