Friends of Minute Man National Park Preserving the Birthplace of the American Revolution

Sheep Shearing at Minute Man

Like a day at the salon, our resident Ouessant sheep were treated to a haircut and nail treatment. Sheep shearing and hoof trimming was a quiet affair with social distancing procedures in effect. Aaron Loux of Busy Corner Farm expertly sheared each sheep in a matter of minutes and every ewe patiently had her hooves trimmed. What a difference as they shed their shaggy winter coats and reveal bright white wool underneath! We are delighted to host these lovely sheep from the Breton Meadow Farm in Lincoln, in cooperation with the Codman Community Farm of Lincoln. To learn more about Minute Man National Historical Park's flock of female sheep, click on the button below.

Sheep at Minute Man

Spring Has Sprung!

The landscape and gardens of the Minute Man National Historical Park are awash with color and are providing a cheery getaway for people looking to safely get out of the house this spring. Whether you prefer the more formal Buttrick Gardens or the walking along the historic Battle Road trail, please remember to visit responsibly. Minute Man National Historical Park is open, but the visitor centers and restrooms remain closed. Please scroll down to find out how to visit responsibly. We look forward to the time when we can welcome you back to our visitor centers, but until then, please continue to enjoy Minute Man virtually and in person.

Staff Spotlight

Welcome to Jen Jackson and Jarrad Fuoss who recently joined the Minute Man staff. As Park Guides, Jen and Jarrad will be out in the park sharing their knowledge with visitors. They will also be working behind the scenes developing web and social media content, allowing us to find new ways to connect with our community.   Jen started her NPS career as a volunteer at Minute Man National Historical Park in 2011 and served for many years as an interpreter in Alaska at Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preserve and Denali National Park & Preserve before returning to Minute Man. Jarrad joined the NPS in 2014 as an intern and, and later as an interpreter, at Gettysburg National Military Park and served there until joining us at Minute Man.   Jarrad and Jen had an amazing opportunity to train as Historic Weapons Supervisors at Alabama’s Fort McClellan this spring. For two weeks, they practiced drills for muskets and cannon and are now certified in the inspection of eighteenth-century weapons and protocols. Jen and Jarrad can now assist Park Ranger Jim Hollister, who serves as the Historic Weapons Program Coordinator, in our popular weapons demonstrations and annual Battle Road tactical demonstration.   Image above: Jarrad and Jen in kit and proudly displaying their Historic Weapons Supervisor certificates. Image below, Jen with her retired sled Dog Cache at Denali and Jarrad at work in Gettysburg.

Artist in Your Residence

In collaboration with the Umbrella Arts Center, Minute Man is hosting a summer-long virtual public art exhibition called Artist-in-Your-Residence. A play on the traditional National Park Artist in Residence program, the project calls on neighbors, friends and visitors to paint, draw, sculpt, photograph, write, or compose a piece inspired by Minute Man National Park. Post images and videos of your creations on social media (preferably facebook and/or instagram) with the hashtag #ArtistinYourResidence and make sure you tag both @MinuteManNPS and @theumbrellaarts.experiences. For more information, click on the link below.

Umbrella Arts Center

Beyond the Battle Road Events of interest outside the Park

Concord Museum Walking Tours Our colleagues at the Concord Museum have a variety of free, self-guided walking tours that you may be interested in exploring this spring and summer. Our favorites are the April 19, 1775 Trail (of course!) and Daniel Chester French Trail. French was the sculptor of our iconic Minute Man statue and has other notable sculptures in town, including the Melvin Memorial at Sleepy Hollow Cemetery. Click on the link below to check out all of the Concord Museum walking tours and to download a printable walking tour.

Concord Museum Walking Tours

Visit Responsibly

Minute Man National Historical Park Visitor Centers and comfort stations (restrooms) are closed until further notice; the grounds and trails are open sunrise to sunset. The National Park Service wants you to stay safe, so if you do visit the park, please follow these guidelines: Know Before You Go: check out the park website for the latest information. Please follow state and CDC social distancing guidelines when visiting the park. Click on the button below for more information. Help us keep the park and trails clean by carrying out any trash and dog waste (leave no trace).  If you find a parking lot full, please proceed to another parking lot to avoid parking along the road, creating unsafe conditions. Parking lot locations can be found on the park map.

CDC Guidance for Park Visits

Friends of Minute Man National Park Old North Bridge Visitor's Center 174 Liberty Street Concord, MA 01742 P: 978-318-7822 info@friendsofminuteman.org www.friendsofminuteman.org

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The Friends of Minute Man National Park is an independent, member-based non-profit 501(c)(3) organization supporting the Park's mission of preserving and protecting the historic sites, structures, properties, and landscapes associated with the opening battles of the American Revolution.