The fall season at Minute Man National Historical Park came to a successful close as visitors flocked to the many events offered at the park. Visitors enjoyed beautiful foliage along with events such as Preparing for Winter, Preparing for War, Hartwell Halloween, and Park Day. Thank you to staff, volunteers, and visitors for making these events a success!

Minute Man National Historical Park facilities are now closed for the season, but the battlefield grounds, trails, and parking lots are open through the winter. Park and Friends staff are here all winter and are busy planning for next season and for the 250th-anniversary events which start in 2024. Stay tuned for more information!

We look forward to seeing you again when the Visitor Centers re-open and programming resumes in the spring.

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

Objects can sometimes carry meanings beyond their original purpose. For Ezekiel Davis of Acton, a peculiar hole in his old hat told a very big story!  

In 1775, Ezekiel Davis was 21 years old. He and his older brother Isaac volunteered to serve in the town of Acton’s newly raised minute man company. Isaac was chosen and commissioned as the company’s captain. On April 19, 1775, the company marched to Concord and fought at the North Bridge. Two members of the company were killed by British musket fire, including Ezekiel’s older brother, Captain Isaac Davis.  Ezekiel himself had a very close call. A ball passed through his hat and grazed his head. . . . Read more.

To learn more about Ezekiel Davis's story and his hat, please click on the button below.

Article and photos by Grace Kowalski, a pollinator inventory research assistant at Minute Man National Historical Park.

This summer, Minute Man National Historical Park started a project that focuses on identifying two kinds of pollinators: bees and butterflies. The goal of this project is to determine which bees and butterflies are in the park and when they are active. So far, we found that Minute Man is home to at least 18 different species of butterflies and 6 species of bumble bees. . . Read more.

To read more and view more images, click on the link below.

Minute Man National Historical Park welcomed a temporary art exhibit of Bottle Trees by Black Coral, Inc. this fall. The Bottle Tree tradition originated in West Africa and was brought to the United States by enslaved people. The tradition was passed down through generations, marking the survival of a cultural practice despite bonds of slavery. The distinctive blue bottles were placed on trees to capture the energy, spirt and memory of ancestors.

This Bottle Tree is placed near the Wayside House to honor the humanity and contributions of those enslaved here during the 18th century. . . Read more.

To read and learn more, click on the link below.

250th Anniversary of the Boston Tea Party

The 250th Anniversary of the Boston Tea Party is on December 16, 2023. The Boston Tea Party is one of the nation’s most iconic events and one that propelled America down the road to revolution. Click here to learn about all the different activities commemorating this event.

REV250 Podcast: The Women of Valley Forge

In December of 1777, the army of General George Washington marched into Valley Forge to build a winter encampment. In addition to the soldiers, more than 400 women were in the column. Learn about these women, as well as others who nursed, cooked, sewed, washed, and otherwise helped keep the army together from Nancy K. Loane, author of Following the Drum: Women and the Valley Forge Encampment. Click here to listen.

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