Last night a silversmith from Boston road in the darkness to let, everyone, know the British are coming to confiscate our weapons.  The other Minute Men and I will meet them at the North Bridge in Concord; we do not intend to fight, however…

Over the next twenty-four hours events unfolded, that took the thirteen American colonies closer to independence, the Minute Men surrounded and laid siege to Boston and on July 2^nd, 1775 a gentlemen farmer and surveyor for Virginia took command of the Army and eight months later the British evacuated the city of Boston.  The American Revolution began at Lexington and Concord with what has become know as “The shot herd round the world”  The Minute Man National Park brings to life this opening battle of the American Revolution. 

Every year in April The park brings together re-enactors to celebrate the American hero’s of that faithful day.   These exciting events bring to life the first shots that would bring the United States into being. 

So next year in April plan a trip to the Minute Man National Historic Park and experience the birth of America. 

Some of the events that took place this year were:

Saturday, April 14, 2007
Battle Road
At Hartwell Tavern (Rt. 2A Lincoln)
Battle Road features hundreds of British and Colonial Reenactors encamped at the Hartwell Tavern and Captain William Smith house, both part of Minute Man National Historical Park. The event site and parking are located on Rt. 2A in Lincoln.

Battle Road features hundreds of British and Colonial Reenactors encamped at the Hartwell Tavern and Captain William Smith house, both part of Minute Man National Historical Park. The event site and parking are located on Rt. 2A in Lincoln.There are drill and musket demonstrations, 18th century artillery demonstrations, crafts, games and more! The highlight of the day is a massed tactical weapons demonstration running over a half-mile of the original Battle Road.

Sunday April 15th
Paul Revere Ride Reenactment
11:30 pm - 12:15 am
Hancock Clarke House, Lexington
Revere rides from Lexington Battle Green/Buckman Tavern to Hancock Clarke House at 36 Hancock Street where a dramatic recreation takes place.

Monday, April 16, 2007
Battle Reenactment - Lexington Green
Lexington Center
5:30 a.m.
Reenactors assemble on historic Lexington Green in a portrayal of the skirmish between the Lexington Militia and British troops. This event is sponsored by the Town of Lexington.

Commemoration of the Concord Conflict
At the North Bridge, Concord
8:30 a.m.
The peace of the Concord Countryside will once more be shattered by the sounds of marching feet and musketry as British and Colonial Reenactors, Park Rangers and Volunteers bring the fateful morning of April 19, 1775 to life in this stirring commemoration of “the shot heard round the world.”

Editor:

Despite the fact that Paul Revere was the rider who left for Boston to send the warning, he never made it to Concord to warn the minutemen. Samuel Prescott, who Paul Revere met on the way, was the only rider who made it to Concord. But Washington Irving apparently could not find a good rhyme for “Prescott”. This is the sort of thing you learn at Minute Man National Historical Park.