Written by Jim Hollister, Park Ranger at Minute Man National Historical Park

In Colonial America, most adults consumed alcohol to a greater or lesser degree. Moderation was a highly esteemed virtue and considered a mark of civility. Sadly, however, there are many accounts of people who have over-imbibed. For example, in 1736, Thomas Apty, a plasterer in Philadelphia, boasted he could drink a gallon of “cider royal” in an hour and a half. He did as he promised and then said “I have finished . . . then fell down . . . and then expired". . . Read more.

Become a member of the Friends of Minute Man today!

I hope you had a restful summer and found time to enjoy the beauty of Minute Man National Historical Park either in person or online. Fall brings our annual membership drive and I hope you will join us this year as a member or renew your membership to the Friends of Minute Man!

The generous support of our members, friends, and supporters has sustained the Friends of Minute Man. Because of your support, the Friends were able to purchase black powder for firing demonstrations, fund a garden intern for the care of the Buttrick Gardens, and provided historical lectures and bird walks - all while continuing to support significant events at the park such as Patriots' Day. 

As a member of the Friends of Minute Man National Park, you serve as one of the park’s most devoted supporters and advocates.

Become a member or renew your membership today! Please click on the button below to make a secure donation online, or send your donation to the Friends of Minute Man National Park at 174 Liberty Street, Concord, MA 01742 with "membership" written in the memo.

Please click on the button below to become a member today - Thank you for your support!

Kathleen Fahey

Executive Director

Saturday, Sept 24, 2022

9:00 a.m to 3:00 p.m.

Hartwell Tavern Parking Lot

Help us improve the condition of the Battle Road Trail. Join small teams led by park staff and Appalachian Mountain Club trail leaders to help stabilize loose sandy spots on the multi-use trail. Learn how to clean drainage swales, stabilize the trail with a binder, and improve the condition of the historic 1775 Battle Road. 

Please click on the link below to sign up. Volunteers can sign up for a morning or afternoon slot - or both!

Save the Date for our annual Halloween at Hartwell Tavern on Saturday, October 29 from 5:30 – 9:00 p.m with a rain date of Sunday, Oct 30. More details to come!

All of these special programs are free and open to the public. Please click on the link below for more information. 

Written by Sophie Cooke, Friends of Minute Man Buttrick Gardens summer intern. 

My work this summer centered on the Buttrick Gardens iris collection. In the early 1960’s, the Buttrick gardens contained roughly 200 iris cultivars cultivated by Stedman Buttrick II. Due to time, weather, and disease about 20 of the original iris varieties remain. 

While we cannot replace all the cultivars lost from the gardens, we can do our best to restore the existing iris beds and ensure each iris variety gets its proper place. I set out to document existing conditions of the iris plants . . . Read more.

To read more about Sophie's iris maps, please click on the button below. 

Written by Eva Parra, Minute Man National Historical Park intern. 

My name is Eva Parra and I’m an intern at Minute Man National Historical Park through the National Park Service Cultural Resources Diversity Internship Program. I grew up in Tucson, Arizona, and received my bachelor’s degree in anthropology from the University of Arizona. I joined the interpretation team in July and have been working on researching and opening the Meriam House to the public this summer.

The Cultural Resources Diversity Internship Program is a professional development internship that introduces undergraduate and graduate students, from backgrounds historically underrepresented in the National Parks, to career opportunities within Cultural Resource Management in the National Park Service.

Image from left to right: Volunteer Ed Wirtanen and Eva Parra in front of the Meriam House.

Revolution 250 Podcast: Independence Lost

How does our view of the Revolution change if we view it from the Gulf Coast or Mississippi River? Kathleen DuVal, Professor of History at the University of North Carolina, joins us to talk about her book, Independence Lost: Lives on the Edge of the American Revolution. Click here to listen.

Historical Nerdery Blog

Check out the latest blog of Alexander R. Cain at Historical Nerdery entitled ""Many Leaped Over the Wall and Made for That Wood' - Maneuvers of Massachusetts Forces on April 19, 1775." Alexander is a park volunteer and member of the Lexington Minute Men. Click here to read.