Boston Tea Party 250th Anniversary

December 16, 2023, marked the 250th anniversary of the Boston Tea Party. This daring act of defiance against the unpopular Tea Act set the stage for the Revolutionary conflict to come. On December 15 and 16, 2023, Revolutionary Spaces, the organization that operates the historic Old South Meeting House in Boston, held two sold-out performances of “The Meeting of the Body of the People.”

The walls of the Old South Meeting House once again echoed with boisterous shouts for liberty as a lively cast of reenactors brought history to life. Minute Man Park Rangers Jim Hollister and Jarrad Fuoss, and Friends of Minute Man board member Paul O’Shaughnessy were a part of the action. . . Read more!

Image: “The Meeting of the Body of the People” at Old South Meeting House on Dec. 16, 2023. Courtesy of Elizabeth Sulock.

To read more about the 250th Anniversary of the Boston Tea Party, please click on the button below.

Boston Tea Party

Dear Friends and Supporters,

Thank you for your continued dedication to and support of our beautiful Minute Man National Historical Park. We are so thankful to our newsletter readers from near and far!

As we wrap up an impressive 2023 season at the park, please consider a year-end contribution to the Friends of Minute Man annual appeal. Park staff are actively planning for the 250th anniversary of April 19, 1775 and have crafted an ambitious slate of programs for 2024-2026. Your support is vital as we prepare to commemorate this historic anniversary together.

Join us in showing your support for the Park with a donation to the Friends of Minute Man today. You can donate online by using the button below or mail a check or Donor Advised Funds to the Friends of Minute Man National Park, 174 Liberty Street, Concord, MA 01742.

Thank you for your ongoing support!

Give a Gift

P.S. Thank you if you've already contributed to the Annual Appeal! Please note that our system does not enable us to tailor this message for those who have already made a donation.

“Enemies to their country:” Concord Town Meeting January 10, 1774

A 250th Anniversary Event!

Wednesday, January 10, 2024

6:00 PM- 7:30 PM

Concord Free Public Main Library

Free, Registration is recommended but not required

Join Minute Man National Historical Park for this 250th anniversary event! In the wake of the now famous “Boston Tea Party,” the people of Concord took steps that would lead them down a dangerous path toward rebellion.

Minute Man National Historical Park rangers will discuss the January 10, 1774 Concord Town Meeting that considered an article “not to consume any tea in our respective families – and if agreed to – then to see if the town will adjudge those who will afterwards sell or use any tea in their families as enemies to their country . . .”

This event is co-sponsored by The Town of Concord 250, Minute Man National Historical Park, the Concord Free Public Library, and the Friends of Minute Man.

For more information and to register, please click on the button below.

Town Meeting Event

Fall Bird Walk Highlights

Do you live out of state and couldn't make it to our fall migration bird walk? No problem! Our guide Kathy Dia provided us with a great recap of the birds viewed and attendee Cris Van Dyke shared the amazing pictures she took. We enjoyed lovely weather, blue skies, and spotted lots of birds.

Click here to explore Cris's incredible bird photography and learn about the birds we encountered. Keep an eye out for our upcoming spring bird walk scheduled for June 2024.

Celebrating the Spirit of Service at Minute Man

Thank You to our Volunteers!

The dedicated volunteers of Minute Man National Historical Park help make the park a welcoming place for all visitors. Whether it’s reenactors donning period costumes, natural resources caretakers tending the landscapes, or visitor guides sharing their passion for the American Revolution, volunteers work tirelessly alongside park staff to ensure the seamless operation of Minute Man National Historical Park.

Minute Man recently held a series of volunteer appreciation events to thank volunteers for their tremendous contributions and to celebrate their accomplishments. The Friends of Minute Man are proud to support volunteer events and be part of the Minute Man National Park community. . . Read more!

To learn more about the volunteers at Minute Man and how you can get involved, please click on the button below.

Volunteers

Holiday Cheer

The season wouldn't be complete without a colorful holiday wreath on the North Bridge Visitor Center entrance. Every year, the Garden Club of Concord gifts the park and other town offices a cheerful holiday wreath. Look closely! Each wreath contains a hidden message inside the bow - a miniature Minuteman and a bunch of Concord grapes.

Thank you to the Garden Club of Concord for brightening up our door and for their long-time support of the Buttrick Gardens at Minute Man National Historical Park.

Beyond Battle Road

Items of interest outside the Park

Smithsonian Institution: What was in colonial cups besides tea?

Curious what colonists drank besides tea? Popular choices included cider, water, milk, and whiskey. Click here to read this article from the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of American History.

REV250 Podcast: Jefferson & Madison's 1791 Road Trip

Two unlikely tourists traveled through the Hudson Valley and New England in the early summer of 1791, wanting to study the region's flora and fauna as well as the Native American languages. Or were Thomas Jefferson and James Madison on a political mission? REV250 talks with cultural historian Louis P. Masur to find out. Click here to listen.