News Release

Patriots’ Day 2018 at Minute Man National Historical Park

Capt. Brown's Company

NPS/P.Lupsiewicz

News Release Date: March 16, 2018

Contact: Phil Lupsiewicz, 978-318-7833

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 16, 2018) 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 [phone] 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 7th
 
Meriam's Corner Exercise
737 Lexington Road, 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.
 
Paul Revere Capture Ceremony
Paul Revere Capture Site, 200 North Great Road 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 14^th
 
Tough Ruck  and Captain Brown’s Company of Minute Men
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 and veterans in this 26.2 mile hike along the historic Battle Road Trail.  The ruck will kick off at 7:00 a.m. with a musket volley from the North Bridge.


Visit Hartwell Tavern and Captain William Smith House
 136 North Great Road, Lincoln
Hartwell Tavern 9:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m., Smith House 9:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Park staff, Lincoln Minute Men, and living history volunteers will be demonstrating various aspects of life in Massachusetts at the beginning of the American Revolution.
 
Explore Bloody Angle with Edmund Foster
Hartwell Tavern, 136 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. - 12:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. – 5:00 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.
 
1^st Michigan Colonial Fife and Drum Corps
Minute Man Visitor Center, Rt 2A, Lexington
11:30 a.m., at the outdoor ampitheater
Listen to military music of the American Revolution and get into the spirit of Patriots’ Day! 
 
Caught in the Storm of War: Civilians of April 19^th
Captain William Smith House, 136 North Great Road, Lincoln
9:30 a.m.-12:15 p.m.
What would you take with you if you had to leave your home in a hurry, uncertain of your return?  Learn about the local civilians on April 19, 1775.  Once the refugees leave the Smith house, you may encounter them along the Battle Road Trail heading towards Lexington and the Minute Man Visitor Center just prior the the Parker’s Revenge Battle Demonstration.
 
**MAIN EVENT ** “Parker’s Revenge Battle Demonstration”
Battle Road Trail behind Minute Man Visitor Center, Rt. 2A, Lexington
1:00 p.m.
Hundreds of British and colonial Reenactors will engage in a tactical weapons demonstration with musket firing and fast-paced battle action along a stretch of the actual Battle Road of 1775. Park staff will be on hand to direct you to parking and viewing areas.


Junior Ranger Days at Minute Man National Historical Park
Saturday, April & Saturday, April 21, 2018
Earn your Junior Ranger Badge
Minute Man Visitor Center, Rt. 2A, Lexington., 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
North Bridge Visitor Center, 174 Liberty St., Concord, 9:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. 
Pick up your very own Junior Ranger Booklet. This is a fun way to learn and explore 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. Receive your badge and take your oath at   11:00 am, 12:00 pm, 1:00 pm, 3:00 pm, and 4:30 pm.  Recommended for ages 4 and up.
 
·Sunday, April 15th
 
Warlike Preparations: British Soldiers Search the Barrett House
Colonel James Barrett House, 448 Barrett's Mill Road, Concord
1:00 - 4:00 p.m.   (British troops arrive around 3:00 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.  Around 3:00 p.m. British soldiers will arrive and conduct a search of the property, looking for arms and supplies.
 
Revolutionary Dogs: "Paws for the Cause!"
Minute Man Visitor Center, Route 2A, Lexington
2:00 p.m.
Join Park Ranger Roger Fuller for a walk on the Battle Road to explore the lives of dogs in colonial America and in the Revolution. The 45-minute walk starts at Minute Man Visitor Center and is open to all. Your well-behaved, friendly dog on a leash is welcome too.
 
·Monday,  April 16^th (Patriots’ Day observed)
 
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.
                                                                                   
 ·Wednesday, April 18^th   
 The Patriot Vigil
 North Bridge, Concord
 Lantern light procession: 7:50 p.m. (step off at North Bridge Visitor Center) 
 Ceremony at North Bridge: 8:00 – 8:45 p.m.
  As darkness descends upon the North Bridge battlefield we invite you to come and reflect on the events of April 19, 1775 and the meaning of liberty. The  evening ceremony will feature a lantern-light procession, poetry, music, and a recitation of the names of Patriots who gave their lives on that “ever-memorable” 19th of April. Please note, if you would like to participate in the procession, we ask you bring you own enclosed REAL candle lantern. (No flashlights or LED bulbs in the procession please.)


·Thursday,  April 19^th
 
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.
 
Remembering the Ladies
North Bridge, Concord
10:00 a.m. (approximately)
In commemoration of the brave Daughters of Liberty, the Molly Cutthroats, a living history group dedicated to the role of women in the Revolution, will fire a ceremonial volley of musketry from North Bridge.
 
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.
 
Sons of the American Revolution, Henry Knox Color Guard
North Bridge, Concord
12:00 p.m. (approximately) 
The Henry Knox Color Guard will fire three volleys from North Bridge in honor of our Revolutionary Forbearers.
  
·Saturday, April 21st
 
Junior Ranger Days at Minute Man National Historical Park
Saturday, April & Saturday, April 21, 2018
Earn your Junior Ranger Badge
Minute Man Visitor Center, Rt. 2A, Lexington., 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
North Bridge Visitor Center, 174 Liberty St., Concord, 9:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. 
Pick up your very own Junior Ranger Booklet. This is a fun way to learn and explore 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. Receive your badge and take your oath at   11:00 am, 12:00 pm, 1:00 pm, 3:00 pm, and 4:30 pm.  Recommended for ages 4 and up.
  
After the Battle - The War Has Begun
Hartwell Tavern, 136 North Great Road, Lincoln
4:30 - 8:30 p.m. 
War between the people of Massachusetts and Governor Gage and the British regulars has just broken out. Thousands of men are preparing to leave home for the front lines around Boston.  Whole communities are faced with numerous challenges demanded by this frightening new reality.  Step back into the year of 1775 and get involved. Admission: Recommended donation: $5 per person, $10 per family. Children wearing a Junior Ranger badge will be admitted free.
 
For general park information, please call 978-396-6993 or visit our website at www.nps.gov/MIMA.
 
(NPS)