Patriots’ Day 2022 information coming soon!
Virtual Patriots’ Day 2021
COVID-19 may be keeping folks at home this April but it has not dampened our Patriots’ Day spirit! This year Minute Man National Historical Park is pleased to announce the formation of the April 19th History Coalition! This is a collaboration between Minute Man National Historical Park, Concord Museum, Lexington Historical Society, Arlington Historical Society, Minuteman Media Network, Friends of Minute Man National Park, Revolution 250, Concord Celebrations Committee, Lincoln Historical Society, Lexington Celebrations Committee and Freedom’s Way National Heritage Area.
We are teaming up to bring Patriots’ Day to life – virtually! Programs, ceremonies, and living history demonstrations will be offered through Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, and Instagram. You can follow all the action with the hashtag #VirtualPatriotsDay.
We’ll post links to video premieres throughout the month, so bookmark and keep coming back to this page!
Virtual Events
Blooper Reel
A humorous but heartfelt salute to our amazing living history volunteers who make this work fun!
Click here to view the Blooper Reel
April 10-16, daily at 8:00 a.m.
“April 19, 1775: Our Tangible Past”
Each video in this series will feature incredible museum objects related to the events of April 19th, some that have not been seen by the public for centuries, and connect these objects to real stories and places that you can visit!
Click here to view the video collection.
April 17th, 10:00 a.m.
“The Minute Men: Neighbors in Arms”
Watch colonial reenactors as they demonstrate how these citizen-soldiers of 1775 prepared for the looming conflict. Far from being a “rag-tag” bunch of farmers, see how the minute men were armed and equipped, and how they trained.
Click here to view.
April 17th, 1:00 p.m.
“The British Light Infantry”
Watch a group of British reenactors as they demonstrate real light infantry tactics from the period, and discover what the fighting was really like on the April 19th Battle Road!
Click here to view
April 17th, 3:00 p.m.
“Caught in the Storm of War: Civilian Stories from April 19, 1775”
Park Ranger Jim Hollister talks with historian, blogger, and author Alexander Cain (Historical Nerdery) about the various accounts of civilian evacuations and aftermath as the fighting raged along the Battle Road.
Click here to view
April 18th, 7:30-8:00 p.m.
“The Patriot Vigil”
Minute Man staff and volunteers will share a moving candlelight tribute at the North Bridge battlefield dedicated to those who lost their lives on April 19, 1775. The Patriot Vigil is pre-recorded, but we invite you to participate virtually on April 18th by placing a candle or candle lantern in your window, photograph it and post it to Facebook, Twitter or Instagram with #PatriotVigil. Thanks to the Minuteman Media Network.
Click here to view.
April 18th at 10:00 p.m. to April 19th at 7:00 p.m.
“Revolution in Real Time – Follow the Action!”
Follow the hashtag #RevolutionInRealTime on Facebook and Twitter to keep pace with the historical events of April 18 and 19, 1775 as they happened 246 years ago! Revolution in Real Time will feature regular updates, starting at about 10:00 pm on April 18th and going through the night and all the next day, April 19th.
View at Minute Man National Historical Park Facebook, YouTube, or Twitter. New posts will premiere throughout the day.
April 18 – 19th
“Voices of 1775”
Volunteer reenactors, park, and museum staff portray real men and women who lived in 1775 and experienced the events of April 19th. The performances are taken from the actual words written by these people to provide you with a window to what it was really like to experience the start of the American Revolution – from a variety of perspectives!
Click here to view the video collection.
For a complete listing of Virtual Patriots’ Day programs from our April 19th History Coalition partners, visit the Revolution 250 website.
Support Virtual Patriots’ Day at Minute Man
Please help us with a donation to the Patriots’ Day Fund at the Friends of Minute Man National Park. Your donation will ensure that today’s and future generations will continue to enjoy Patriots’ Day at Minute Man National Historical Park.
Patriots’ Day commemorates the battles at Lexington and Concord that occurred on April 19, 1775. These battles marked the beginning of the American Revolution and Minute Man National Historical Park is dedicated to protecting and preserving the sites, battlefields, structures, and landscapes associated with April 19, 1775.
Patriots’ Day activities at the Park run for several weeks and are free to the public. Each year thousands of visitors come to enjoy the battle demonstrations, living history, guided walks, vigils, and educational events available at the Park. This year we are proud to offer virtual events via Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter. The Friends of the Minute Man National Park is committed to helping to defray the significant costs related to these activities. Your donation supports the park and Patriots’ Day activities.
Make a secure donation through Paypal:
Or, send a check to:
Friends of Minute Man National Park
174 Liberty Street
Concord, MA 01742
Thank You!