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Lexington is a town of about 34,000 people roughly 11 miles northwest of Boston, famous as the place where the American Revolutionary War began. At dawn on April 19, 1775, local militia under Captain John Parker faced British regulars on the town common, and the shots fired there opened the fighting that continued along the road to Concord.
The Battle Green, with the Minuteman Statue and the 1799 Revolutionary Monument, is still the heart of town. Around it stand three historic houses run by the Lexington Historical Society: Buckman Tavern, where the militia gathered, the Hancock-Clarke House, where Paul Revere warned John Hancock and Samuel Adams, and Munroe Tavern, used by the British during their retreat. Every Patriots' Day the dawn skirmish is reenacted on the Green.
Beyond the history, Lexington is a leafy residential town with a walkable center, the Minuteman Bikeway, conservation land and a popular farm stand. The Battle Road through Minute Man National Historical Park leads west to Lincoln and Concord, an easy half-day trip.
The triangular town common where Lexington's militia faced British regulars at dawn on April 19, 1775, in the first clash of the Revolutionary War. It holds the 1799 Revolutionary Monument, where the fallen militiamen are buried. The visitor center across the road has maps and a diorama of the battle.
Henry Hudson Kitson's bronze statue of Captain John Parker, unveiled in 1900, stands at the tip of the Battle Green facing the road the British marched in on. It rests on a pedestal of rough local fieldstone and is the town's best-known photo spot. Come early in the morning for soft light and few crowds.
A reconstructed wooden bell tower on Belfry Hill above the Battle Green. The original belfry rang the alarm that gathered the militia on April 19, 1775. A short path climbs the hill from Massachusetts Avenue to the tower, a quiet, shaded spot with a glimpse down toward the Green.
An unusual octagonal church in East Lexington designed by the Unitarian minister Charles Follen and completed in 1839. It is one of the oldest church buildings in town and still serves a Unitarian Universalist congregation. Admire the exterior from Massachusetts Avenue, a short walk from the Minuteman Bikeway.
Built around 1710 on the edge of the Battle Green, this tavern is where Lexington's militia waited through the night of April 18, 1775, for news of the British. Guided tours by costumed interpreters show the old taproom and a door with a hole said to be made by a British musket ball. Open seasonally, spring to fall.
The parsonage where John Hancock and Samuel Adams were staying when Paul Revere rode in to warn them that the regulars were coming. It displays Revolutionary relics, including Major Pitcairn's pistols and the drum played on the Green by William Diamond. Run by the Lexington Historical Society and open seasonally.
Lord Percy used this 1735 tavern as his headquarters and a field hospital for wounded British soldiers during their retreat on April 19, 1775. Tours tell that story and cover George Washington's dinner visit in 1789. The garden behind the house is a pleasant place to rest after the tour.
A restored hillside in Minute Man National Historical Park where Captain Parker's company struck the British column again as it retreated from Concord. Trails and markers explain the fight, and the site lies on the Battle Road Trail, which continues west through Lincoln toward Concord for walkers and cyclists.
A museum of American history and fraternal organizations with changing exhibits on topics from the Revolution to popular culture, plus a research library. Its permanent exhibit on Lexington and the start of the Revolution is a good primer before visiting the Green. Admission and parking are free.
The highest point in Lexington, a wooded conservation area of oaks, rocky ledges and wetlands laced with walking trails. A short climb to the open summit rewards you with a view toward the Boston skyline on clear days. Trailheads are on quiet residential streets, so park considerately and wear sturdy shoes.
A family farm on Pleasant Street run by the Wilson family since 1884, selling its own vegetables, berries, flowers, baked goods and seasonal pies. Autumn brings pumpkins and apple cider donuts, and the shop is open most days of the year, making it a handy stop for picnic supplies.
Each year on Patriots' Day in April, reenactors recreate the dawn skirmish on the Battle Green in front of thousands of spectators. Arrive well before sunrise to find a view, dress warmly, and stay for the parade and community breakfasts held in town later that day.
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