Boston & Lexington juggle their dates to make Patriot’s Day a monday, starting with the re-enactment of the Battle of Lexington Green at dawn. The actual battles were on April 19, 1775. These re-enactors are near the Hartwell Tavern, on Battle Road, where British troops retreated under heavy fire from local militia in the woods.
Tag Archives: Bunker Hill monument
Evacuation Day Freedom Trail + Revere
Evacuation Day in Boston marks the departure of the British on March 17, 1776, ending the 11-month “Siege of Boston.” This engraving by Paul Revere shows the Landing of these British troops in 1768. The “Evacuation” took troops and Tory citizens to Halifax, NS.
Boston Massacre – March 5, 1770 – photo
Old State House, snow © Steve Dunwell
A snowy evening, March 5, 1770. Here on King Street, now called State Street. Rowdy Patriot mob + squad of British soldiers. Short skirmish and surprising gunfire leaves 5 dead.
USS Constitution freedom photo
Constitution, with sails, Boston
Feb 20, 1815 – decisive battle between USS Constitution and two British ships: Cyane and Levant. Victory for Constitution, her last major battle during the War of 1812.
Park Street Church winter photo
Park Street Church, winter sunset. Home to the great abolitionist, William Lloyd Garrison. “My Country ’tis of thee” was sung here for the first time in 1831.
Copps Hill Burying Ground Freedom Trail photo
The tombstone of William Waters, d. 1691, at Copps Hill, in Boston’s North End. The North Battery was nearby, with cannons used in the Battle of Bunker Hill.
Fugitive Slave law
Fugitive Slave Act, 1850
Fugitive Slave Law, Sept 19, 1850. Protests galvanize Boston abolitionists. 54th Regiment marches to Civil War duty a dozen years later.
Boston Historic Park – Bunker Hill photo – Freedom Trail
Centennial of the National Park Service. Many of the sites on Freedom Trail are part of the Boston Historic Park, supervised by NPS. Bunker Hill is one of the treasures.
Old State House July 4
The Declaration of Independence will be read from the balcony on the Old State House on July 4th. This commemorates the actual reading of the Declaration, on July 18, 1776.
Paul Revere’s ride
Revere statue by Cyrus Dallin
Patriot’s Day is celebrated today, but Paul Revere’s Ride was actually tonight – April 18, 1775. Paul Revere crossed the Charles River to Cambridge, then rode his horse towards Lexington to warn the partisans there. He almost made it. Other riders carried the news further.