Lexington

So three weeks in, I've been getting out and about quite a bit. People at school have been really friendly, and I went with one of my new work mates to Lexington today, to the Minuteman National Park. I learned a lot and walked 6 miles to Concord and back! The weather was glorious sunny blue skies and no rain in sight, despite the fact that my igoogle said it would rain.

On April 18th 1775, 700 British Soldiers were sent from Boston to Concord to seize military equipment.

That same evening Paul Revere was sent by Dr. Joseph Warren to ride to Lexington, to warn Samuel Adams and John Hancock that British troops were coming. He crossed the Charles River to Charlestown and rode by horse to Lexington.

On the way to Lexington, Revere raised the alarm, many of the patriots set out to help and give the warning too. He arrived in Lexington about midnight. After delivering his message, Revere was joined by a second rider, William Dawes and Dr. Samuel Prescott. All three were soon arrested by a band of British soldiers.

The warning they had given allowed the militia to repel the British troops in Concord, who were harried by guerrilla fire along the road back to Boston.

In Lexington, there is a visitor center where we watched a film about the 'midnight ride' and then did the walk to Meriam's Corner in Concorde and back again. A very enjoyable afternoon! Now I need to find the church where Revere had plotted the signal - one lamp by land, two by sea...