HISTORY COMES ALIVE IN LEXINGTON & CONCORD – PART 1
By Debbie Stone
It’s hard to separate the towns of Lexington and Concord, Massachusetts, as they are forever linked by their shared past. History was made here on April 19, 1975, when the colonial militia and minutemen, determined to protect and defend their homes and farms, challenged the British Redcoats, called “Regulars.” Their efforts led to a series of skirmishes, which became known as the Battles of Lexington and Concord. These battles ignited the start of the American Revolution, a war that went on for seven years; the outcome of which we all know was political independence and the formation of the USA.
When visiting these towns, begin your journey through history at the Lexington Visitors Center, where a diorama of the Battle of Lexington is on display with accompanying information. After clearing some of those historical cobwebs from your mind, purchase a ticket for the Liberty Ride, a guided trolley tour. You’ll see significant historical sites and hear stories of witnesses to the first day of the American Revolution.
Your guide will give you a crash course on what led up to the events of that fateful April day. And he/she will reiterate the many issues between England and the colonies that created the conflict. I, for one, needed this refresher course, as it had been a lifetime since I had studied this period in history.
To recap: England was strapped for cash after winning the war with France, so they looked to the colonies for money by levying taxes on necessary products. The colonists became angry about the taxes and started to push back by boycotting British goods and intimidating the tax collectors. These colonists were identified as Patriots, as they rebelled against British rule and advocated for independence. Those who sided with England were called Loyalists.
The events of the Boston Massacre and the Boston Tea Party fueled the Patriots’ fire, causing them to stockpile munitions in Concord. Major General Thomas Gage, the commander-in-chief of British forces and Governor of Massachusetts Bay at that time, sent 800 Regulars to Concord to seize and destroy the munitions in anticipation of a rebellion.
News got out about this mass incursion of troops through a spy network established by the Patriots. This is when Paul Revere and others set out on that famed horseback ride through the countryside to warn of the approaching Regulars. And contrary to what we’ve all learned is that Paul most certainly did not shout “The British are coming!” on his ride. He would have most likely said, “The Regulars are coming!” That’s because everyone was British at that time.
The Regulars met the militia and minutemen, at the Common in Lexington. The Regulars were told to stand their ground and not fire unless fired upon, while the militia and minutemen were eventually ordered to disperse. However, as most of them were leaving and had their backs to the Regulars, a shot rang out from an unknown source. To many, this became known as the first shot of the American Revolution.
The Regulars began firing without orders, despite being told to cease. When the dust settled, eight militiamen were killed and ten had been wounded, while there were no fatalities on the Regular side.
As you hear this story, you’ll ride by the Common, now known as the Lexington Battle Green. Make sure to return and explore this place on your own or via a guided walking tour, as there’s much to see.
The Battle Green is now a park and memorial to the events of April 19, 1975. Here’s where you’ll find “Lexington Minuteman,” the life-size bronze figure of a colonial farmer carrying his musket. Sculpted by Henry Hudson Kitson, the figure was originally meant to represent the common minuteman, but it has now become accepted as the image of Captain John Parker. Parker was the military officer who commanded the minutemen at the Battle of Lexington.
Nearby is a plaque marking the site of the old wooden belfry, which stood on the green and once summoned the militia to the area. You’ll also see two monuments that mark the approximate position of the line formed by the minutemen that day. And you can’t miss the Revolutionary War Monument, a granite obelisk honoring the men who died on the Green, seven of whom are interred in the tomb beneath the monument.
Across the street is Buckman Tavern, one of the few colonial-era buildings still standing around the Battle Green. It served as the gathering place of the Lexington militia and minutemen before the British attack. Today, it’s a museum, where you can take a self-guided audio tour and peruse the many items and artifacts dating back to 1775. There’s a kitchen, small and large parlors, and the taproom. Look for the old front door with its bullet hole made by a British musket ball during the battle.
Near the tavern is the Minutemen Memorial, created by artist Bashka Paeff. Set on a granite base, it depicts six minutemen posed in various stances as they fight at the Battle of Lexington. And on the lawn of the Visitor Center is another monument entitled “Something Is Being Done,” by sculptor Meredith Bergmann. This bronze piece honors and celebrates the contribution of Lexington women to the town’s “political, intellectual, social, and cultural history.”
Other historic homes of note in Lexington include the Hancock-Clarke House and Munroe Tavern. The former is where John Hancock and Samuel Adams, prominent leaders in the colonial cause, were guests of the Reverend Jones Clark. On Paul Revere’s midnight ride, he made a beeline for this house to warn these men that British troops were coming to arrest them. The Munroe Tavern, on the other hand, was the temporary headquarters for British General Earl Percy, another figure in the Revolutionary War.
The trolley also takes you near the North Bridge within the Minute Man National Historical Park in Concord. This is the location of another significant skirmish. Militia and minutemen from Concord and surrounding towns exchanged gunfire with the Regulars at this critical river crossing. Though the fighting lasted mere moments, it marked the start of a massive battle that ensued over sixteen miles, as the British retreated.
You might think you’re seeing things, as there’s another Minute Man statue here. This bronze, by Daniel Chester French, is set near the spot where the first militiamen were killed in Concord. It represents the citizen soldier of 1775 and depicts a minuteman stepping away from his plow to join the patriot forces at the Battle of Concord. This iconic image is today the symbol of the National Guard, and over the years, it has also been used on coins, postage stamps, corporate logos savings, and war bonds.
Inscribed on the front facing of the statue is the first stanza of the poem “The Concord Hymn” by Ralph Waldo Emerson, in which he famously described the first shot of the Battle of Concord as the “shot heard ‘round the world.”
Depending on who you speak to and what you might read, this “shot” took place at either the Battle of Lexington or the Battle of Concord, where the militia and minutemen were given the first order to fire upon the Regulars.
The park is another good place to return to, as there’s a visitor center with exhibits, several historic homes, and plenty of monuments. Get your steps in or cycle your way along the park’s Battle Road Trail. Much of it follows the original remnants of the Battle Road where thousands of colonial militia and British Regulars fought. Take note of the site where Paul Revere was captured by a British patrol – a fact I didn’t know. Truth is, Revere actually never made it to Concord, though another rider, Samuel Prescott, did. And yet, Paul Revere gets all the credit! He became an American folk hero, courtesy of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s poem, “Paul Revere’s Ride.”
After you’ve explored Lexington, shift your full attention to Concord.
Learn more about Lexington at www.tourlexington.us
See Part 2
Debbie Stone is an established travel writer and columnist, and regular contributor for Big Blend Radio and Big Blend Magazines, who crosses the globe in search of unique destinations and experiences to share with her readers and listeners. She’s an avid explorer who welcomes new opportunities to increase awareness and enthusiasm for places, culture, food, history, nature, outdoor adventure, wellness, and more. Her travels have taken her to nearly 100 countries and all seven continents.
