Historic sites

Lexington Battle Green - The first skirmish of the American Revolution took place here at dawn on April 19, 1775. Captain Parker of the militia is immortalized in a statue on one end of the Green. The Revolutionary War Monument here was erected in 1799. Just above the Green is the Old Belfry whose bells summoned the militia on that fateful day.
The following three sites are run by the Lexington Historical Society. Information on location, hours, and admission fees can be found at the Society's web site.
Buckman Tavern - Located adjacent to the Lexington Battle Green, this is the location where several dozen members of the Lexington militia gathered in the early hours of the morning on April 19, 1775 to await the arrival of the British column.
Hancock-Clarke House - On the evening of April 18, 1775, John Hancock and Samuel Adams were guests of the Reverend Jonas Clarke in the parsonage. Fearing that they might be captured by the Regulars, William Dawes and Paul Revere were sent to Lexington with news of the advancing Regulars. The Hancock-Clarke House is within walking distance of the Lexington Battle Green.
Munroe Tavern - On the afternoon of April 19, 1775, the tavern served as the headquarters for Brigadier General Earl Percy and his one thousand reinforcements. The Regulars occupied the tavern converting the dining room into a field hospital. The Munroe Tavern is on the east side of Lexington.
Battle Road Trail, Minute Man National Historic Park - This 5 1/2 mile pathway for walking, bicycle, or wheelchair follows a part of the route taken by the British Regulars on their march from Boston to Concord and back. The trail parallels route 2A in Lexington, Lincoln, and Concord and Lexington Road in Concord. Along the trail are historic houses, farmlands, wetlands, and fields. Highlights include the the Bloody Angle where the Battle Road made sharp turns providing ambush points for the colonists, the site of Paul Revere's capture during his famous ride, the restored 18th-century house of Captain William Smith of the Lincoln Minute Men, and the Ephraim Hartwell Tavern (now an interpretive site) where travelers were offered bed and board.
North Bridge, Minute Man National Historic Park - The North Bridge is the site of the first effective forcible resistance to the British Parliament's rule in America. Visitors can cross the reconstructed bridge and see Daniel Chester French's minute man statue. The North Bridge Visitor Center overlooks the site. For directions to the site and hours of operation, see the information at the Minute Man National Historic Park web site.

Visitor centers

The Lexington Visitor Center, operated by the Lexington Chamber of Commerce, is located near the Lexington Battle Green and the Buckman Tavern. At the Center, you can view a diorama of the Battle of Lexington and pick up brochures and directions to area attractions. Public restrooms are available.

The Minute Man National Historical Park Visitor Center on route 2A in Lincoln offers orientation programs, exhibits, information, ranger programs, and a bookstore. This is a good place to begin your visit to the Park. One feature of the exhibit design is a specially-commissioned mural by artist John Rush that depicts Colonists and British Redcoats fighting along the Battle Road. Public restrooms are available.

The North Bridge Visitor Center at Minute Man National Historical Park in Concord is in the former mansion of Major Buttrick of the Concord Minute Men. The Center offers an exhibit of clothing, uniforms, and accoutrements of Colonial militia and British Regulars as well as information, ranger programs, and a bookstore. Public restrooms are available.

The Concord Visitor Center, operated by the Concord Chamber of Commerce, is located on Main Street in the center of Concord behind the Middlesex Savings Bank. At the beautiful new Center, brochures and information for Concord area attractions are available. Public restrooms are located at the Visitor Center.

Museums

Concord Museum - Concord's remarkable past is brought to life through artifacts from an outstanding collection, self-touring galleries, period rooms, audio narrations, and hands-on activities. Highlights include the Exploring Concord film and the engaging "Why Concord?" history galleries containing many Revolutionary War artifacts including the "one, if by land, and two, if by sea" lantern, immortalized by Longfellow's Paul Revere's Ride. The Concord Museum also has exhibits pertaining to Concord's literary past and interesting changing exhibitions.

National Heritage Museum - This world-class museum is a unique experience for people of every age and interest and a true discovery for anyone fascinated by American history and culture. The museum offers a great exhibit named Lexington Alarm'd which introduces visitors to the residents of colonial Lexington and explores how and why this community functioned as a launch site for the Revolutionary War. Another exhibit, Initiating America: Three Centuries of Lodge Life, examines the fascinating and sometimes bewildering secret societies that were formed to offer fellowship, aid, and self-improvement to their members who included Paul Revere and John Hancock. This museum also host many exciting rotating exhibits.