Diorama of The Battle of Lexington

The Diorama of the Battle of Lexington is a miniature re-creation of the April 19, 1775, clash on Lexington Green, displayed inside the Lexington Visitors Center. Its principal artisan was Major William Francis Buckley, described in CIA materials as an avid reader of politics and history and a collector and builder of miniature soldiers. The diorama earned Buckley a Freedom Foundation Award and was exhibited at the 1964 World’s Fair in New York.

Buckley, who lived from 1928 to 1985, later served with the CIA and was kidnapped in Beirut in 1984, dying in captivity. The Visitors Center itself is a starting point for exploring the town, with exhibits, a gift shop and guided tours that head out to the Battle Green, a National Historic Landmark, and nearby sites such as the Hancock-Clarke House, where Samuel Adams and John Hancock were staying on the night of April 18, 1775.

What to Know

• The Visitors Center has dedicated bus parking and accessible restrooms.
• The seasonal Liberty Ride trolley offers a 90-minute guided tour of the first battle of the American Revolution.
• Mixed-reality iREV tours of the Meeting House and Belfry depart from the Visitors Center on weekdays in season; children under 10 cannot attend.
• Lexington Tourism also offers private charter tours and step-on guides for groups.