We all know the story of Paul Revere's ride and the subsequent confrontations that occurred between British troops and rebels in the villages of Lexington and Concord. In Lexington the action was on the village common. The common continues to serve as a park. The area around it has changed with the time and is just a typical suburban commerical district. Still, it is nice to see.
This is the Old North Bridge in Concord. It is a wonderful historic site that has been preserved as part of the Minuteman National Historic Park. The entire area around the battlefield looks exactly as it did in 1775. This photo was take from almost the exact spot where the first British soldier was killed in the Revolutionary War. The rebels were assembled on the other side of the bridge to defend a munitions stoarge area up the hill. The best time to visit is early in the morning before the tour buses arrive when you can walk the battlefield alone and feel the special character of this place.
When the word reached Concord that the British were coming, one of the leaders of the local militia, Colonel Roger Brown, was building his home in the village of Concord. He and his men abandoned the work and went to the Old North Bridge to confront the British. His home is now a Bed and Breakfast and we stayed there. It's a lovely home, however it has been so modernized inside that it does not have much of the character of the period. It is very comfortable however. Ironically, the current owner is a British woman who didn't quite seen to grasp the historic significance of the place.
Concord also has a special place in American literary history. Walden Pond continues to be preserved as a place for introspection as it was for Concord resident Henry David Thoreau. You can also visit the homes of Nataniel Hawthorne, Ralph Waldo Emerson and Barb and Peg's favorite, Louisa May Alcott. Walking though Orchard House you can actually recognize places Alcott described in her story Little Women.
Looking for more information?
Check out these links:
Concord Travel Information
Minuteman National Historic Park
Colonel Roger Brown House
