THE BOULDER ON LEXINGTON COMMON
Marking the line established by the minutemen on the morning of April 19, 1775. On it are inscribed the words of Captain Parker’s immortal command: “Stand your ground. Don’t fire unless fired upon, but if they mean to have a war let it begin here.”
THE OLD BELFRY
To hold the town bell, a little wooden building was erected on a hill overlooking the Common in 1761. A few years later it was moved to the Common, where it sounded the alarm to the minutemen on the morning of April 19th. An exact reproduction of the old belfry has now been erected on the original site. The bell has long since vanished, but its tongue is still preserved.
A WINTRY DETAIL OF THE BUCKMAN TAVERN
THE BUCKMAN TAVERN (1690), MEETING PLACE OF THE MINUTEMEN, Lexington Common
This old tavern was the scene of great activity on that memorable morning. Around the great fireplace in the tap room the minutemen gathered to await word of the British advance. Paul Revere witnessed the arrival of the British from a chamber window. In the afternoon of April 19th two wounded British soldiers were given first aid here. One of them died shortly after, and was buried in the old cemetery. The Buckman Tavern, which was the oldest of Lexington’s twelve inns, still contains scars of British bullets. The first village store was located here, and later, in 1812 it held Lexington’s first Post Office. The building contains many noteworthy exhibits besides the famous tap room, and is now in the care of the Lexington Historical Society.