Frommer's Review
This 970-acre park preserves the scene of the first Revolutionary War battle at Concord on (all together now) April 19, 1775. After the skirmish at Lexington, the British continued to Concord in search of stockpiled arms (which militia members had already moved). Warned of the advance, the colonists prepared to confront the troops. The Minutemen crossed the North Bridge, evading the regulars standing guard, and waited on a hilltop for reinforcements. The British searched nearby homes and burned any guns they found. The colonials saw the smoke and, mistakenly thinking that the troops were torching the town, attacked the soldiers at the bridge. The gunfire that ensued is remembered as "the shot heard round the world," the opening salvo of the Revolution.
The park is open daily, year-round. A visit can take as little as half an hour for a jaunt to the North Bridge (a reproduction) or as long as half a day or more, if you stop at both visitor centers and perhaps participate in a ranger-led program. To reach the bridge, follow Monument Street out of Concord Center until you see the parking lot on the right. Park and walk a short distance to the bridge, stopping along the unpaved path to read the narratives and hear the audio presentations. On one side of the bridge is a plaque commemorating the British soldiers who died in the Revolutionary War; on the other is Daniel Chester French's famed Minute Man statue, a photograph of which can be seen in the color insert at the beginning of this guidebook.
You can also start at the North Bridge Visitor Center, 174 Liberty St., off Monument Street (tel. 978/369-6993; www.nps.gov/mima), which overlooks the Concord River and the bridge. A diorama and video program illustrate the battle, and exhibits include uniforms, weapons, and tools of colonial and British soldiers. Park rangers are on duty if you have questions. Outside, picnicking is allowed, and the scenery is lovely, especially in the fall. The center is open daily from 9am to 5pm (11am-3pm in winter) and is closed January 1 and December 25.
At the Lexington end of the park is the Minute Man Visitor Center, off Route 2A, about 1/2 mile west of I-95 Exit 30B (tel. 781/674-1920; www.nps.gov/mima). This area of the park includes the first 4 miles of the Battle Road, the route the defeated British troops took as they left Concord. At the visitor center, you'll see a fascinating multimedia program about the Revolution, informational displays, and a 40-foot mural illustrating the battle. On summer weekends, rangers lead tours of the park (call ahead for times). The Battle Road Trail, a 5 1/2-mile interpretive path, carries pedestrian, wheelchair, and bicycle traffic. Panels and granite markers along the trail display information about the military, social, and natural history of the area. In season (Oct-Apr), this center is open daily from 9am to 5pm, but schedules vary. Call ahead (use the phone number for the North Bridge Visitor Center, above, if there's no answer here) for open days and hours.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without
notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before
planning your trip.
