An Afternoon in Concord

I remember distinctly at five years old being fully immersed in a trip my family took to Concord, Massachusetts. We were given a tour of the Concord Museum in which I learned so much about the American Revolution (and was even given a comic book afterward). Since my older son is six, we thought a trip to Lexington and Concord was in order. It was more of an afternoon in Concord since we did not spend much time in Lexington. But still, he found enjoyment in learning about this important locale of American history.

Minuteman National Historical Park

Typically when visiting Lexington and Concord, most tourists start at Lexington’s Battle Green, where the first shots were fired on that fateful April day in 1775, work their way through sites along the Battle Road which connects Lexington to Concord, and finally cap off the visit to the Minuteman National Historical Park at Old North Bridge in Concord.

Since this is a trip that my wife and I have done many times, we bucked the trend for this afternoon in Concord and began at Old North Bridge. Quite honestly, a completely thorough trip to Minuteman National Historical Park could last days if one were to go to every informational center and walk the whole Battle Road. 

Old North Bridge 

We began our afternoon in Concord at the Old North Bridge’s information center. After roaming around the grounds which have some spectacular gardens and seemingly secret passageways, I entered the building with my two sons. The older one was very interested and watched the twenty-minute informational video about Concord while my younger one was clamoring to head back outside where my wife and dog were sitting.

Danny, the older one, after the video was ready to join the other two instead of looking around at the exhibits at the center. He did earn a junior National Historical Park ranger badge by filling out a scavenger hunt and being sworn in by a park ranger. He proudly wore his badge for the rest of the day.

Walking the path down to the bridge from the visitor center is not long. It is picturesque along the banks of the Concord River. Here is signage that explains the event that happened here: how the colonists held off the advancing British who were trying to secure arms and munition for their cause in Concord. There is also a minuteman statue by Daniel Chester French. Also here is the Old Manse where Ralph Waldo Emerson and Nathaniel Hawthorne lived. 

Sleepy Hollow Cemetery

Instead of following the route backward, we mixed and matched our afternoon in Concord. Concord has had many faces throughout history. This small town is known not only as a powder keg of the Revolution but also for the Transcendentalist literary movement with the likes of Emerson, Thoreau, Alcott, and Hawthorne all residents here. Find all four of their resting places in an area of Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, which itself is beautifully landscaped, on Author’s Ridge. Just simply follow the signs by car and then by foot.

Hartwell Tavern

After Sleepy Hollow, we left Concord and headed toward Lexington via the Battle Road, similar to the route the retreating British took. For our family, we traveled the road via car, not on foot as little legs would struggle with the length of it. 

There are visitor centers and museums along the route, but the only one we stopped at was the Hartwell Tavern in Lincoln. Lincoln is a town between Concord and Lexington on the Battle Road. The tavern is circa 1733 and during the summer months, the staff wears Colonial garb. My family took a quick tour inside while I stayed out with the dog. They learned about the daily lives of people during this time period. 

After departing the tavern, we headed through Lexington and past Battle Green before returning home. This afternoon in Concord blends history and exploration. It satisfies both kids and adults. An exploration of the Minuteman National Historical Park and its environs could easily cover a few days to see all that this region offers.