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 world is a lot different today than it was just a few months ago. However, the work at Minute Man goes on because of your support. As a member of the Friends of Minute Man National Park, you serve as one of the park’s most devoted supporters and advocates.

Your membership will allow the park to thrive in this new climate by providing new online educational resources and activities. Thanks to your support, we recently purchased a panoramic camera (see article below) so that park staff can create online virtual tours. This allows us to share the history and importance of Minute Man, even at a time when some may not be able to visit in person.

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.

Thank you for your support!

Kathleen Fahey

Executive Director

Thanks to your support and a matching grant from the Freedom's Way National Heritage Area, the Friends recently purchased a panoramic camera for the park. Park staff can now can create sweeping views and virtual tours of historic landscapes, buildings, and museum objects.

The camera is already being put to use as Ranger Jim Hollister has created panoramic views of the North Bridge and Merriam's Corner. These unique and interactive images create an immersive 360 experience for the viewer and are great for those who want to explore the park online or for anyone who would like a deeper understanding of the opening battles of the American Revolution. Jim also incorporates text into the views to indicate landmarks as well as colonial and British positions on April 19, 1775.

We look forward to new images and virtual tours as Ranger Jim and park staff take on this new challenge! As Ranger Jim notes, "I am very excited about being able to offer our virtual visitors panoramic images and videos of the park. There's so much yet to learn but as an interpretive tool this camera presents endless possibilities."

To explore panoramic images of the North Bridge and Merriam's Corner, click on the button below.

Its a big job, but somebody's got to do it! The Minute Man National Park comprises 1038 acres of land and runs through the towns of Concord, Lincoln, and Lexington, MA. Over 80 acres of fields are mowed twice a year and about 24 acres of lawn need to mowed weekly, in season.

The park gets help from local contractors to get the job done and workers put safety first by watching out for traffic and visitors; they also need to avoid hazards such as bees, ticks, poison ivy, and field stones. A combination of tractors, lawn mowers, and string trimmers are used to maintain the park, and staff need an extensive spreadsheet to keep all the work organized!

Thanks to everyone who works to keep Minute Man looking great and ready to welcome visitors all year long.

 

Please remember to maintain social distancing, pack out any trash, keep pets on a leash, park in designated areas, and most importantly - have fun!

Check out the park website for latest updates.

Don't miss our very own Ranger Jim Hollister on the Revolution 250 podcast! Learn about the Revolution in Concord and Salem, MA as Jim is joined by Emily Murphy, Curator of the Salem Maritime National Historical Park. Listen here.

The Concord Land Conservation Trust has released a wonderful video with naturalist Peter Alden revealing over 40 different bird species one can see during the fall bird migration in the Concord area. Spoiler - bald eagles are now nesting in Concord! View here.