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Hartwell Tavern before restoration, 1981.
Courtesy of the National Park Service |
On September 21, 1959, the United States Congress established Minute Man National Historical Park (NHP) to preserve and interpret important sites associated with the start of the American Revolution. It was here that the "shot heard round the world" was fired, igniting a flame of liberty in the hearts of freedom loving people around the world.
From April through September of 2009, Minute Man NHP is commemorating its 50th anniversary with a series of special events and programs, presented in partnership with local towns, the National Heritage Museum, the Massachusetts Historical Society, the Concord Free Public Library, the Middlesex County Volunteers Fifes & Drums, the Air Force Band of Liberty, the community of historic reenactors, and many others.
"Realizing the Vision: Minute Man National Historical Park Turns 50" is an exhibition of approximately 40 photographs documenting the restoration of the historic Battle Road. The suburbs and businesses that were constructed around the Battle Road from the middle of the 1900s encroached upon and changed the face of this historic area. The half-century restoration project has returned the landscape to what it was like in 1775. "Experiencing the landscape as it was in at the time of the Revolution with its stone walls, fields, orchards, and homes gives visitors great enjoyment," says Minuteman NHP Director Nancy Nelson. "People leave with a greater appreciation for how these farmsteads became the battlefields that led to the founding of our nation. The ideals of liberty and self-determination of the farmers who took up arms forged the American identity."
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Hartwell Tavern after restoration, 2003.
Courtesy of the National Park Service
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The Museum is pleased to present "Realizing the Vision" as it complements our ongoing exhibition on the Revolution, "Sowing the Seeds of Liberty." This collaborative project enhances visitor understanding that the story of the Revolution is still an important part of our local history. The NHP restoration also highlights the connection between the land and times past, particularly how place helps us understand events from long ago.
The website, http://www.nps.gov/mima, provides complete details of the Park's anniversary celebration.
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