Friends of Minute Man National Park

Preserving the Birthplace of the American Revolution

Visit Minute Man this Summer!

Summer is a great time to visit Minute Man National Historical Park. We welcome you to visit our historical sites, commemorative landscapes, and Visitor Centers. Rangers are ready to answer questions, provide maps, passport stamps, and Junior Ranger materials at park Visitor Centers.

North Bridge Visitor Center is currently open from 10:00 am - 5:00 pm.

Minute Man Visitor Center is open daily from 9:00 am - 5:00 pm until June 30. Summer hours at the Minute Man Visitor Center will be from 9:00 am - 12:00 pm from July 1 to August 30. The Road to Revolution movie plays every half hour.

Hartwell Tavern will be open on Wednesday - Sunday from 10:00 am - 4:30 pm through June 30th. Stay tuned for July hours.

Ranger-guided programs are available regularly throughout the season, including Concord's North Bridge: History and Memory, North Bridge Battlefield Walk, Minute Men: Neighbors in Arms and Enemies to Their Country.

Plan Your Visit

Special Events

Declaration of Independence Reading

Saturday, July 5, 2025

2:30 pm

North Bridge

Celebrate July 4th at Minute Man! Join park rangers and volunteers as we mark the anniversary

of our nation's independence with a live, in-person reading of the Declaration of Independence

at Concord's North Bridge.

Click here to learn more about this free program.

Artillery Day

Saturday, July 12, 2025

11:00 am and 2:00 pm

Hartwell Tavern

Learn about the importance of artillery during the events of 1775 and the creation of the Continental Army from park rangers and living history volunteers. Firing will be dependent on the weather and the cannon crew. Hartwell Tavern will be open from 10:00 am - 4:30 pm.

Click here to learn more about this free program.

Buttrick Gardens

Garden Lecture

July 31st at 7:00 pm via Zoom. We'll view the garden in all four seasons and explore historic images - all from the comfort of home! Thank you to our garden sponsors, Tauck and Heirloom Tree and Shrub Care. Click here to register.

Give a Gift to the Gardens

Your donation helps support student gardeners who provide daily maintenance, ensuring that the historic Buttrick Gardens stay healthy, beautiful, and blooming all season long. Gifts of $250 or more get an exclusive Buttrick Gardens 250th Anniversary tote bag. Click here to give.

Cultural Resources Internship

In partnership with American Conservation Experience, Minute Man National Historical Park is offering a one-year Cultural Resource internship, starting in summer 2025. Compensation is $24/hour plus a housing, travel, and training stipend. Please send a letter of interest, resume, and dates of availability as soon as possible to Margie_coffin_brown@nps.gov.

Elm Brook Hill Research Update

The Friends of Minute Man are proud to help fund the Elm Brook Hill Battlefield archaeological project.

Check out this article on how researchers used a drone and LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) to create a high-resolution 3D terrain model of the battlefield and the surrounding area.

Click here to read the article by NPS Archaeologist Margaret W. Wilkes.

Turtles on the Move:

Nesting Season at Minute Man

Several species of turtles can be found at Minute Man National Historical Park, including the common snapping turtle, painted turtle, spotted turtle, and the stinkpot.

This time of year, it can be common to see turtles on the move, especially as expectant females roam in search of suitable nesting locations. If you see a turtle wandering away from the water, don't worry - it isn't lost! Turtles need higher ground to nest . . . Read more.

Written by Michelle Lord, NPS Biologist. Images: A female snapping turtle laying eggs at the Park in spring 2025. Inset: a wee snapping turtle hatchling making its way down the Buttrick Gardens' steps to the Concord River in Sept 2023.

Read About Nesting Turtles

Woven Nests and Woodland Songs

We had great weather, enjoyed good company, and viewed a variety of birds on our annual spring migration bird walk at Minute Man National Historical Park on June 5, 2025.

Click here to learn about and view more photos of the birds we found, including Baltimore Orioles, American Redstarts, and the fledgling White-breasted Nuthatch seen here. Photo by bird walk participant, Lily Dong.

We're Upgrading - Here's How to Reach Us

The Friends is using a temporary phone number, 502-252-1775, while the park's phone systems are being upgraded.

During this transition, we are unable to receive messages left at our regular number, 978-318-7822, so please do not leave voicemails there. The best way to reach us during this time is by emailing Kathleen Fahey at director@friendsofminuteman.org.

Calling all Hartwells!

Are you a Hartwell descendant or simply interested in the Hartwell family history? The Hartwells of America is an association for those who trace their roots to William Hartwell (c. 1613–1690) of Concord, Massachusetts, or who have a general interest in the Hartwell name and legacy. They host annual gatherings and are dedicated to preserving and sharing genealogies of Hartwells across the United States and Canada.

Visit the Hartwells of America website to learn more.

Thank You

Sponsors, Donors, and Members

We could not do this work without you!

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Friends of Minute Man National Park

North Bridge Visitor Center

174 Liberty Street

Concord, MA 01742

502-252-1775 (Temporary During Upgrade)

info@friendsofminuteman.org

www.friendsofminuteman.org

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