North Bridge in Concord
- Commemorates the 19 April 1775 Battle of Lexington / Concord, which started the Revolutionary War.
- 88 militia were killed or wounded that day; 247 British Redcoats were killed or wounded.
- There are reenactments of the battle on Patriot’s Day, which is an annual state holiday in Massachusetts.
- Throughout the park are
witness
houses, whose occupants would have seen the British soldiers first-hand. - Not part of the park, but certainly a witness house, is the wonderfully preserved Old Manse near Concord Bridge.
- It was colonial Major John Buttrick who first ordered his militia to fire on the British Regulars; the mansion that is now the North Bridge Visitor Center was built by descendants of the Buttrick family.
- SITE: NPS.gov
View Larger Map
With over 900 acres, the Minute Man Historical Park traces the route originally taken by the British Regulars from Lexington to Concord. Starting at the Minute Man Visitor Center, a multimedia theater program provides an excellent introduction to the battle which began the American Revolution. Park Rangers are available for questions.
Battle Road Trail
The five-mile trail connects historic sites from Meriam’s Corner in Concord to the eastern boundary of the park in Lexington. It can be hiked or biked; or for the main sites, parking is available.
Hartwell Tavern
A significant community landmark in its day, Hartwell Tavern was also a prosperous farm and home to Ephraim and Elizabeth Hartwell and their children. The authentic structure is open for a self-guided tour.
North Bridge Visitor Center
Located in a brick mansion built in 1911, the North Bridge Visitor Center features a short video about the North Bridge fight, a bookstore, and exhibits. Includes a brass cannon, smuggled out of Boston in 1775, that was one of the four cannons hidden in Concord. The rebuilt North Bridge is a five-minute walk away.