Meriam House
This is the historic Meriam House, part of the Minute Man National Historical Park in Concord. Built around 1705, the house stood directly along the route taken by British troops returning from Concord on April 19, 1775. What makes the site especially important is that the land near the Meriam House marked a turning point in the first day of the American Revolution.
It was here that colonial militia forces began to grow dramatically in number and coordination as the British retreated toward Boston. Earlier fighting at Lexington and Concord had been more scattered, but near this house the conflict transformed into a sustained battle. Militias from surrounding towns converged on the road, firing from behind trees, walls, barns and fields as the British column struggled westward.
The Meriam family themselves were suddenly caught in the center of history. Like many Concord families they had awakened that morning expecting uncertainty but not fully knowing how the day would unfold. Their farm sat at a strategic crossroads outside the center of town, and throughout the day soldiers, militia smoke and confusion moved past their property. Family members reportedly watched the growing confrontation from the safety of the house.
Today the house stands beside the Battle Road Trail. The American Revolution unfolded in the lives of ordinary families whose homes suddenly became part of history.
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