Meriam’s Corner
Meriam’s Corner is an important Revolutionary War sites in Concord, located near the Nathan Meriam House along Lexington Road within the Minute Man National Historical Park.
On April 19, 1775, after the British regulars had searched Concord and begun their march back toward Boston, they passed this junction near the Meriam family homestead. It was here that the nature of the conflict changed.
Until this point, the colonial militia had largely fought in organized clusters. But at Meriam’s Corner, as additional companies of militia from surrounding towns arrived and joined the Concord men, the fighting intensified. The colonial forces began to spread out along both sides of the road, using trees, stone walls, fields and natural cover to fire upon the British column as it retreated.
Historians often describe Meriam’s Corner as the place where the engagement shifted from a structured confrontation to a sustained battle. From this point eastward along the Battle Road, the British troops faced constant fire for nearly 16 mils back toward Boston.
Today, the corner remains peaceful with open fields, stone walls and colonial houses, but it marks the spot local farmers and townsmen fully committed to resistance, and where the retreat from Concord turned into the long, deadly march back to Boston.
Read More From Nancy
Thoreau’s Cabin
While visiting Walden Pond, I stopped at this replica of Henry David Thoreau’s famous cabin. Although the original cabin no longer exists, this reconstruction offers visitors an opportunity to imagine the simple life Thoreau embraced while living beside the pond from 1845 to 1847. At just 10 by 15 feet, the cabin reflected Thoreau’s belief […]
Old Manse
One homeschooling morning, I took Emmy and Erin to visit the Old Manse in Concord. As was often the case with weekday explorations, the house was nearly empty. Museums and historic sites were a big part of our schooling. Built in 1770 for the Reverend William Emerson, the Old Manse stands just steps from the […]
The Wright Tavern
Standing in the center of Concord, Massachusetts, the Wright Tavern has witnessed some of the most important moments in American history. Built in 1747 by Amos Wright, the tavern quickly became a gathering place where travelers, townspeople, and political leaders exchanged news and ideas. In colonial New England, taverns served not only as inns but […]
