Explore Lexington and Arlington, home to many historic sites that bring to life the American Revolution and colonial era. From battlefields to historic landmarks, there’s so much to discover. Below is a quick reference list to help you plan your visit. Be sure to check the website before heading out, as some sites may be closed on holidays or for private events.
The Battles of Lexington and Concord, fought on April 19, 1775, marked the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War. The British, seeking to suppress a growing colonial rebellion, dispatched 700 elite troops under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Francis Smith to seize a stockpile of arms and ammunition in Concord, Massachusetts. News of this impending operation quickly spread through the colonial network, alerting local militias.
The operation began with British troops crossing the Charles River to Cambridge and marching toward Concord under darkness. The confrontation began at Lexington Green, where a small contingent of colonial militiamen, under the command of Captain John Parker, faced a significantly larger British force. As the Regulars approached the town common, Parker told his men to “Stand your ground, don’t fire unless fired upon, but if they mean to have a war, let it begin here!”1
John Adams once stated that “the Revolution was in the minds and hearts of the people” long before the start of the Revolutionary War. Years before British soldiers fired on the townspeople in the first battle of the war, Lexington was fighting with economics rather than weapons.
