Home to the "the shot heard 'round the world" - Minute Man National Historical Park
Written: Sep 03 '09 (Updated Sep 05 '09)
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Pros: Tons of history, Battle Road Trail, Interpretive info, Historical significance
Cons: Visitors centers could be better, Not all of the important sites are protected
The Bottom Line: You really need to take a day to explore Minute Man National Historical Park, which is home to the the opening battle in America's war for independence from the British
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| jps246's Full Review: Minute Man National Historical Park |
Sometimes you forget exactly what you've got around you and that is what happened with me and the Minute Man National Historical Park in Lexington and Concord, Massachusetts. Literally less than an hour away from me, this park is host to the first battle of the American Revolution and allows you to get a first hand look at the locations and the land, tells you the story of how the Revolution started and provides plenty of history on the towns and the surrounding region.
I've visited the park several times, in the summer, spring and wintertime. I'd say the best is spring or fall since most of the exhibits and historical areas are open, but it's not quite as crowded as it can be in the summer. Though be warned, on Patriot's Day (mid-April), the park goes crazy because there's a reenactment of the battle of April 19, 1775. Literally tens of thousands of people come to watch the reenactment. I've always wanted to go, but the logistics have always escaped me.
Where is Minute Man National Historical Park?
The park is located in the towns of Lexington, Concord and Lincoln roughly along Route 2A. The easiest way to get there is from the Route 128/I95 30B exit, which is the one for Route 2A. This area is less than 20 miles from downtown Boston.
There are two visitors centers in the park. The first is on Route 2A in Lincoln just after you get off of Route 128. This visitors center is only open during the summer months and requires a bit of a walk from the parking area to reach it, however it is handicap accessible and is an easy, flat walk.
The other visitors center is located at the North Bridge area in Concord. The parking here is a bit closer to the visitors center, which is located in an old home overlooking the North Bridge. In between there are a number of historical sites along with the Battle Road Trail, which at about five miles, let's you walk or ride your bike along the length of the road where the battle was fought as the British fell back towards Boston.
The park isn't quite like a traditional National Park. The National Park Service has bought land in the area to protect the majority of the important locations, but the Battle Road is a mix of private and public lands, so you'll be traveling through both protected areas that are part of the park along with parts of residential and commercial Concord.
What should I see?
If you are at the park in the summer, you should definitely stop at the visitor center on Route 2A in Lincoln. This is the most in-depth visitor center that offers information on the history of the Revolution in the whole area and gives you the most information on what you'll be seeing as you go along the Battle Road Trail or stop at various important locations. There's also a movie you can watch that gives a good introduction to the history of the area and the Revolution.
From there, there are a number of different important locations along the Battle Road that you can stop at. Most are well marked with parking areas. Interpretive signs abound at each location and if you've gotten the park brochure from the visitors center, that also provides additional interpretive information.
It's hard to pick out "must see" sites since there are so many things to look at all along the Battlefield Road and trail. There are a number of restored homes that you can investigate along with partially excavated archaeological sites. There's the Hartwell Tavern, which has been restored and offers ranger programs during the busier months and the Paul Revere capture site. There's the Bloody Angle along with plenty of other places without the name recognition of the major sites, but that are just as interesting and important.
Honestly, I've found the best way to explore the park is to walk as much of the Battle Road Trail as possible. You find so much more than when you just drive from stop to stop. It's a totally different experience, even from a wildlife point of view. The last time I was there in the spring, I saw an immature bald eagle as my brother and I were walking along one of the quieter sections of trail. Something you don't see very often just outside of Boston.
You can't really miss the North Bridge site either. This is where the American Revolution started. The British were guarding the bridge on an expedition to find arms and weapons the colonists had been hiding when the colonists thought the British has burned Concord and they marched to the bridge. There they faced off and shots were fired and from that point, the British fell back towards Boston, following the Battle Road and engaging in a series of battles and ambushes until the reached the safety of Boston.
There's a visitors at the North Bridge about a tenth of a mile from the actual bridge. This visitors center is not as large or interpretive as the main center, but it does provide information on the North Bridge battle. There are also interpretive signs and interactive exhibits outside around the bridge area that explain the lead up to and the battle itself.
Other sites
To the east, towards Boston, you can visit Lexington, which has a museum on the Revolution and visit the Battle Green there, where another battle was fought between the British and Americans.
Concord is also home to several important authors and the Wayside Tavern was home to several of them. There's also the Old Manse, where Emerson, Hawthorne, and Thoreau along with others met and worked. Walden Pond is also nearby where Henry David Thoreau lived for a couple of years and provided material for his writing.
Necessary Time?
If you really want to explore the entire area from Lexington through Lincoln and to the North Bridge in Concord, you really need a full day, especially if you'll be walking or riding your bike on the Battle Road Trail. The various sites all require a certain amount of walking and time passes by quickly as you're exploring various areas. I find that if I go for only a few hours, I have to pick a few places to stop and visit to fully explore since I don't want to really glaze over any of the areas.
Experiences
I really like the park in the spring and in the late fall. The temperatures are more temperate, the crowds are almost non-existent and the majority of the park is open. If you want to be able to fully explore the park though, you'll need to go in the summer so that the various interpretive sites are open to the public. It does tend to get more crowded at those times, but it's not all that bad, especially if you go during the week.
I also like walking the Battle Road Trail. It gives you a completely different look at the park than just driving through and it lets you better explore all of the sites in the park. Plus it gives you a better appreciation for what the British soldiers faced and what the colonists were doing as the battles went on.
Final Thoughts
If you are visiting the Boston area, you really need to take a day to explore Minute Man National Historical Park. This park is home to one of the most important events in the history of the United States and represents the the opening battle in our war for our independence from the British.
There is plenty to see and do at the park and I think that just about anyone would find it interesting and a great way to spend a day.
Get out and explore the Minute Man National Historical Park if you're in the area, especially if you live nearby and never think to visit, you'll be glad you did.
Recommended:
Yes
Best time to go: September-November
Recommended for: Anybody
Review Topic: Overview
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