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Minute Man National Historical Park

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zabelle
zabelle
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4 out of 5
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3
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Editor Pick

Minute Man National Historical Park

  • February 21, 2007
  • Rated 5 of 5 by MonnieR from Niles, Ohio
Minute Man National Historical Park

National parks and historic sites are wonderful places to soak up learning while enjoying the beauty of nature and getting a bit of much-needed exercise. One such park - Minute Man National Historical Park in Concord, Mass. - turned out to be one of the most impressive parks I've ever had the privilege to visit. No escaping history here - it's embedded in every inch of the place.

My husband Jack and I stopped here on the way back home to from a vacation in Boothbay Harbor, Maine, and quickly learned that taking even close to all this park has to offer would require a full day at least. Nearly every inch of the five-mile Battle Road Trail from Concord to Lexington - both historic cities in their own right - is filled with restored buildings and places that bring the story of the American Revolution to life.

If I had to pick a favorite spot, it would be the scenic North Bridge. A highlight is the Minute Man statue, a sculpture by Daniel Chester French honoring the citizen-soldiers of 1775. It was here, at a wooden bridge that spans the Concord River, that the Revolutionary War officially began when British troops fired a volley that killed two "Minute Men" at the other end of the bridge. In retaliation, Maj. John Buttrick of Concord ordered his soldiers to return fire - killing two British soldiers and marking the first time American soldiers had fired on the Redcoats. The significance of that battle was from that time on to be considered, in the words of Ralph Waldo Emerson, "The shot heard 'round the world."

The existing bridge is a restoration that was completed in 2005. It replaced one built on the site in 1956, which was the fifth one to be erected since the original was dismantled in 1788.

After spending some time in and around the North Bridge Visitor Center, we drove on to stop at other sites, including the spot where Paul Revere's famous "midnight ride" came to a halt with his capture and the historic Hartwell Tavern.

Hartwell Tavern, by the way, is a must-see. Once the home of Ephraim and Elizabeth Hartwell and their children, it also served as a tavern where folks traveling to and from Boston often stopped. Now fully restored, the tavern and surroundings are picturesque, and costumed park interpreters conduct periodic demonstrations like musket-firing.

Still other sights along the way include Meriam's Corner, Emerson House, the Samuel Brooks House, the Job Brooks House, the Noah Brooks Tavern, and the Olive Stowe House, to name just a few. The Wayside, just west of Meriam's Corner, is where 19th-century authors helped create literature that would keep alive the spirit of the American Revolution. It was here that Louisa May Alcott spent her childhood years, providing inspiration for Little Women. It was also the only home ever owned by Nathaniel Hawthorne, who gave it its name as well.

From journal Minute Man National Historical Park

Editor Pick

Minute Man National Historical Park

  • October 11, 2006
  • Rated 4 of 5 by rubylu from Sebastopol, California
Minute Man National Historical Park

Minuteman National Park is where people and places from your school history books come alive in front of your eyes. If, like me, you think history is a dull subject, a visit to the park will remind you that it is about real people like us. The people of the Minuteman era lived through events, including the American Revolution, that made our way of living possible. In fact, the Revolution started here with the Battle of Lexington and Concord. The park's web site says:

Minute Man encompasses the story of an evolution of the ideals of freedom and liberty, new notions of cultural independence and citizen responsibility. These ideals led to an American literary revolution the following century, introducing Concord authors, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Henry David Thoreau, Louisa May Alcott and Ralph Waldo Emerson. The ideals of both the American Revolution and 19th-century literary revolution continue today and serve as an inspiration to people throughout the world.

The park is big and has several visitor centers and other attractions. You can walk on the 5-mile trail, but we drove between attractions and parked in three different lots.

Our first stop was the main visitor center, where we saw a 25-minute multimedia presentation about the battle of Lexington and Concord and the events leading up to it. It was very well done and worth seeing. It set the tone for the rest of the visit. You'd see a plaque on the trail telling what happened there and relate it to people and events in the presentation.

Next we drove to the Hartwell House, which belonged to a family mentioned in the presentation. Two docents in period costume were available to tell the area’s stories and answer questions. A musket-firing demonstration was scheduled for later, so we missed it.

Then we drove to the North Bridge area, with a wooden bridge over the river to a Minute Man statue. Another docent was available there. It was adjacent to the Old Manse, which had a museum and gift shop that we didn’t see. The Old Manse was the Emerson home, the family of which included Ralph Waldo Emerson, and excerpts from his poems were engraved on the statue and on signs.

After we left the part, we drove through Concord and to Lexington. We stopped at the National Heritage Museum. It is free and owned and run by the Masons. It had interesting exhibits of clocks and other houseware from colonial times on, an exhibit of photos of musicians, and a small gift shop.

From journal Mass.-- East Coast Summer I

Editor Pick

Minute Man Visitor Center

  • December 7, 2001
  • Rated 4 of 5 by zabelle from Portland, Connecticut
Minute Man Visitor Center

The Visitors Center is the best place to begin your visit to Minute Man National Historical Park. There is a large parking lot with a boardwalk that takes you back to the visitor center. It is about a 5-minute walk from the parking lot.

There is a park ranger on duty in the visitors center and also there are displays covering the events of April 18 and 19, 1775, including a 40-foot battle mural. It takes about 10 minutes to look at and read all the displays. There is an audiovisual presentation every half-hour, so if you have time, you may want to visit the shop now or just wander around a bit.

The show is the highlight of the visit. It is called The Road to Revolution and is narrated by Amos Doolittle, or his modern counterpart. The door in the front of you is actually a screen, and Amos appears in the door and tells us the story of what he found when he came up to Lexington from Connecticut about two weeks after the confrontation at North Bridge.

Through a series of audiovisual affects, we become part of the events. We follow Paul Revere out of Boston, as well as Mr Dawes, the other rider who left by a different route at the same time. Both of them made it to Lexington, where they were joined by a young man from Concord who actually ended up being the only one to reach Concord to warn them. I never before quite understood 'one if by land, two if by sea'. It is very clear to me now.

I never knew either that the first killings were on Lexington Green, where an overzealous English soldier killed two Americans. Nor did I know that after the battle at Concord's North Bridge, the worst killing was yet to come on the march back to Boston. Altogether, 273 British Soldiers and 95 Colonists lost their lives in this 24-hour period. It was much more serious than I ever suspected.

I wish I had had some children with me; heck, I wish I had come here when I was a child. It was very interesting, and the visual effects kept it that way.

There is a small but well-stocked shop with lots of books and brochures and other small souvenirs. The visitors center also has nice, clean bathrooms, always nice to find.

The center is open all year and from November to April; the hours are 9am to 4pm. Entrance is free.

From journal Visiting Historic Concord and Lexington Ma

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