East Coast Trip 2015 - Lexington and Concord

On our way between Vermont and Boston we made the very necessary Revolutionary War stop in Lexington and Concord.

We started in Lexington, where the first shot was fired between the British and some local militia.  No one knows which side fired first but it happened.  The funny thing is that Lexington and Concord are apparently still battling for the claim to be where the American Revolution began.  You can even vote for which city you think should get the title.

We toured Buckman Tavern, which is where the local militia gathered before facing the British on the Lexington Green, which was right in front of the tavern.  Eric and I toured the tavern many years ago and remember amusing stories being told.  Apparently many of those stories were just entertaining and not actually historically accurate, so now everything is proper and true.

 The kitchen

The ladies' parlor.  It was uncommon for women to gather at a tavern but since the tavern was very close to the meeting house, women gathered at the tavern's parlor on Sunday afternoons.

 The kids are really good with audio tours and this was one of the few we've found on this trip.

 The men's parlor.

 The tavern room where the militia men gathered

 Next, we drove to North Bridge in Concord.  After the battle in Lexington, the British continued to walk to Concord to confiscate arms and ammunition, which was the main reason for their journey.  Because the colonists were warned, the British found nothing.  There was a battle at North Bridge where the British we outnumbered and had to retreat.

 The kids met men from both sides of the battle.

 I wish I could have been paddling in a canoe or kayak down the river.  It looked so peaceful!

 The Redcoats who were killed in the battle were buried near the bridge.  While there, we were reminded that the British were not "bad people" but just trying to keep peace and order in lands that were part of the British crown.

 We made a brief stop at Orchard House, which was one of author Louisa May Alcott's homes growing up and served as her inspiration for Little Women.  You might remember that Ashlynn's fourth grade biography presentation was about Louisa May Alcott, so it was neat to make the connection.

 We made one final Lexington and Concord stop along Battle Road at Hartwell Tavern.  Yes, another tavern, but this one was both about life during the time of the Revolution and explained a bit about what happened along Battle Road (basically, the British were heading back to Boston and the rebels attacked them along the way).

Carter checking out a Horn Book.

 The tavern was right on Battle Road, as the road was an important route between Boston and many points west and was the logical route for the British to also take.

 Glad we were able to make the stop and paint the picture of those first days of the American Revolution for the kids.