Friends of Minute Man National Park

Prepare to take your shoes off and roll up your pants if you want to cross this bridge!

For those in the eastern part of Massachusetts this week, you understand how much water fell during the four day rainstorm starting last weekend. For those not able to experience it first hand – it’s awfully wet around here!

The photo on the right was taken Monday afternoon in the midst of the rainstorm and really, it’s just a short walk up the hill to the Visitor Center and Park Headquarters inside the Buttrick Mansion. When at the Bridge on Monday, you could easily cross from the monument to statue without getting your feet wet… aside from the rain, of course!

And the photo below was taken of the very same sign early afternoon today, almost 48 hours after the above rainy day photo:

Yikes! You need a boat just to get close enough to read the sign! Fortunately the sun is shining today which makes a world of difference in being out in the park to enjoy seeing the magnificent flooding. And since there are flood plains alongside the river in the park, there’s no real damage taking place.

However, if you want to see this sign for yourself – prepare to have some cold feet! Both ends of the bridge are now underwater requiring a few quick steps through some chilly river water to cross the bridge from either direction. The statue is also on island – which makes for incredible pictures, but adds an element of difficulty to actually taking a picture.  If you’d like to see more of the North Bridge, during and after the recent rainstorm, check out our photos on Flickr – or go ahead and add your own!

Thanks to the expected deluge from Tropical Storm Danny this weekend, the Middlesex County Volunteers Fifes & Drums concert planned for Saturday, August 29th has been rescheduled for Sunday, September 13th at 4:00 p.m. The concert will take place at the Buttrick Garden outside the North Bridge Visitor Center, 174 Liberty Street, Concord, MA. To learn more about MCV and hear samples of their music, visit their website at www.mcvfifesanddrums.org.

For details about this event and other happenings around the park this weekend and in the future, please call the Park’s  Interpretive Division at (978) 318 – 7825.

On Monday, May 25th, the Minute Man National Historical Park will present The U.S. Air Force Band of Liberty at the North Bridge Visitor Center for a very special Memorial Day concert at 2:00 p.m. Visitors are encouraged to bring blankets and lawn chairs. Come and listen to stirring patriotic music on the day set aside to remember those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. For more information, contact the Park’s Interpretive Division at 978.318.7825.

HUNDREDS TO CELEBRATE ARBOR DAY
WITH TREE CARE DONATION

On Friday, May 1, 2009  the Massachusetts Arborists Association (MAA) will celebrate Arbor Day with their 30th annual volunteer project at Minute Man National Historical Park in Concord, MA. An estimated 200 MAA members will professionally prune, plant, and transplant an array of specimen shade trees throughout one of the state’s most scenic & historic properties.

Minute Man National Historical Park preserves and interprets significant historic sites, structures, and landscapes where the American Revolution began on April 19, 1775.  The area of focus at the MAA’s Arbor Day celebration will be the North Bridge area, including the historic and much-loved Buttrick Gardens designed by Harold Hill Blossom. This work will make significant contributions to the gardens and the historic landscape of the North Bridge. Without the support of the MAA, this important tree preservation work could not be accomplished. Preliminary estimates put the professional tree care donated by the MAA member volunteers at more than $150,000.  The Friends of Minute Man NP will be providing lunch for the crews and that has enabled this event to occur.  For more information visit the MAA at www.massarbor.org.

Please note: The North Bridge Area from the Minute Man statue uphill to the North Bridge Visitor Center and parking lot will be closed to the public as “hard hat” work zone from about 6:30 am to 5:00pm. The Monument Street Parking lot will remain open.

Two hundred and thirty-four years ago, the decade-long political feud between the British government and the American colonists, determined to retain their rights as British subjects, came to a devastating climax as British regulars clashed with colonial militia and minute men on April 19, 1775 at Lexington, Concord’s North Bridge and on the long, bloody road back to Boston. The fighting that began that day soon grew into a war for independence that lasted more than eight years. Many years later, Ralph Waldo Emerson used the phrase “the shot heard round the world” to describe the significance of this event.

2009 marks the 50th anniversary of Minute Man National Historical Park. During this important Patriots’ Day holiday and historic anniversary year, help support the  Park by becoming a member of the Friends of Minute Man National Park!

The story of Minute Man National Historical Park is more than just the events that took place at the North Bridge and along the Battle Road in 1775. Minute Man is also the story of an evolution of the ideals of freedom and liberty, and new notions of cultural independence and citizen responsibility which led to a revolution in American literature the following century. The ideals of both revolutions continue today and serve as an inspiration to people throughout the world. Your support helps us advance the goals of Minute Man National Park, inspiring today’s visitors and future generations to learn from our remarkable local history.

Spring has sprung at the park and today’s beautiful weather brought many visitors to the North Bridge this afternoon.  The hunt was on for signs of spring along the path from the North Bridge Visitors Center to the North Bridge itself.  Bits of greenery have started to emerge in the Buttrick Gardens and a few buds can be seen on the trees.

Flowers may not be in full bloom but smiling faces were abundant today and the sunshine surely had something to do with that! The two charming young ladies at right were visiting the park with family and stopped to have their portrait taken at the Bridge. Thank you to all who stopped to chat and have their pictures taken.

If you have photos  to share from your visit to Minute Man National Park, send us a note at info@friendsofminuteman.org. We’d love to learn how you were enjoying the park during your visit!