Lexington & Concord (Where It All Began)

For those of you who are history buffs, you probably know the story well.  As tensions rose in Boston in 1775, the British army learned of a store of colonial arms in nearby Concord, and set out on April 19th, 1775 to seize these weapons and ammunition.  From there we get the famed ride of Paul Revere (poor William Dawes), who according to poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, rode through the countryside as quickly as possible to warn the rebels the "British are coming!"  While that's not factually accurate (Americans still considered themselves British at this point, so he probably said "the regulars are coming" or nothing at all), it does paint a detailed portrait of Americans who were ready to defend their rights at all cost.  The British eventually reached the town of Lexington, in between Boston and Concord.  There 77 militiamen and about 700 British troops engaged in the first shots of the American Revolution.  Slowing their advance, the British eventually made it to Concord only to find the arms they were searching for had been moved during this time.  There colonial militiamen, who believed the British had set fire to their town, and the British regulars engaged in what was known as, "The Shot Heard 'Round the World."  The British were then chased back to Boston, facing mile after mile of militia fire, and the Americans would take more than 200 British lives that day as the War for Independence had reached it's boiling point.  To explore this more, Wendy and I took a day from our Boston trip and visited the Minute Man National Historical Park located in between the two towns of Lexington and Concord.

Getting there can be done several ways.  There is a local bus, Bus 76, that will take you out there from the Alewife subway station, but sadly we went on a Sunday, the only day it doesn't run.  You can also take an Uber out there if you want.  The park itself is very long, more than six miles, but it's all connected by one historic, walking only, trail that has homes all along the side.  From Lexington we began our walk towards Concord.  Along this path you will pass the site of the first shots from the 77 militiamen, and then will see the place where Paul Revere was captured by the British.  You will see actual homes that have sat in the same location for centuries, and were occupied by some of the leading rebel leaders of the region, including homes like the Captain William Smith House and Hartwell Tavern, where members of the militia and Sons of Liberty would have gathered.  Taking a right at the Bloody Angle, the scene of intense fighting, you will continue to the Brooks' family homes, still in existence today.  While we were encouraged not to hike the entire trail because it would take hours, we did, and we loved it.  You can find a copy of the entire trail map here.  Be on the lookout for wild turkeys.  They just walked past us like we didn't exist.  It was apparently mating season, so I think they were distracted.  The trail ends on the outskirts of Concord, and I would recommend stopping in there for lunch.  The town center of Concord is wonderful, and they have several restaurants ready to feed hungry travelers.  They also have several antique shops and book shops to stop in.  While we did not do this, if you want, it is only about a two mile walk from the city center to Walden Pond, and the cabin that Thoreau secluded himself in to write Walden.  From the center of town we headed north to find the other end of the Minute Man National Park, and the famous North Bridge.

The hike to the North Bridge Visitor Center was about a mile and a half from Concord, but was pleasant.  The visitor center is a turn of the 20th Century mansion built by the descendants of Major John Buttrick, the commander who ordered the colonials to fire on the British.  Inside they have actual canons, weapons, and uniforms from the battle and time period.  The coolest object has to be the piece of the original North Bridge that hangs above the mantle.  It's hard to imagine anyone not wanting to fight covered in a wool uniform in the spring and summer.  Walk around the grounds too.  There are several trails that take you down to the riverside and give you a great view of the gardens and the North Bridge.  The trail to the bridge is short, and there is the Minute Man monument staring into your soul as you walk across the bridge.  The day we went a lady had her 95 year old grandfather, who had served in World War II with her, and I was happy to take a picture of them together visiting this historic site.  On the other side of the bridge a park ranger gives an hourly discussion of the events that occurred there.  There is also a grave to some of the British soldiers who lost their lives there, and even an ranger in British uniform to stand guard over their graves.

These sites are inspiring.  Regardless of your political beliefs, I hope everyone understands there is no nation on this Earth that grants more rights to their citizens than the United States, and there is a reason for that, we run the government, the government doesn't run us.  While taxes have gotten out of control in modern America, they are at least taxes that we as citizens have a say in, and can elect people to either support or repeal them.  Imagine the feeling these men and women had knowing they were about to go to war, and still believing their rights were important enough to risk their lives to do it.  After walking back to Concord we decided to just get a drink and sit in one of the parks to enjoy the early evening.  One man decided to take those freedoms we're granted by the Constitution and put them to good use.  Nothing says I am free like riding your bicycle through the center of town in a Speedo while playing a flute with goggles on.  If you are lucky enough to be in Concord, feel free to take a picture, he enjoys it.

Share