After four years at Minute Man National Historical Park and with over 33 years working for the National Park Service (NPS), Superintendent BJ Dunn has announced his planned retirement.
BJ has accomplished a tremendous amount in the time he spent at Minute Man including completing numerous preservation projects to key historic structures and landscapes throughout the park, including a 1.3-million-dollar rehabilitation of the North Bridge Visitor Center. BJ has led park operations through the pandemic while the park itself has experienced increased use and visitation during this time. He has worked with the towns and partners with flexibility and a steady hand. He is also proud of his work related to the recent designation of the Battle Road Scenic Byway as an All-American Road. This designation will increase tourism to the area and bring additional attention to the historic value of the resources and the story of the opening battles of the American Revolution.
BJ started at the NPS as a seasonal ranger at Saint-Gaudens National Historic Site. In his career, he has held positions as Assistant Superintendent, Deputy Superintendent, and Superintendent at Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park (VT), Saint-Gaudens National Historical Site (NH), and Independence National Historical Park (PA) prior to his arrival at Minute Man in 2017. As BJ shares, “I will always treasure the time I have spent at Minute Man. I hope that I have helped lay a good groundwork for preparing the park and local communities for the upcoming celebrations that will take place in 2025 – the 250th anniversary of the events that we commemorate. It has been especially gratifying to work with so many great partner organizations and supporters of this park.”
With BJ’s departure date in early June, the NPS plans to permanently fill the position by late summer, with an interim superintendent helping in the transition period.
BJ looks forward to his next adventure working to start up a small produce farm in Vermont as gardening and the local food movement have always been passions of his. Along with his husband Rich, BJ plans to grow garlic and heirloom tomatoes to sell at local farmer’s markets while enjoying the slower pace of retirement.
Please join us in wishing BJ the best of luck in his new life in Vermont! Notes may be sent to BJ at 174 Liberty Street, Concord, MA 01742.
Photo Above: Clockwise from top left: BJ Dunn, BJ along with Kathleen Fahey and Bob Morris of the Friends of Minute Man, BJ and Minute Man staff, BJ speaking with visitors at the Park’s 60th Anniversary celebration.
Photo Below: Left, BJ Dunn with visitors at the Park’s 60th Anniversary celebration. Right, BJ and staff.
