Wayside Halloween
Saturday, October 19, 2024
The Wayside: Home of Authors
6:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Free and open to the public
From dark and twisted tales to romantic fortune-telling, modern Halloween owes much to the late Victorian era. Join us for an evening of spooky history at The Wayside: Home of Authors. Learn about the superstitions of Hallowe’en in the late 19th century or enjoy the haunting words of selected Nathaniel Hawthorne short stories.
Schedule of Events
6:00 pm to 9:00 pm – Wayside Open House: Explore the Hawthorn Sky Parlor
6:00 pm to 9:00 pm – Victorian Era Halloween Traditions and Fortune Telling
7:00 pm – Nathaniel Hawthorne Short Story Reading: Feathertop
The Wayside: Home of Authors is located at 455 Lexington Road, Concord, MA. Parking is available on Hawthorne Lane. Please refer to the park event listing for any updates.
This event is co-sponsored by the Friends of Minute Man National Park and Minute Man National Historical Park.
Hartwell Halloween
Saturday, October 26, 2024 (rain date Oct. 27)
Hartwell Tavern
5:30 pm – 9:00 pm
Free and open to the public
When the autumn darkness sets in, we invite all who dare to visit a candle-lit Hartwell Tavern, share ghostly folklore with park staff and volunteers, and learn how the people of Colonial New England protected themselves from evil spirits and witches. Listen to spine-tingling stories and live music from the 18th century. For trick-or-treaters of all ages, the Friends of Minute Man will offer individually wrapped candy, so don your costumes and enjoy some treats (no tricks, please!).
The Hartwell Tavern is located on the Battle Road Trail. Parking is available at the Hartwell Tavern Parking Lot at 112 North Great Road, Lincoln, MA, with a 1/4-mile walk along a dirt trail to the Tavern. This program will be both outdoors and indoors. All visitors should bring a flashlight and use caution on dark paths. Please refer to the park event listing for the full schedule and any updates.
This event is co-sponsored by the Friends of Minute Man National Park and Minute Man National Historical Park.
Fall Park Day at Minute Man
Saturday, November 2, 2024
9:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m or 1:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Minute Man Visitor Center
Free, registration required
Park Day is an annual event where participants help to preserve Minute Man National Historical Park, one of our nation’s most iconic and historic battlefields. Volunteers may remove invasive plants, seed native plants, care for orchards and stone walls, maintain trails, remove trash, rake leaves, sweep, and pull weeds from the landscape while learning about the park’s history and ecology from cultural and natural resource team leaders. With the upcoming 250th Anniversary of April 19, 1775, we’ll also ensure the landscape is free of brush, branches, and brambles for the hundreds of reenactors participating in April 2025 events.
Fall Park Day 2024 takes place on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, from 9:00 am to 11:30 am and 1:00 pm to 3:30 pm. You can choose to join the morning team, the afternoon team, or both! The meeting location for both sessions is the Minute Man Visitor Center (MMVC). Please park at the MMVC parking lot (210 North Great Road, Lincoln, MA, coordinates 42.449154, -71.272516) and walk 700 feet east along the path to the Minute Man Visitor Center.
Please wear pants, closed shoes, long sleeves, and a sun hat. Bring a water bottle, snack, and gloves. We will provide tools and gloves. If you have any questions about the event, please contact Sofie Irons at [email protected].
Click here to register. Thank you for pre-registering, we look forward to seeing you there!
This event is co-sponsored by Friends of Minute Man National Park, Minute Man National Historical Park, and the American Battlefield Trust.
Past Events
Buttrick Garden Tours and Lecture
Thursdays, May 30, June 27, and July 25, 2024
Buttrick Gardens or via Zoom
Free, registration required
Join us for a free tour of the Buttrick Gardens at Minute Man National Historical Park. Kathleen Fahey, Executive Director of the Friends of Minute Man, will discuss the history and preservation of these beautiful gardens. If you join us in person on May 30 or June 27th at 10:00 a.m., we’ll find shady spots to view the plantings and historic images of the gardens. If you join us via Zoom on July 27th at 7:00 p.m., we’ll view the garden in all four seasons and explore historic images.
Beginning in 1911, two generations of the Buttrick family tended and enlarged the formal gardens until 1962, when the National Park Service purchased the property. Stewards of the land since the colonial period, the Buttrick family was proud that their gardens stood near the historic muster fields of April 19, 1775. The eclectic gardens feature viewing terraces, steps leading down to the Concord River, elegant wrought ironwork, and brick, bluestone, and cobblestone walkways. Framed by ornamental trees and shrubs, the garden beds contain the Buttrick family’s award-winning iris and daylilies, colorful spring bulbs, and perennials that bloom from spring to fall.
Before joining the Friends of Minute Man in 2019, Kathleen Fahey spent over 20 years as a material culture historian at local historical sites and has a background in landscape and garden history.
Thursday, May 30 at 10:00 a.m. tour in person – Register here
Thursday, June 27 at 10:00 a.m. tour in person – Register here
Thursday, July 25 at 7:00 p.m. lecture via Zoom – Register here
To learn more or donate to the Buttrick Gardens, please visit our garden webpage. To schedule a private tour for groups, please contact Kathleen Fahey at [email protected].
Tours are rain or shine so bring an umbrella if needed! However, in the case of thunderstorms, we may need to reschedule or stop a tour.
Buttrick Garden tours are sponsored by Friends of Minute Man, Minute Man National Historical Park, and Middlesex Savings Bank. The May tour is offered in partnership with Freedom’s Way National Heritage Area during the Hidden Treasures Festival of Nature, Culture & History.
Spring Bird Walk
Thursday, June 6, 2024 Rain date, Tuesday, June 11, 2024
8:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
Minute Man National Historical Park
Free, registration required
Join the Friends of Minute Man National Park for a spring bird walk! For many bird watchers, spring migration is the most exciting time of the year. We will observe birds in their colorful breeding plumage, listen to their songs, and learn which are passing through on their way north and which will stay to nest right at Minute Man National Historical Park. We’ll take a one-mile stroll through the park with Kathy Dia to see and hear some of these beautiful visitors as they court and fuel up for their journey north.
Kathy Dia leads bird programs for Mass Audubon and the Brookline Bird Club. She is a volunteer monitor for Northeast Temperate Network’s breeding bird survey at Minute Man National Historical Park.
Please wear appropriate footwear as we will walk along paved paths and unpaved trails, which may be muddy. Bring water and binoculars if you have them; we will have a few pairs of binoculars to loan. Free and open to the public; registration is required as limited spots are available.
This event is co-sponsored by the Friends of Minute Man National Park and Minute Man National Historical Park.
Bird photography courtesy of Kathy and Jay Dia.
Battle Road BioBlitz 2024
May 11-17, 2024
Minute Man National Historical Park
Free, registration required
Join us for the Battle Road BioBlitz at Minute Man National Historical Park on May 11-17, 2024. This week-long series of free events will celebrate the park’s diverse flora and fauna. The Battle Road BioBlitz includes 10 events that take place at various locations and times at the park. Sign up for one or several events! Space is limited, so register early to secure your spot.
Please click here to register or view the entire collection on Eventbrite. Or, register and view individual events by clicking on the links below:
- May 11 at 8:00 a.m.: World Migratory Bird Day
- May 11 at 2:00 p.m.: Biodiversity – In the Footsteps of Thoreau
- May 12 at 1:00 p.m.: Aqua Blitz – Amphibians and Aquatic Organisms*
- May 13 at 9:00 a.m.: Battle Road Botanizing*
- May 14 at 10:30 a.m.: Creepy Crawlies*
- May 14 at 6:00 p.m.: Biodiversity at Dusk
- May 15 at 9:00 a.m.: Pollinators and Plants*
- May 16 at 7:00 a.m.: Battle Road Daybreakers – Morning Walk
- May 16 at 9:00 a.m.: Early Detection and Rapid Response
- May 17 at 9:00 a.m.: Quest for Uncommon Species
*Suitable for children
A BioBlitz is an intensive survey to document as many species as possible within a designated time period. The Battle Road BioBlitz will engage scientists, naturalists, and the interested public on public conservation land along the Battle Road between Fiske Hill in Lexington, through Lincoln, and including the Barrett Farm in Concord, the destination of the British Troops on April 19, 1775.
Please contact Margie Brown at [email protected] if you have any questions about the event.
Battle Road Bio Blitz is co-sponsored by Minute Man National Historical Park, Friends of Minute Man National Park, the Town of Concord, the Town of Lexington, the Town of Lincoln, Concord Land Conservation Trust, Lincoln Land Conservation Trust, Brookline Bird Club, and Zoo New England.
Battle Road Anniversary Hike
Monday, April 15, 2024
Battle Road in Concord, Lincoln, and Lexington, MA
12:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Sold Out, Waiting List
Join National Park Rangers for an immersive 4-mile guided Battle Road trail hike to Fiske Hill and follow in the footsteps of the ill-fated British column during the Concord expedition. This experiential program will bring the stories of the battle road to life through guided interpretation and immersive Living History elements. Learn about the trials and triumphs of those who experienced the bloody events of April 19, 1775. Due to ongoing trail restoration work, the 2024 program will be slightly shorter in length than previous years. After the program concludes, a shuttle bus will transport registered participants back to the parking area.
UPDATE: This event is now sold out. Please click here to put your name on the waiting list. This program is free and open to the public. Registration is required and will open on March 23 at 10:00. Register early as this program will likely sell out. Due to the popularity of this event, we are allowing people to secure two tickets per registration. If your party is larger, you will want to register separately, so please plan accordingly. We’ll provide the starting location, parking passes, and additional details to registered participants via email. Sorry, we are not able to accommodate non-registered participants for this event.
Please refer to the park event listing for any updates.
This event is organized by Minute Man National Historical Park and co-sponsored by the Friends of Minute Man National Historical Park, Tauck, Tough Ruck, Freedom’s Way National Heritage Area, and Middlesex Savings Bank. Patriots’ Day events are supported in part by a Festival Grant from the Mass Cultural Council.
Spring Park Day at Minute Man
Saturday, March 23, 2024 CANCELLED
9:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m or 1:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Minute Man Visitor Center Parking Lot
Free, registration required
UPDATE: Due to a combination of heavy rain, cold temperatures, and high winds, we have decided to cancel Spring Park Day. The next Park Day will be held on Saturday, November 2, and we hope you can join us then.
Park Day is an annual event where participants help to preserve Minute Man National Historical Park, one of our nation’s most iconic and historic battlefields. Volunteers may take part in removing invasive plants, seeding native plants, caring for orchards, caring for stone walls, maintaining trails, removing trash from the landscape, and more while learning about the park’s history and ecology from cultural and natural resource team leaders.
Please register here for this free program. Spring Park Day 2024 takes place on Saturday, March 23 from 9:00 am to 11:30 am and 1:00 pm to 3:30 pm. You can choose a morning slot, an afternoon slot, or both! The meeting location for both sessions is the Minute Man Visitor Center main parking lot at 210 North Great Road, Lincoln, MA, (coordinates 42.449154, -71.272516).
Questions about the event can be directed to Kiah Walker at [email protected] or 978-505-8298.
This event is co-sponsored by Friends of Minute Man National Park, Minute Man National Historical Park, and the American Battlefield Trust.
2024 Friends of Minute Man Winter Lecture Series, Part 2:
“Radical Spirits: The Material Culture of Drinking at Minute Man National Historical Park” with Nikki Walsh
Sunday, March 24, 2024
2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Concord Free Public Main Library
Free and open to the public
Join us for the Friends of Minute Man Winter Lecture Series. Punch bowls, and tankards, and bottles, oh my! Minute Man National Historical Park’s museum curator Nikki Walsh will present a lecture about the material culture related to drinking in the park’s collections. This lecture will focus on 18th-century drinking culture and include aspects of drink in earlier and later periods of history.
Nikki Walsh is the curator of Minute Man National Historical Park. Nikki has worked for the National Park Service since 2009 and has worked with over 45 parks as a Museum Specialist in the Northeast Region. Her area of expertise is material culture and decorative arts of 18th-century New England. She received a B.S. in Public History and Geology from Salem State University and an M.A. in Historical Archaeology from Boston University. She has been at Minute Man since 2018 and first fell in love with the park on a school field trip in 5th grade.
Registration is not required for this in-person event. The lecture will take place in the Goodwin Forum room of the Concord Free Public Main Library at 129 Main Street, Concord, MA. Please visit the library webpage for parking and accessibility information.
The Winter Lecture Series is co-sponsored by Friends of Minute Man, Minute Man National Historical Park, and the Concord Free Public Library. This program is supported in part by a grant from the Concord Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency.
Image: Green Dragon Tavern, Boston, MA. c.1898. Courtesy of the Boston Public Library. Drinking vessel from the Minute Man National Historical Park archives.
2024 Friends of Minute Man Winter Lecture Series, Part 1:
“Huzzah! Drinking with John Hancock during the American Revolution” with Dr. Brooke Barbier
Sunday, February 25, 2024
2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Concord Free Public Main Library
Free and open to the public
Join us for the Friends of Minute Man Winter Lecture Series! Learn more about the important role of alcohol in the culture and politics of Colonial America in this free lecture with Brook Barbier, author of King Hancock: The Radical Influence of a Moderate Founding Father (2023). When John Hancock needed to win people over, he didn’t talk about resisting taxes or policy improvements; instead, he served alcohol. He offered rum punch and wine at his home and paid for lavish meals in taverns to bring people together. Guests included lower-class men, French officers, and Black women and men. By throwing parties, Hancock gained social and political power among myriad groups, repeatedly paying dividends. He was consistently elected to political office and when he smuggled Madeira into Boston, one of the most memorable and violent mobs during colonial resistance defended him.
Brooke Barbier is a public historian who received her Ph.D. in American history from Boston College, researching Boston’s social and cultural life during and after the American Revolution. Barbier owns a popular tour company in Boston, Ye Olde Tavern Tours, that takes guests to revolutionary sites and inside historic taverns to drink beer. Attendees will receive 10% off on 2024 Ye Olde Tavern Tours.
Registration is not required for this in-person event. The lecture will take place in the Goodwin Forum room of the Concord Free Public Main Library at 129 Main Street, Concord, MA. Please visit the library webpage for parking and accessibility information.
The Winter Lecture Series is co-sponsored by Friends of Minute Man, Minute Man National Historical Park, and the Concord Free Public Library. This program is supported in part by a grant from the Concord Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency.
Image: Green Dragon Tavern, Boston, MA. c.1898. Courtesy of the Boston Public Library.
The Hive: A Symposium for Living History Interpreters
Saturday, Feb 17, 2024, 9:30 am – 4:30 pm
Sunday, Feb 18, 2024, 9:30 am – 4:00 pm
Massachusetts National Guard Armory
91 Everett St., Concord, MA
Free, Registration is required (opens on January 20)
Did you miss this event? Click here to view it at the Minuteman Media You Tube page.
Back by popular demand, Minute Man National Historical Park, Friends of Minute Man, Revolution 250, Freedom’s Way National Heritage Area, and the Massachusetts Army National Guard are pleased to present The Hive: A Symposium for Living History Interpreters! This two-day symposium is geared toward reenactors and living history interpreters for the early period of the American Revolution. It will feature scholars and subject matter experts, presentations, and hands-on break-out sessions.
Both mornings will begin with musket drill sessions, “open office hours” for friendly kit consultations, comfortable sewing circles, and a show and tell of original 18th-century objects. Wearing your historical clothing is encouraged if you wish to receive consultation on either of the days. To participate in the musket drill, please bring a musket and an empty cartridge box (and a bayonet if one is available). Safety inspections will be completed at the beginning of the drill.
Please bring your own lunch each day for a lunch break; light refreshments will be available. Participants are welcome to bring items to share as well. There will be formal presentations followed by two concurrent break-out sessions in the afternoons on both days. Click here for the full schedule and list of presenters.
A small parking lot with accessible parking is available at the Massachusetts National Guard Armory at 91 Everett Street, Concord MA. There is also ample free on-street parking on adjacent streets, and additional parking is available at the Alcott Elementary School, 93 Laurel Street, Concord, MA. A wheelchair lift is available to enter the building. For more information, please email Jim Hollister, Park Ranger at Minute Man National Historical Park, at [email protected].
Registration is required and opens on Jan. 20, please click here to register. This event is free and open to the public.
This program is co-sponsored by the Friends of Minute Man National Park, Revolution 250, Freedom’s Way National Heritage Area, and the Massachusetts Army National Guard.
Hartwell Halloween
Saturday, October 28, 2023
5:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Hartwell Tavern
Free
Do you believe in ghosts? Do you like history? Jack o’ Lanterns? Then come visit us at Hartwell Tavern for this family-friendly event for all ages! Walk down a path lighted by dozens of jack-o-lanterns. Talk with rangers and volunteers about ghostly folklore and how the people of Colonial New England protected themselves from evil spirits and witches. Join the Husking Frolic with music and cider in the Hartwell Barn. The Friends of Minute Man will offer individually wrapped candy, so don your costumes and come trick-or-treating at an 18th-century Tavern!
For more information and a schedule of events, please visit the park website.
This event is co-sponsored by Friends of Minute Man National Park and Minute Man National Historical Park.
Purchase a Lantern!
Saturday, October 28
Hartwell Tavern Parking Lot
5:30 pm – 7:00 pm
$5 suggested donation
Stop by the Friends welcome tent at the Hartwell Halloween to purchase a lantern to support this free event. The lantern will help light your way through the spooky paths and activities! $5 suggested donation, proceeds benefit Minute Man National Historical Park. Cash, Venmo, and Paypal accepted.
Fall Park Day 2023
Saturday, November 4, 2023
9:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Meet at Hartwell Tavern Parking Lot
Free, registration required
Park Day is an annual event where participants help to preserve one of our nation’s most iconic and historic battlefields. Volunteers may take part in removing invasive plants, seeding native plants, caring for orchards, caring for stone walls, maintaining trails, removing trash from the landscape, and more while learning about the park’s history and ecology from cultural and natural resource team leaders.
Volunteers can register for a morning slot from 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. or an afternoon slot from 1:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. – or both! The meeting location for both sessions is the Hartwell Tavern Parking Lot at 112 North Great Road, Lincoln, MA. Thank you in advance for pre-registering; we look forward to seeing you!
Please register here. Any questions about the event can be directed to Kiah Walker at [email protected] or 978-505-8298.
This event is co-sponsored by Friends of Minute Man National Park, Minute Man National Historical Park, and the American Battlefield Trust.
Book Signing with Robert A. Gross
Saturday, October 7, 2023
11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Minute Man Visitor Center
Free
We are thrilled to host Robert A. Gross at the Minute Man National Historical Park for a special book signing event for The Minutemen and Their World. The book was originally published at the time of the United States Bicentennial in 1976 and the author recently published a revised and expanded version in 2022, just in time for the 250 anniversary commemoration of the beginning of the American Revolution in 2025. Join us for this book signing event at the Minute Man Visitor Center at Minute Man National Historical Park. Bring your own copy for Bob to sign, or purchase a copy in the bookstore located inside the Visitor Center.
This event is free and open to the public; book purchase is not required and participants are welcome to bring their own copy for signing. Parking is available at the Minute Man Visitor Center, located at 210 North Great Road, Lincoln, MA 01773.
We were honored to have Robert A. Gross and friends chat about the newly expanded version of The Minutemen and Their World for our 2023 winter lecture. You can view a recording of the lecture on our Facebook page.
This event is co-sponsored by Minute Man National Historical Park and the Friends of Minute Man.
Fall Migration Bird Walk
Thursday, September 28, 2023
8:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
Minute Man National Historical Park
Free, registration required
Join the Friends of Minute Man for a 1.5-mile bird walk and enjoy the beauty of fall in the park. We’ll take on the challenge of identifying birds in their more subtle fall plumage with our guide, Kathy Dia. Kathy Dia leads bird programs for Mass Audubon and the Brookline Bird Club. She is a volunteer monitor for Northeast Temperate Network’s breeding bird survey at Minute Man National Historical Park.
Please wear appropriate footwear as we will walk along paved and unpaved paths. Bring water and binoculars if you have them; we will have a few pairs of binoculars to loan. Free and open to the public; registration is required as limited spots are available. Registered participants will be sent directions to our starting location within Minute Man National Historical Park.
Register Here. Check out our bird watching page to learn more bout birding in the park. Sign up for our email newsletter for a registration reminder or to learn about future events.
This event is co-sponsored by the Friends of Minute Man and Minute Man National Historical Park.
Garden and Meadow Pollinators by the River
Saturday, August 5, 2023
Buttrick Gardens
174 Liberty Street, Concord MA
4:00 p.m
Free
Come connect and experience our local wild and scenic river corridor! Spend a peaceful summer afternoon in the Buttrick Gardens overlooking the Concord River and iconic North Bridge. Join park Resource Manager Margie Coffin Brown for a guided walk through the Buttrick Gardens, initially constructed by the Buttrick family in 1911 and conveyed to the National Park Service in the 1960s. Brown explains, “While the gardens are highly manicured and filled with cultivated flowers, the surrounding meadows are filled with native wildflowers–and both host an array of mid-summer pollinators.” Learn more about plant characteristics and their appeal to bees, butterflies, birds, and other species. Bring binoculars and we will have some to share. This program is one of many special programs offered as part of Riverfest 2023, a summer celebration of the Sudbury, Assabet, and Concord Wild and Scenic River Stewardship Council.
While there is much to celebrate in the garden and meadow, invasive plant species such as swallowwort can negatively impact butterfly populations. Other invasive plants such as reed canary grass, purple loosestrife, and knotweed can choke out native species, resulting in a monoculture of limited plant species and diminished foraging. Learn how the park manages invasive plant species, monitors pollinators, and gathers information about ecological health and plant phenology. Brown adds, “The park has an active inventory and monitoring program and is currently monitoring pollinators at the North Bridge. This program is an opportunity to celebrate both the natural and cultural history of this vibrant and hallowed ground!”
This program is free and open to the public. No registration is necessary. Meet in front of the North Bridge Visitor Center at 174 Liberty St., Concord. For more information, call 617-620-2942.
Buttrick Garden Tours
Tuesdays, May 30, June 27, July 25, 2023
10:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
Buttrick Gardens
174 Liberty St, Concord MA
Free, registration required
Join us for a free 30-minute tour of the Buttrick Gardens at Minute Man National Historical Park. Learn about the history and preservation of these beautiful gardens. We’ll find shady spots to view the historic plantings and discuss why the Buttrick Gardens recently received a Concord Historical Commission Landscape Preservation Award.
Beginning in 1911, two generations of the Buttrick family tended and enlarged the formal gardens until 1962, when the National Park Service purchased the property. Stewards of the land since the colonial period, the Buttrick family was proud that their gardens stood near the historic muster fields of April 19, 1775. The eclectic gardens feature viewing terraces, steps leading down to the Concord River, elegant wrought ironwork, and brick, bluestone, and cobblestone walkways. Framed by ornamental trees and shrubs, the garden beds contain the Buttrick family’s award-winning iris and daylilies, colorful spring bulbs, and perennials that bloom from spring to fall.
Click here to register for this free tour. To learn more or donate to the Buttrick Gardens, please visit our garden webpage. To schedule a private group tour, please contact Kathleen Fahey at [email protected].
Tours are rain or shine so bring an umbrella if needed! However, in the case of thunderstorms, we may need to reschedule or stop a tour.
Buttrick Garden tours are sponsored by Friends of Minute Man, Minute Man National Historical Park, New England Nurseries, and Middlesex Savings Bank.
Thank you to our Buttrick Garden tour sponsors
“It seemed my duty”
Concord and the American Civil War in 1863
Saturday, May 27, 2023
The Wayside: Home of Authors
455 Lexington Road, Concord MA
10:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Free
Join us at the Wayside to learn about the trials and triumphs of Concord in 1863. The Wayside house will be open for guests to explore Nathanial Hawthorne’s Sky Parlor and writing space. Visit with Ranger Nadia Peattie to discuss Louisa May Alcott and the contributions of women on the home front. Stop by to meet members of the Liberty Rifles, a living history organization, who will be set up on the Wayside lawn. At 2:00 p.m., join us for a special lecture entitled “A Blot Removed From Our National Honor; Emerson, Concord, and Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation” by historian Richard Smith.
Free parking is available at The Wayside parking lot at 28 Hawthorne Lane, Concord, MA. Public restrooms will not be available at The Wayside for this program.
Click here to view the schedule of events and learn more.
This event is co-sponsored by Minute Man National Historical Park and the Friends of Minute Man.
Spring Migration Bird Walk
Thursday, May 11, 2023
8:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
Minute Man National Historical Park
Free, registration required
Join the Friends of Minute Man National Park for a spring bird walk! For many bird watchers, spring migration is the most exciting time of the year. We will observe birds in their colorful breeding plumage, listen to their songs, and learn which are passing through on their way north and which will stay to nest right at Minute Man National Historical Park. We’ll take a one-mile stroll through the park with Kathy Dia to see and hear some of these beautiful visitors as they court and fuel up for their journey north.
Kathy Dia leads bird programs for Mass Audubon and the Brookline Bird Club. She is a volunteer monitor for Northeast Temperate Network’s breeding bird survey at Minute Man National Historical Park.
Please wear appropriate footwear as we will walk along paved paths and unpaved trails, which may be muddy. Bring water and binoculars if you have them; we will have a few pairs of binoculars to loan. Free and open to the public; registration is required as limited spots are available. Registered participants will be sent directions to our starting location within Minute Man National Historical Park.
Click here to register. Sign up for our email newsletter for a registration reminder.
This event is co-sponsored by the Friends of Minute Man and Minute Man National Historical Park. This program is offered in partnership with Freedom’s Way National Heritage Area during the Hidden Treasures Festival of Nature, Culture & History.
Bird photography courtesy of Kathy and Jay Dia.
Battle Road Anniversary Hike
Wednesday, April 19, 2023
Battle Road, Minute Man National Historical Park
12:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Free, registration required
On April 19, 2023, join National Park Rangers for an immersive five-mile guided Battle Road trail hike at Minute Man National Historical Park. Follow in the footsteps of the ill-fated British Column during the 248th anniversary of the Concord expedition. This experiential program will bring the stories of the Battle Road to life through guided interpretation and immersive living history elements. Learn about the trials and triumphs of those who experienced the bloody events of April 19, 1775.
After the program concludes at Fiske Hill, a pre-arranged shuttle bus will transport registered participants back to the parking area.
This program is free and open to the public; registration is required to reserve a seat on the post-program shuttle bus returning participants to their vehicles. Space is limited, so register early to reserve your spot on the shuttle bus! We’ll provide the starting location, parking information, and additional details to registered participants via email. Please refer to the park event listing for any updates.
This event is now SOLD OUT. Please click here to join the waitlist. Sorry, we are not able to accommodate non-registered participants for this event. Click here to join our monthly email newsletter for updates on future programs.
Please note that the five-hour program is an expansive hike over 5 miles of Battle Road Trail on undulating terrain. This program will feature loud musket fire and other immersive living history elements
and is appropriate for teens and adults; dogs are not allowed on this tour. Please bring water, snacks, sturdy walking shoes, weather-appropriate clothing, equipment, and bug spray. Park restrooms will be open at Meriam’s Corner, Hartwell Tavern, and the Minute Man Visitor Center. The event is subject to cancellation in the event of adverse weather.
This event is co-sponsored by Minute Man National Historical Park, Friends of Minute Man, Freedom’s Way National Heritage Area, Middlesex Savings Bank, and Tough Ruck.
Spring Park Day 2023
Rescheduled to Sunday, April 2, 2023 due to rainSaturday, April 1, 2023
9:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Hartwell Tavern Parking Lot
112 North Great Road, Lincoln, MA.
Free, registration required
Park Day is an annual event where participants help to preserve one of our nation’s most iconic and historic battlefields. Volunteers may take part in removing invasive plants, seeding native plants, caring for orchards, caring for stone walls, maintaining trails, removing trash from the landscape, and more while learning about the park’s history and ecology from cultural and natural resource team leaders.
Spring Park Day 2023 takes place on Sunday, April 2 from 9:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. Volunteers can register for a morning slot, an afternoon slot, or both! The meeting location for both sessions is the Hartwell Tavern Parking Lot at 112 North Great Road, Lincoln, MA. Thank you in advance for pre-registering; we look forward to seeing you.
Please click here to register. Registration is required; this event is free and open to the public. Any questions about the event can be directed to Kiah Walker at [email protected] or 978-505-8298.
This event is co-sponsored by Friends of Minute Man National Park, Minute Man National Historical Park, and the American Battlefield Trust.
The Hive: A Symposium for Living History Interpreters
Sat, Feb. 18 & Sun, Feb. 19, 2023
10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Massachusetts National Guard Armory
91 Everett St. Concord, MA
Free, registration is required
Back by popular demand, Minute Man National Historical Park, Friends of Minute Man, Revolution 250, and the Massachusetts Army National Guard are pleased to present The Hive: A Symposium for Living History Interpreters! This two-day symposium is geared toward reenactors and living history interpreters for the early period of the American Revolution. It will feature scholars and subject matter experts, presentations, and hands-on break-out sessions.
From 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., there will be musket drill sessions, “open office hours” for friendly kit consultations, comfortable sewing circles, and a show and tell of original 18th-century objects. Please bring your own lunch for a break at 12:00 p.m.; limited refreshments will be served. There will be two formal presentations starting at 12:30 p.m. followed by two hands-on living history break-out sessions at 3:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m.
A small parking lot is available at the Concord Armory 91 Everett Street, Concord MA. There is also ample on-street parking and additional parking available at the Alcott Elementary School, 93 Laurel Street, Concord, MA.
Click here for the full schedule and list of presenters. For more information, please email [email protected].
Please click here to register. Registration is required; this event is free and open to the public.
This program is co-sponsored by the Friends of Minute Man, Minute Man National Historical Park, Revolution 250, and the Massachusetts Army National Guard.
2023 Winter Lecture: “Minutemen Revisited: Rethinking Concord’s Role in the Revolution. A Conversation with Robert Gross and Friends”
Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023
2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Online via Zoom
Free, registration required
Did you miss the lecture? Click here to view it on our Facebook page
The Minutemen and Their World, first published during the Bicentennial year of 1776, offered a novel view of Concord’s path to Revolution. The book, which won the Bancroft Prize, showed that the townspeople took a moderate stance on British taxes and enforcement measures until the summer of 1774; only when the royal government threatened to seize the right of local self-government did the community rise up and mobilize for war. The reasons why were deeply rooted in the social history of the town. Does this interpretation still hold up? In 2022, the author published a revised and expanded edition of The Minutemen and views Concord more broadly in relation to its neighboring towns, introduces new details on the tense atmosphere in the run-up to April 19, 1775, and adds fresh material about Concord’s role as a center for incarcerating Loyalist and British prisoners of war. In this talk, he will discuss the additions and changes of The Minutemen in conversation with leading American Revolution experts including J.L. Bell, Joel Bohy, and Jim Hollister.
Robert A. Gross is the James L. and Shirley A. Draper Professor of Early American History Emeritus at the University of Connecticut. He is the author of The Minutemen and Their World (1976, revised in 2022), which won the Bancroft Prize; Books and Libraries in Thoreau’s Concord (1988); and The Transcendentalists and Their World (2021). A former assistant editor of Newsweek, he has written for such periodicals as Esquire, Harper’s Magazine, The Boston Globe, and The New York Times, and his essays have appeared in The American Scholar, The New England Quarterly, Raritan, and The Yale Review. Robert Gross is a resident of Concord, Massachusetts.
Please click here to register. Registration is required; this event is free and open to the public.
This program is co-sponsored by the Friends of Minute Man and Minute Man National Historical Park.
This program is supported in part by a grant from the Concord Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency.
2022 Events
Fall 2022 Park Day
Saturday, November 5, 2022 (rain date Nov. 6)
Minute Man Visitor Center, 210 North Great Rd, Lincoln, MA
9:00 a.m. – 11: 30 am and 1:00 pm – 3:30 p.m.
Free, registration required (see below)
Park Day is an annual event that gives participants the opportunity to help preserve one of our nation’s most iconic and historic battlefields. Volunteers may take part in removing invasive plants, seeding native plants, caring for orchards, maintaining trails, removing trash from the landscape, and more while learning about the park’s history and ecology from cultural and natural resource team leaders.
Fall Park Day 2022 takes place on Nov. 5 from 9:00 a.m – 11:30 p.m. and 1:00 p.m – 3:30 p.m. Please register here or below for a morning slot, afternoon slot, or both! Thank you in advance for pre-registering, and we look forward to seeing you.
Any questions about the event can be directed to Kiah Walker, Biologist at Minute Man National Historical Park, by email at [email protected] or by phone at 978-505-8298.
Please click here to register.
This event is co-sponsored by the Friends of Minute Man and Minute Man National Historical Park.
Halloween at Hartwell Tavern
Saturday, October 29, 2022
5:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Hartwell Tavern
112 North Great Road, Lincoln
Free and open to the public
Do you believe in ghosts? Do you like history? Jack o’ Lanterns? Then come visit us at Hartwell Tavern! Walk down a path lighted by dozens of jack-o-lanterns. Talk with rangers and volunteers about ghostly folklore and how the people of Colonial New England protected themselves from evil spirits and witches.
When the autumn darkness sets in, we invite all who dare to share ghostly folklore or tour through Hartwell Tavern.
At 7:00 p.m., join us for an 18th-century frolic in the barn; including dancing and music.
For trick-or-treaters of all ages, the Friends of Minute Man will be offering individually wrapped candy, so dawn your costumes and come trick-or-treating at an 18th-century Tavern!
This program will be both outdoors and indoors. All visitors should bring a flashlight and use caution on dark paths. Rain date is Sunday, October 30. Free parking is available at the Hartwell Tavern parking lot at 112 North Great Road, Lincoln.
Schedule of Events:
5:30 to 9:00 p.m. Trick or Treat & Community Pumpkin Display
5:30 to 9:00 p.m. Spooky History Open House in Hartwell Tavern
5:30 to 9:00 p.m. Share a Ghost Story!
7:00 to 8:00 p.m. Husking Frolic with music in the Hartwell Barn
No registration is required for this event. For more information, please visit the Minute Man National Historical Park website.
Preparing for Winter, Preparing for War
Saturday, October 15, 2022
10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Hartwell Tavern
112 North Great Road, Lincoln
Free and open to the public
Join us for a day of special programs at Minute Man’s Historic Hartwell Tavern, covering the experiences of everyday people as they prepared for winter and for war in 1774.
Autumn in Colonial New England was a time of change and transition when many gathered to share the fruits of summer labor and prepare to survive the coming winter. In 1774 it was also a time of preparation for the coming conflict; Colonial Militia mustered to train their soldiers and scrambled to secure military supplies. As Colonists ferried weapons and goods into Concord, local families brought in their harvests to be preserved as food sufficient to feed their families through the coming year.
For more information, please visit the Minute Man National Historical Park website.
This event is co-sponsored by the Friends of Minute Man and Minute Man National Historical Park.
Volunteer at National Public Lands Day
Saturday, Sept 24, 2022
9:00 a.m to 3:00 p.m.
Hartwell Tavern Parking Lot
112 North Great Road, Lincoln, MA
Free, Please register
Help us improve the condition of the Battle Road Trail. Join small teams led by park staff and AMC trail leaders to help stabilize loose sandy spots on the multi-use trail. Learn how to clean drainage swales, stabilize the trail with binder, and improve the condition of the historic 1775 Battle Road.
Please click here to register and for more information. Volunteers can sign up for a 9:00 – 11:00 a.m. or 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. slot – or both!
This event is co-sponsored by the Friends of Minute Man and Minute Man National Historical Park.
Celebrate Abolition with the Sons & Daughters of Ham
Saturday & Sunday, August 6 – 7, 2022
North Bridge, Minute Man National Historical Park
Monument Street, Concord, MA
Free and open to the public
Come celebrate abolition with the Sons & Daughters of Ham at Concord’s North Bridge in Minute Man National Historical Park. Learn about how Black people from Massachusetts fought for equal rights during the 19th century through this living history event. From private households to churches, and aid organizations, members of the Black community fought to realize promises unfulfilled during the revolutionary period.
Join the Sons & Daughters of Ham as they portray the Liberty Guards, a 19th-century Black volunteer militia; and the Fugitive Aid Society of Boston, an organization of Black women who raised money and resources to support freedom seekers escaping slavery. Through conversations and demonstrations, see how Americans celebrated and advocated for emancipation and equality prior to the Civil War.
The Sons & Daughters of Ham are living historians dedicated to recreating the lives and legacy of African-Americans living in antebellum America through educational living histories and reenactments.
Schedule of Events
Saturday, August 6: 9:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m. – Stop by anytime for living history demonstrations and displays at the North Bridge. Visit the Friends of Minute Man welcome tent to learn how to support your park.
Sunday, August 7: 9:00 a.m.- 12:00 p.m. – Stop by anytime for living history demonstrations and displays at the North Bridge.
This program is free and open to the public; no registration is required. Parking is located at the North Bridge parking lot on Monument St. and the North Bridge Visitor Center parking lot on Liberty St.
Visit the Minute Man National Historical Park website for more information.
This event is co-sponsored by the Friends of Minute Man and Minute Man National Historical Park.
Image courtesy of the Sons & Daughters of Ham.
“Chiefly About War Matters” – Concord and the American Civil War
Saturday, July 23, 2022
The Wayside, Minute Man National Historical Park
Lexington Road, Concord, MA
10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Free and open to the public
Join us on Saturday, July 23 at The Wayside: Home of Authors for a day of Civil War Living History, an Open House, and special guest lectures by Park Ranger Nadia Peattie and Historian Richard Smith. This program honors the 160th Anniversary of Nathanial Hawthorne’s publication of “Chiefly About War Matters” in 1862. Hawthorne and his family resided at The Wayside from 1852-1869.
Following the outbreak of Civil War in April 1861 hundreds of volunteers departed Concord, Massachusetts to defend their nation teetering on the verge of collapse. From the battlefields of Virginia to the Hospitals of Washington D.C., Concordians contributed to the war effort in whatever ways they could.
Schedule of Events
10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m – The Wayside house will be open for guests to explore Hawthorne’s Sky Parlor and writing space.
10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. – Members of the Liberty Rifles living history organization will be set up on the Wayside lawn talking about the experiences of Concord’s Civil War soldiers in 1862.
11:00 a.m. – “Louisa May Alcott and the United States Sanitary Commission” Special lecture by Park Ranger Nadia Peattie
2:00 p.m. – “Chiefly About War Matters: Nathanial Hawthorne and the Civil War” Special Lecture by Historian Richard Smith
5:00 p.m. – Site closes
This program is free and open to the public; no registration is required. Parking is located across the street at the corner of Hawthorne Lane and Lexington Road.
Visit the Minute Man National Historical Park website for more information.
This event is co-sponsored by the Friends of Minute Man and Minute Man National Historical Park.
Spring Bird Walk
Thursday, May 12, 2022
Minute Man National Historical Park
8:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
Free, registration required (see below)
Join the Friends of Minute Man National Park for a spring bird walk! May brings many migrating birds to Minute Man National Historical Park, including thrushes, vireos, and bird-watchers favorite – the warblers in their jewel-colored plumage. Some species, like Baltimore Orioles and Indigo Buntings, will stay to nest and others will continue their journey to nest in cooler climes. Join us for a one-mile stroll through the park with Kathy Stark Dia to see and hear some of these beautiful visitors as they court and fuel up for their journey north.
Kathy Stark Dia leads bird programs for Mass Audubon, the Brookline Bird Club, and Minute Man National Historical Park. She is a volunteer monitor for Northeast Temperate Network’s breeding bird survey at the park.
Free and open to the public; registration is required as limited spots are available. Please click on the button below to register. Registered participants will be sent directions to our starting location within Minute Man National Historical Park.
THIS EVENT IS NOW SOLD OUT. Please click on the button below to be added to the waitlist.
Event is co-sponsored by the Friends of Minute Man, Minute Man National Historical Park, and Freedom’s Way National Heritage Area “Hidden Treasures” program.
Would you like to know about future bird walks offered by the Friends of Minute Man National Park? Please sign up for our email newsletter. For more information, please contact us at [email protected]. Bird photography courtesy of Kathy and Jay Dia.
Patriots’ Day Battle Road Hike
Tuesday, April 19, 2022
Battle Road, Minute Man National Historical Park
12:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Free, Registration required
On April 19, 2022, join National Park Rangers for an immersive five-mile guided Battle Road trail hike at Minute Man National Historical Park. Follow in the footsteps of the ill-fated British Column during the 247th anniversary of the Concord expedition. This experiential program will bring the stories of the Battle Road to life through guided interpretation and immersive living history elements. Learn about the trials and triumphs of those who experienced the bloody events of April 19, 1775.
After the program concludes at Fiske Hill, a pre-arranged shuttle bus will transport registered participants back to the parking area.
This program is free and open to the public; registration is required to reserve a seat on the post-program shuttle bus returning participants to their vehicles. Space is limited, so register early to reserve your spot on the shuttle bus! We’ll provide the starting location and additional details to registered participants via email.
Please click here to register or for more information. THIS EVENT IS NOW SOLD OUT. Please add your name to the waiting list as this will help us to determine interest in future hikes.
Please visit our special Patriots’ Day webpage for a full listing of events at Minute Man National Historical Park co-sponsored by the Friends of Minute Man National Park and Freedom’s Way National Heritage Area.
Spring 2022 Park Day
Saturday, April 2, 2022 (rain date April 9th)
Minute Man Visitor Center, 3115 Mass Ave, Lexington, MA
9:00 a.m. – 11: 30 am and 1:00 pm – 3:30 p.m.
Free, registration required
Minute Man National Historical Park invites you to join us on April 2nd for Spring Park Day 2022! Sponsored by the American Battlefield Trust and Friends of Minute Man National Park, this annual event gives participants the opportunity to help preserve one of our nation’s most iconic and historic battlefields. Volunteers can sign up to provide assistance in leaf raking, invasive plant removal, trail maintenance, trash pick up, and livestock fencing, while learning more about its history and ecology from park natural and cultural resource team leaders.
The park will be running this event in full compliance with CDC and the MA Dept of Public Health guidelines. Volunteers can register to work individually or as a group.
Any questions about the event can be directed to Kiah Walker, Biologist at Minute Man National Historical Park, by email at [email protected] or by phone at 978-505-8298Please click here to register; register by April 1st and receive a free Park Day water bottle. Thank you in advance for pre-registering, and we look forward to seeing you!
Wool Felting Demonstration
Saturday, February 19, 2022
2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Online demonstration on Zoom
FREE and open to the public; register below
Did you miss the demonstration? Click here to view it on our Facebook page.
Join us for a free online wool felting demonstration. Fiber artist and Minute Man volunteer, Martine Gorlier, will demonstrate how wool is transformed into a beautiful felted fedora hat. Using wool from the herd of Ouessant sheep at Minute Man, Martine will show us the process including washing, carding, roving, felting, and sculpting the raw wool.
The wool of miniature Ouessant sheep is ideal for felting. Minute Man National Historical Park hosts a herd of sheep in cooperation with Breton Meadow Farm and Codman Community Farms, both of Lincoln, MA.
For more information about Martine’s fedora hats and to learn how your purchase supports the sheep herd, please click here.
All ages are welcome! To register or for more information, please click on the link below.
Winter Lecture: “The British Soldiers Who Came to Concord” with Don N. Hagist
Sunday, February 6, 2022
2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Online Lecture: Zoom
Free and open to the public
Did you miss the lecture? Click here to view it on our Facebook page.
Join us for an online lecture by Don N. Hagist on “The British Soldiers Who Came to Concord.” Some 700 red-coated soldiers marched from Boston to Concord on April 19, 1775. Who were the men in those uniforms? This talk will describe the ages, places of birth, background, and eventual fate of the British sergeants, corporals, drummers, fifers, and private soldiers who fought in the opening conflict of the Revolutionary War. Meet some of the individuals who enlisted in the British army and came to America to insure peace, only to find themselves thrust into war.
Don N. Hagist, editor of the Journal of the American Revolution, is an independent researcher specializing in the demographics and material culture of the British Army in the American Revolution. His books include Noble Volunteers: the British Soldiers who fought the American Revolution (2020), and The Revolution’s Last Men: The Soldiers Behind the Photographs (2015). He maintains a blog about British common soldiers and has published a number of articles in academic journals.
This program is supported in part by a grant from the Concord Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency
Christmas Bird Count Walk
Sunday, January 2, 2022
1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
North Bridge Visitor Center parking lot
Free; Registration is required (see below)
Join the Friends of Minute Man for a Christmas Bird Count walk led by birding guide Kathy Dia at Minute Man National Historical Park.
All are welcome, whether this is your first birding trip or one of many! We will walk through the North Bridge Unit identifying and observing birds from ducks to songbirds to hawks.
Wear warm layered clothing and appropriate footwear for this 90-minute tour as snow and ice are possible. Please note that park buildings and restrooms are closed for the season, so please plan accordingly. Bring binoculars if you have them; we will have a few pairs to lend. Meet at the North Bridge Visitor Center parking lot at 174 Liberty Street, Concord, MA.
Kathy Stark Dia leads bird programs for Mass Audubon, the Brookline Bird Club, and Minute Man National Historical Park. She is a volunteer monitor for Northeast Temperate Network’s breeding bird survey at the park.
Registration is required; limited to 20 participants. Registration will be available starting December 14th at 10:00 am, please return to this page to register. For questions about the event, please contact Kiah Walker at [email protected]; for questions about your registration or the waitlist, please contact Kathleen Fahey at [email protected].
This event is co-sponsored by the Friends of Minute Man and Minute Man National Historical Park and made possible by a generous grant from the Foundation for MetroWest. Bird photos courtesy of Jay and Kathy Dia.
2021 Events
Halloween Eve at Hartwell Tavern
Join us for a night of free spooky fun – If you dare!
Saturday, Oct. 30, 2021
5:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Hartwell Tavern, Minute Man National Historical Park
112 North Great Road, Lincoln
Free; lanterns available for sale
Do you believe in ghosts? Do you like history? Jack o’ Lanterns? Musket firing? Then come visit us at Hartwell Tavern on Halloween Eve.
Walk down a path lined with dozens of jack-o-lanterns. Stroll through the open house and grounds. Talk with rangers and volunteers about ghostly folklore and how people in Colonial New England protected themselves from evil spirits and witches. Visit with our park curator and see real artifacts recovered from colonial houses within the park that reveal a frightening history. Experience night-time musket firing demonstrations at 5:30, 6:30, 7:30, and 8:30 p.m.
For trick-or-treaters of all ages, the Friends of Minute Man will be offering individually wrapped candy so you can be among the first to say that you went trick-or-treating at Hartwell Tavern! Costumes are encouraged but not required.
This free program will be both outdoors and indoors. Visitors who wish to walk through Hartwell Tavern must wear a mask. All visitors should bring a flashlight and use caution on dark paths. The Friends of Minute Man will be selling lanterns for $5 to benefit future park programs.
For more information, please visit the Minute Man National Historical Park website.
Volunteer at Fall Park Day
Saturday, November 6, 2021
1:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Hartwell Tavern, Minute Man National Historical Park
112 North Great Road, Lincoln
For the past two years, Minute Man National Historical Park has hosted a wonderful fall clean-up on the first Saturday in November. It is a great time of year to give back to a place that offers a place of contemplation, recreation, relaxation, and inspiration. We hope you can join us to rake leaves, clean up small storm-damaged tree branches, prepare our orchards for the winter, and care for the livestock.
We will have tools and can provide gloves. Please bring water, snack, and sun protection including sunscreen and a hat.
To register for this event, please click here. Please contact Margie Brown at [email protected] if you have any questions.
Preparing for Winter – Preparing for War: Event Cancelled
Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 16-17, 2021
Saturday 10:00 am – Sunday 4:00 pmFree and open to the public
Update: This event has been cancelled. The Delta variant has caused a surge in new cases along with new requirements for masks and social distancing outside as well as inside regardless of vaccination status. You can read the full NPS announcement here.
Join us this fall for two days of special living history programming at Hartwell Tavern and the Captain William Smith House in Minute Man National Historical Park.
Autumn in Colonial New England was a time of change and transition when many gathered to share the fruits of summer labor and prepare to survive the coming winter. In 1774 it was also a time of preparation for the coming conflict; Colonial Militia mustered to train their soldiers, British Regulars drilled on the Boston Common, and both sides scrambled to secure supplies. As Colonists ferried weapons and goods into Concord, local families brought in their harvests to be preserved as food sufficient to feed their family through the coming year.
This event will feature both civilian and military living history volunteers who will bring this difficult period to life.
Parking is available at the Hartwell Tavern parking lot; if this lot is full, follow signage or the instructions of parking attendants. Visit the NPS webpage for more information on parking and directions. For more information about the event, please visit the Minute Man National Historical Park Facebook page.
Event co-sponsored by Minute Man National Historical Park, Friends of Minute Man, Freedom’s Way National Heritage Area, and Revolution 250.
Bird Walk at Minute Man National Historical Park
Thursday, May 13, 2021
8:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.
Free, registration required
Join the Friends of Minute Man National Park for a spring bird walk! May brings many migrating birds to Minute Man National Historical Park, including thrushes, vireos, and bird-watchers’ favorite . . . the warblers in their jewel-colored plumage. Some species, like Baltimore Orioles and Indigo Buntings, will stay to nest and others will continue their journey to nest in cooler climes. Join us for a one-mile stroll through the park with Kathy Dia to see and hear some of these beautiful visitors as they court and fuel up for their journey north.
Kathy Stark Dia leads bird programs for Mass Audubon, the Brookline Bird Club, and Minute Man National Historical Park. She is a volunteer monitor for Northeast Temperate Network’s breeding bird survey at the park.
Free and open to the public; registration is required as limited spots are available. Registered participants will be sent directions to our starting location within Minute Man National Historical Park as well as rain date information.
Would you like to know about future bird walks offered by the Friends of Minute Man National Park? Please sign up for our email newsletter. For more information, please contact us at [email protected].
Event co-sponsored by the Friends of Minute Man, Minute Man National Historical Park, and Freedom’s Way National Heritage Area “Hidden Treasures” program.
Please visit our dedicated Patriot’s Day page for a complete list of Minute Man National Historical Park’s 2021 events.
Saturday, April 10, 2021
9:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Free, registration required by April 9, 2021
Minute Man National Historical Park invites you to join us April 10th for Park Day 2021! Sponsored by the American Battlefield Trust and Friends of Minute Man National Park, this event gives participants the opportunity to help preserve one of our nation’s most iconic and historic battlefields. Volunteers can sign up to provide assistance in trash & branch pick up, leaf raking, invasive plant removal, and planting native seed..
Due to the current COVID-19 pandemic, Minute Man National Historical Park will be running this event in full compliance with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health guidelines. In order to ensure the safety of all volunteers we will be requiring masks be worn at all times, staggering work periods from 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 or 1:00 to 3:30 p.m, and spreading out volunteers to maintain social distancing.
Volunteers can sign-up for a morning or afternoon time slot to work around the Hartwell Tavern area via the “Register Today” link below. Pre-Registration will be required and must be completed online by April 9th. Each participant will then be required to fill out documents for the National Park Service and the American Battlefield Trust and return them via email to [email protected] prior to the event.
All pre-registered volunteers will receive a free Park Day 2021 water bottle!
For more information and updates on Park Day 2021, please follow the Minute Man National Historical Park on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Additional details about Park Day can also be found on the American Battlefield Trust website.
Any questions about the event can be directed to Margie Coffin Brown, Resources Manager at Minute Man National Historical Park, by email or by phone at (617) 620-2942.
Thank you in advance for pre-registering, and we look forward to seeing you!
Winter Lecture: “Stone Walls of Minute Man National Park”
Saturday, February 27, 2021
2:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Online Lecture: Zoom, Streaming, Cable TV
Free and open to the public
Did you miss the lecture? Click here to view it on YouTube courtesy of Minuteman Media Network.
Robert Thorson, professor at the University of Connecticut, will discuss the significance of stone walls found in the Minute Man National Historical Park. Thorson is a geologist, has authored several books on stone walls, and has an intimate knowledge of the walls Minute Man through his work with the Park on various projects, notably the Old North Bridge, Parkers Revenge, and Bloody Angle.
Thank you to the Minuteman Media Network for hosting our lecture on zoom, live stream, and local cable access television.
Any Questions? Please feel free to contact us at [email protected].
2020 Events
Saturday, Nov. 7, 2020
9:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Free
Please register below by Nov. 6th
Minute Man National Historical Park invites you to join us November 7th for Park Day 2020! Sponsored by the American Battlefield Trust and Friends of Minute Man National Park, this annual event gives participants the opportunity to help preserve one of our nation’s most iconic and historic battlefields. Volunteers can sign up to provide assistance in leaf raking, invasive plant removal, and trail maintenance, all while enjoying the beauty of the park and learning more about its history and ecology from our National Park Service natural and cultural resource team leaders.
Due to the current COVID-19 pandemic, Minute Man National Historical Park will be running this event in full compliance with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health guidelines. In order to ensure the safety of all volunteers, we will be limiting participation, requiring masks be worn at all times, and staggering work periods into morning and afternoon shifts from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Volunteers can register to work individually or as a group (bubble) of five or less in different parts of the park where social distancing is feasible.
Volunteers can first sign-up for a morning or afternoon time slot and location preference via the “Register Today” button below. Pre-registration will be required and must be completed online by November 6th. Each participant will then be required to fill out documents for the National Parks Service and the American Battlefield Trust and email them to [email protected] prior to the event.
All pre-registered volunteers will receive a free Park Day 2020 t-shirt!
For more information and updates on Park Day 2020, please follow the Minute Man National Historical Park on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Additional details about Park Day can also be found on the American Battlefield Trust website.
Any questions about the event can be directed to Margie Coffin Brown, Resources Manager at Minute Man National Historical Park, by email at [email protected] or by phone at (617) 620-2942.
UPDATE: to learn more and view pictures from Park Day 2020, check out our blog at https://friendsofminuteman.org/park-day-2020/
Virtual Bingo with the Lincoln Council on Aging
Thursday, July 9, 2020
10:00 am
Virtual, RSVP by July 8 to receive Zoom link
Free and open to Lincoln, MA residents
Join the Friends of Minute Man National Park and the Lincoln COA for a fun-filled Bingo game on Thursday, July 9 at 10 am. Instead of letters and numbers, each square in your bingo card will feature an image or word associated with Minute Man National Historical Park and its history. When the image or word is called out, you will learn fun facts you may not have known about the Park, the historical events surrounding April 19, 1775, and more! Special guests include Park Ranger Roger Fuller and Kathleen Fahey, director of the Friends. Winners will receive their very own Minute Man mug and a free membership to the Friends of Minute Man National Park!
Open to Lincoln residents. Preregistration required to receive the Zoom link and bingo card. To RSVP or for more information, please contact Amy Gagne of the Lincoln COA at [email protected] by July 8, 2020.
To view the July/August 2020 newsletter of the Lincoln COA, click here.
Winter Lecture Series: March
Cancelled: “Stone Walls of Minute Man National Historical Park”
Sunday, March 29, 2020
We regretfully cancel our upcoming lecture as Professor Robert Thorson has been directed by the University of Connecticut to suspend all university-related travel out of state due to concerns over COVID-19. Professor Thorson will reschedule and we look forward to announcing the new date once it is finalized.
For more information, please contact us or email us at [email protected].
Winter Lecture Series: February
“Can You Dig It? 60 Years of Archaeology at Minute Man National Historical Park”
Sunday, February 23, 2020
2:00 – 3:30 pm
Bemis Hall, 2nd floor
15 Bedford Road, Lincoln
Free and open to the public
Did you miss the lecture? Click here to view it on YouTube courtesy of Lincoln TV.
Join National Park Service Museum Specialist Nikki Walsh for a lecture about the history of excavation at the Minute Man National Historical Park. This talk will offer a glimpse into some of the hundreds of thousands of archaeological artifacts that represent thousands of years of history in Concord, Lexington, and Lincoln.
Nikki is a museum specialist at the Northeast Museum Services Center which serves over 90 National Parks throughout the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic. She received a B.S. in Public History and Geology from Salem State University, and a M.A. in Historical Archaeology from Boston University.
Parking is limited at Bemis Hall, please use parking lot at the First Parish in Lincoln located across the street at 14 Bedford Road. Refreshments will be served. Elevator is available to access 2nd floor.
For more information, please contact us or email us at [email protected].
The Winter Lecture Series is supported in part by a grant from the Lincoln Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency.
2019 Events
Halloween Tales and Lantern Walk
Saturday, October 19 and 26, 2019
Hartwell Tavern, Minute Man National Historical Park
112 North Great Road, Lincoln
Free; lanterns available for sale
Lantern Walk 5:30 – 6:15 pm: Celebrate Halloween with The Guild of Historic Interpreters! Join us at 5:30 p.m. for a slightly spooky lantern walk (for younger children) down the Battle Road Trail to meet the spirits of 1775. Meet at the Hartwell Tavern parkng area. Event is free; bring your own lantern or purchase one from the Friends of Minute Man National Park; $5 each or $10 per family. All proceeds benefit the Park. Recommended for children 6 and under.
Halloween Tales at 7:00 – 8:30 pm: The Guild of Historic Interpreters present an evening of traditional storytelling. Gather at the barn for a spooky selection of ghost stories from Old and New England. Please bring a flashlight for the walk from the Hartwell parking area to the barn behind Hartwell Tavern. Free. Appropriate for adults and children 7 and above.
For more information, click here
Minute Man 60th Anniversary
Lecture: “Realizing the Vision”
Friday, Sept. 20, 2019
7:00 – 9:00 pm
Lexington Historical Society, Depot Building
13 Depot Square, Lexington, MA
Free; Space limited, please RSVP
Did you miss the lecture? Click here to view it on YouTube.
Join us for a special evening program celebrating Minute Man’s 60th anniversary. Our speaker for the evening is Lou Sideris, former Chief of Interpretation and Park Planner at Minute Man (ret.) who will reflect the founding and ongoing development of Minute Man National Historical Park. Reception and refreshments to follow.
Admission is free, but space is limited so reservations are required. Please email your name and number in your party to [email protected].
For more information about the multi-day celebration of the Minute Man National Park 60th Anniversary, Click here.
Co-sponsored by the Friends of Minute Man National Park, Minute Man National Historical Park, and the Lexington Historical Society.
Minute Man 60th Anniversary
Concert: Patriotic Music with the Concord Band
Saturday, Sept. 21, 2019
4:00 – 6:00 pm
North Bridge Visitor Center Grounds
174 Liberty Street, Concord, MA
Free and open to the public
Did you miss the concert? Click here to watch it on YouTube.
As 2019 marks the 60th anniversary of both the Minute Man National Park and the Concord Band, the park and the band have teamed up to present a concert of patriotic inspired music on the field overlooking the North Bridge. The public is invited to bring a blanket or lawn chairs and a picnic while enjoying the performance. The Friends of Minute Man National Park will present a special birthday cake to the park during the event and will provide free cupcakes while supplies last.
As parking is limited, local community members are invited to walk to the park. Rain location is at 51 Walden Performing Arts Center in Concord, MA.
For more information about the multi-day celebration of the Minute Man National Park 60th Anniversary, Click here.
Co-sponsored by the Friends of the Minute Man National Park, Minute Man National Historical Park, and the Concord Band.