In the News
Walk the Revolutionary War path of patriots at recently updated Minute Man Historical Park
Washington,
August 1, 2022
Walk the Revolutionary War path of patriots at recently updated Minute Man Historical ParkBy: Heather McCarronOn April 19, 1775, the opening volleys of the American Revolution were exchanged along a route stretching from Lexington to Concord. Within this area would be heard the "shot heard around the world," as the battle that took place that day at Concord's North Bridge would later be commemorated by Ralph Waldo Emerson. At the time, the residents of the area had little idea where actions taken that day would eventually lead: A free and independent nation. Fast forward 247 years. Today the area sees a steady flow of visitors who come to walk the path of the first patriots and those they battled. It's all made possible through the preservation afforded the various key sites by the Minute Man National Historical Park, overseen by the National Park Service. On July 25, Congresswoman Lori Trahan (MA-03), a member of the House Natural Resources Committee’s National Parks Subcommittee, hosted Congressman Joe Neguse (CO-02), the chairman of the subcommittee, for a visit to the park to see firsthand how the park is using funding awarded through the Great American Outdoors Act. According to Trahan's office, the legislation, which Trahan and Neguse both supported, "allocated a historic investment in national parks and public lands to help address the maintenance backlog." At the time the bill was passed in 2020, Minute Man National Historical Park had an estimated $12.4 million maintenance backlog. The park received $27.4 million through the act for 2022. "This funding is separate from the standard funding the park receives on an annual basis, and is instead meant to target long overdue maintenance and park improvement projects that have been forced to the back burner because of a lack of funding over the years," according to Francis Grubar, Trahan's deputy chief of staff and communications director. Minute Man Park projects benefiting from the funding include preserving and repairing the structures that were witness to the opening of the Revolutionary War, trails, and park landscape, as well as rehabilitating historic structures across the park. One of those structures is Hartwell Tavern, where Trahan and Neguse — joined by Minute Man Park Superintendent Simone Monteleone, visitor service manager Jennifer Pierce, and park ranger and historical Interpreter Jim Hollister — spent a significant portion of time during the July 25 visit. Hartwell Tavern, restored to its 1775 appearance in the 1980s, sits along the "Battle Road" that is also part of the park. It is called a "witness" house because it was present at the time of the first battles of the American Revolution. The park, which encompasses 967 acres in the towns of Lexington, Lincoln and Concord, includes a number of other witness structures and sites. Among them are the North Bridge, The Wayside where muster master Samuel Whitney lived — later it was home to Louisa May Alcott's family, as well as Nathaniel Hawthorne — and Barrett's Farm which, according to the park's website "was the destination of British regulars who crossed North Bridge intent on searching the farm for artillery and ammunition they thought was hidden there." Trahan said the Great American Outdoor Act funding has had "tremendous benefits" already at the park. “The staff have done an amazing job utilizing these funds to revitalize the park so future generations can enjoy learning about our nation’s history — from the shot heard 'round the world to The Wayside and so much more," she said. Neguse said he appreciated the opportunity to see the funding at work in one of the country's important historical resource areas. "From Colorado to Massachusetts, our country’s national parks are national treasures," he said. "It is always a joy to see how park staff work to keep these special places open and bustling.” Trahan has used her role as a member of the National Parks Subcommittee to fight for funding not only for Minute Man National Historical Park, but also the 141-acre Lowell National Historical Park. The Lowell park preserves textile manufacturing sites important during the Industrial Revolution. Minute Man National Historical Park is open daily, sunrise to sunset. The Hartwell Tavern is open for interior tours Wednesday through Sunday, 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. There are costumed historical interpreters at the site, and there are musket firing demonstrations in the yard twice daily, at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. The Wayside is presently closed to interior tours, but the grounds are open. The Minute Man Visitor Center is open daily, 9 a.m.- 5 p.m., through Oct. 30. There is no fee to visit the park. |