Patriots Day in Massachusetts Evokes the Revolutionary War Era

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The annual Patriots Day celebration held each April in Massachusetts is a cherished remembrance of local American history and heritage. It harkens back to April 19, 1775, when farmers and merchants, townspeople and volunteer soldiers in Concord, Lexington and nearby towns who banded together against encroaching British troops.   

The confrontation began when British soldiers set out from Boston Common to Concord with the purpose of seizing guns and ammunition held by the Americans, and to capture Sam Adams and John Hancock.  Bostonians Paul Revere and William Dawes rode off on horseback to warn their fellow countrymen that ‘the British are coming.’  The initial confrontation at North Bridge in Concord became known as ‘the shot heard round the world,’ which sparked the American Revolution.

In the ensuing 248 years, Americans have celebrated that auspicious battle, but it wasn’t until April, 19, 1894 that Governor Frederic Greenhalge officially declared Patriots Day in Massachusetts, calling it “a day rich with historical and significant events which are precious in the eyes of the patriots,” and an annual occasion to “adequately express our deep sense of the trials and tribulations of the patriots.”  And since 1969, Patriots Day has been observed as a state holiday on the third Monday in April.  

The Minuteman National Historic Park and the towns of Lexington and Concord remain the centerpiece of the commemoration, while multiple cities and towns, including Boston, Cambridge, Arlington, Medford and Acton will mark this important day in American history with parades, re-enactments and special events.

Over the next several years, Massachusetts’ proud history is taking center stage as we prepare to celebrate the  250th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 2026.  A Special Commission on the 250th Anniversary of the American Revolution has been formed to determine how best to commemorate the distinct role Massachusetts played in the American Revolution, from the Boston Tea Party, Battle of Bunker Hill and Battle of Lexington and Concord to the Siege of Boston and Evacuation Day.

A good source of information on Massachusetts’ role in the events leading up to the American Revolution is available at Revolution 250.

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