Minute Man National Historical Park

Minute Man National Historical Park commemorates the opening battles of the American Revolution on April 19, 1775, the Battles of Lexington and Concord. Run by the National Park Service, the park spans parts of Lexington, Lincoln and Concord and protects, preserves and interprets the sites, structures and landscapes tied to that day, along with the events and ideas they embody. Visitors can see the North Bridge and follow the road the British troops traveled.

The park’s interpretation traces the story from rising tensions after British warships closed Boston Harbor and the elected legislature was dismissed, to the Provincial Congress taking control of the militia and stockpiling arms. General Thomas Gage responded by sending about 700 elite soldiers on a secret expedition to seize supplies stored in Concord. After the fighting, the British troops retreated toward Boston along what is now known as the Battle Road.

What to Know

• The North Bridge Visitor Center in Concord is one of the park’s main stops.
• The British expedition was made up of 21 companies of Grenadiers and Light Infantry, the army’s elite soldiers.
• Concord, the expedition’s target, lies 18 miles northwest of Boston.
• The park was established in 1959.