Minute Man National Historical Park News
Release date: Immediate
Contact(s): Phil Lupsiewicz
Phone number: 978-318-7833
Date: March 17, 2016
Release code: 16-04
Patriots’ Day 2016 at Minute Man National Historical Park
Each year in mid-April, thousands of people flock to historic Lexington and Concord and
Minute Man National Historical Park to celebrate Patriots’ Day. Patriots’ Day is a special
Massachusetts State holiday commemorating the opening battle of the American
Revolutionary War, April 19, 1775. The holiday (officially observed on Monday, April 18,
2016) and the entire week is celebrated with parades, reenactments and commemorative
ceremonies.
Admission to all events is free except where noted. For more information, please call (978)
318 – 7825 or visit www.nps.gov/mima. Additional information is available at
www.battleroad.org. Information on events in Lexington is available at
http://www.lexingtonma.gov/committees/patriotsday.cfm.
-Saturday, April 9th
Meriam’s Corner Exercise
Meriam’s Corner, Concord
1:00 p.m.
The Town of Concord, joined by area minute companies, fife and drum units, and the
Concord Independent Battery, pay remembrance to the fight at Meriam’s Corner that marked
the beginning of the six-hour running battle back to Boston. Tour the Meriam House from
11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Paul Revere Capture Ceremony
Paul Revere Capture Site, Lincoln
3:00 p.m.
The Lincoln Minute Men and the Town of Lincoln, joined by other reenactment units, observe
the historic capture of Paul Revere with fife and drum music and a musket fire salute.
-Saturday, April 16th
Tough Ruck
Step off at The Old Manse field, adjacent to North Bridge
7:00 a.m.
Minute Man National Historical Park is honored to once again host the “Tough Ruck,”
military personnel marching in memory of our fallen soldiers. Come out and support our
soldiers in this 26 mile hike along the historic Battle Road Trail. For more information go to
http://www.militaryfriends.org/programs/toughruck.
“Armed as According to Law.” – Captain David Brown’s Company of Minute Men
North Bridge, Concord 7:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Concord Museum, 1:00 – 5:00 p.m.
Visit North Bridge and Concord Museum and see Captain David Brown’s Company, a nearly
full strength recreated minute company, demonstrate drill maneuvers and musket firings.
Learn about militia duty in colonial Massachusetts and what it meant to be “armed as
according to law.”
Life on the Battle Road
Hartwell Tavern and Captain William Smith House, Hartwell Tavern Parking Area, 100 North
Great Road, Lincoln
9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Hartwell Tavern and the Captain William Smith House will be open. Park staff and living
history volunteers from the Lincoln Minute Men, the Guild of Historic Interpreters, and the
Ladies of Refined Taste will be demonstrating various aspects of life in Massachusetts at the
beginning of the American Revolution.
Explore Bloody Angle with Edmund Foster
Hartwell Tavern, Hartwell Tavern Parking Area, 100 North Great Road, Lincoln
10:30 a.m.
Edmund Foster, a volunteer from Reading, Massachusetts (portrayed by Park Volunteer, Ed
Hurley), will lead a tour to this key battle site where he fought in 1775.
Visit Whittemore House (Behind Minute Man Visitor Center, Rt 2A Lexington)
10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Visit Whittemore House, staffed by costumed park volunteers, and discover what life was like
in 1775. Try on colonial children’s clothing, gather ingredients for a meal, and listen to stories
of the Whittemore family and their experience of April 19, 1775.
**BATTLE DEMONSTRATION**
Battle Road: “Parker’s Revenge”
Battle Road Trail behind Minute Man Visitor Center, Rt. 2A, Lexington
2:00 p.m.
Hundreds of British and Colonial Reenactors will engage in a tactical weapons
demonstration showing the running battle that took place along this deadly
stretch of road on the border of Lincoln and Lexington.
Junior Ranger Day at Minute Man National Historical Park
Saturday, April 18, 2015
Earn your Junior Ranger Badge
9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Minute Man Visitor Center, Rt. 2A, Lexington. Pick up your very own Junior Ranger Day
Booklet. You will have fun exploring Minute Man National Historical Park while completing the
pages in the booklet. When you are finished, show your work to a Ranger to earn your new
badge. It’s a fun way to learn and earn your Centennial badge & take your oath at 11:30 am,
3:15 pm, and 4:15 pm.
Recommended for ages 8-11.
– Sunday, April 17th
Warlike Preparations at the Barrett Farm
At Colonel James Barrett House, Barrett’s Mill Road, Concord
1:00 – 4:00 p.m.
In 1775, Colonel James Barrett of Concord was responsible for safeguarding all the military
supplies in town and his house was searched by British soldiers during their mission to
Concord. Visit the Barrett House and learn about the intense military preparations that helped
launch America into the Revolutionary War.
Revolutionary Dogs: “Paws for the Cause!” at Minute Man Visitor Center
Route 2A, Lexington
2:00 p.m. 45 minutes in length
Join Park Ranger Roger Fuller and his pug, Cricket, in a forty-five minute walk on the Battle
Road to explore the lives of dogs in colonial America, and in the Revolution. The tour starts at
Minute Man Visitor Center and goes to Paul Revere Capture Site, about half a mile, with four
stops along the way. The walk is open to all. You are welcome to bring along your wellbehaved,
friendly dog, too.
– Monday, April 18th (Patriots’ Day observed)
Lexington Battle Reenactment
Lexington Green
5:30 a.m.
The Town of Lexington celebrates the first shots of the American Revolution with a
reenactment of the early-morning engagement between the town’s militia and the British
regulars.
Commemoration of the North Bridge Fight and Concord Parade
North Bridge, Concord
8:45 a.m.
British reenactors will be joined by the Acton Minutemen and other local companies for a
special commemoration of the North Bridge Fight featuring musket volleys. The Concord
Parade will arrive at North Bridge around 9:30 a.m. NOTE: All of the roads in the center of
town are closed to vehicles beginning at 8:30 a.m.
– Tuesday, April 19th
Dawn Salute
North Bridge, Concord
6:00 a.m.
The Concord Minute Men and the Concord Independent Battery observe the opening battle of
the American Revolution with a 21 gun musket and cannon salute.
Arrival of the Sudbury Militia
North Bridge, Concord
11:30 a.m. (approximately)
The Sudbury Companies of Militia and Minutemen will make their annual march to North
Bridge from the Town of Sudbury, in honor of their fellow townsmen who made a similar
march on April 19, 1775. They will fire three musket volleys from North Bridge as a soldierly
salute.
-Saturday, April 23th
Battle Road Heroes
At Hartwell Tavern Parking Area
7:00 – 8:30 p.m. Tours leave every 15 minutes.
Listen to the personal stories of residents who lived along the Battle Road on April 19, 1775.
Join the Guild of Historic Interpreters for a special evening of theater and history. Appropriate
for ages 8 and up. Admission: $5.00 per person, $10.00 per family. Children wearing their
Junior Ranger Badges may attend the program for free.
