Friends of Minute Man National Park
Preserving the Birthplace of the American Revolution
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Summer is a great time to visit Minute Man National Historical Park. We welcome you to visit our historical sites, memorial landscapes, and Visitor Centers. Rangers are ready to answer questions, provide maps, passport stamps, and Junior Ranger materials at park Visitor Centers.
North Bridge Visitor Center is open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Minute Man Visitor Center is currently open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. However, summer hours at the Minute Man Visitor Center will be modified; please read about the schedule change in the article below.
Ranger-guided programs are available regularly throughout the season, including Concord's North Bridge: History and Memory, North Bridge Battlefield Walk, Battlefield in a Box, Discovering Lexington's Lost Battlefield, and Minute Men: Neighbor in Arms.
Hartwell Tavern is now open Wednesday through Sunday from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Additional historic houses will open in mid-July. How many will you visit this summer?
To learn about special programs, please look at the listings below.
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Left Behind: British Prisoners of War on the Battle Road
Saturday, June 24, 2023
Hartwell Tavern
1:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
The fighting along the Battle Road on April 19, 1775 was intense. What happened to the British soldiers captured along the Battle Road? Join us at Hartwell Tavern with living history volunteer Sam Shields to learn about the experiences of these unfortunate men.
Click here for more information.
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Declaring Independence
Tuesday, July 4th, 2023
North Bridge
2:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Join us as we mark the 247th anniversary of our nation's independence with a live, in-person reading of the Declaration of Independence at Concord's North Bridge. Reenactors representing the 10th Massachusetts Regiment will fire three musket volleys in honor of American Independence.
Click here for more information.
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"With Fidelity and Dispatch" - Concord and the French and Indian War
Saturday, July 8, 2023
Colonel James Barrett House
Programs 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m.
Open house 12:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Before they were Minute Men, they served as Provincial soldiers in Great Britain’s war against the French and their Indigenous allies. Join us at the Colonel James Barrett House for a special program exploring the role of Concord during the French and Indian War.
Click here for more information.
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Minute Man Visitor Center Summer Schedule | |
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The hours of Minute Man Visitor Center in Lexington will change to allow for new program opportunities this summer - stay tuned for more information in our July newsletter!
From July 10, 2023 to mid-August, the Minute Man Visitor Center will be open from 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. To check out the current Minute Man Visitor Center schedule, click here.
The Road to Revolution film (pictured above) will run every half hour from 9:00 a.m. with the last show starting at 11:30 a.m. each day. To learn more about Road to Revolution film, please click here.
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Give a Gift to the Gardens
Please consider supporting the Buttrick Gardens with a donation today! Your gift supports garden interns that provide daily maintenance including weeding, watering, and pruning. Your donation also funds the preservation of historic plants, removal of invasive species, and the re-establishment of native polinators. Receive a free tote bag for donations at $150 and up.
Donate today!
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Free Garden Tours
Join us for a free, 30-minute tour of the Buttrick Gardens this summer on Tuesday, June 27 or July 25. We'll find shady spots to view beautiful blooms and historic photos. Thank you to our sponsors New England Nurseries and Middlesex Savings Bank.
Register here
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Pride Month
June is Pride Month! It's also when the Buttrick Gardens at Minute Man National Historical Park bloom with multi-colored iris, peony, and baptisia. We welcome our LGBTQ+ and all visitors to enjoy the rainbow of color provided by the gardens all season long.
The Friends of Minute Man are proud to celebrate Pride Month, click here to learn more.
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Heritage Breed Cattle at the Park | |
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Minute Man National Historical Park is delighted to host Red Devon cattle from Codman Community Farms in Lincoln, MA. The heritage herd arrived in mid-May and is located in the fields next to Noah Brooks Tavern along Rt. 2A in Lincoln. The cattle graze the historic fields and are only sometimes visible from the road as they are regularly rotated through the twelve acres of land. The herd will travel home to the Codman Community Farms for the winter.
Red Devons are an ancient beef-type breed that hails from southwestern England and is prized for its creamy milk and beef. According to the folks at Codman Community Farms, “Red Devon’s are an old hardy breed which thrive on grass and living outdoors.”
To learn more about the Devon cattle at the park, please click on the button below.
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Tiny Visitors
Minute Man National Historical Park is home to five identified species of turtles, including the painted turtle, snapping turtle, Blanding's turtle, spotted turtle, and the eastern musk turtle.
We recently spotted a painted turtle near the North Bridge Visitor Center, up the hill from her home at the Concord River. This lady was about 5-6" long and was probably looking for a good place to lay her eggs. . . Read more.
Click here to read more about turtles at the park.
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Beyond Battle Road
Items of interest outside the Park
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Longfellow House Washington's Headquarters: Summer Arts Festival
The Longfellow Summer Arts Festival brings music, poetry, and community to the East Lawn of the Longfellow House in Cambridge, MA on Sunday afternoons through the summer. All events are free and open to the public. Click here to learn more.
Robbins House: Storywalk
Family-friendly event! Walk the grounds of The Robbins House in Concord, MA while reading the children's book The Other Side by Jacqueline Woodson. The Storywalk is free and will be on display outdoors until June 26, 2023. Click here to learn more.
Voices on the Green
Voices on the Green is a live music and storytelling series in Lexington, MA. Hear the story of Jeremy Lister, a British officer in the 10th Regiment of Foot and his experience on April 19, 1775. Reenactor and Friends of Minute Man board member Paul O'Shaughnessy portrays Lister. Click here to watch the YouTube video. Jump to 3:55 in the video to hear Jeremy's story.
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Thank you to our newsletter sponsors! | |
Friends of Minute Man National Park
North Bridge Visitor Center
174 Liberty Street
Concord, MA 01742
P: 978-318-7822
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The Friends of Minute Man National Park is an independent, member-based
non-profit 501(c)(3) organization supporting the Park's mission of
preserving and protecting the historic sites, structures, properties, and landscapes associated with the opening battles of the American Revolution.
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