American Revolution in Massachusetts

Old North Bridge and the Daniel Chester French monument, Concord, MA Photographs in the Carol M. Highsmith Archive, Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division.

Patriots’ Day was made a state holiday in Massachusetts in 1894, to commemorate the anniversary of the battles. It was celebrated on April 19 every year until 1969 when it was moved to the third Monday in April. It is also a state holiday in Maine, Wisconsin, and Connecticut.

Numerous ceremonies and reenactments of various events surrounding the battles are held every year in Eastern Massachusetts, including reenactments of the midnight rides of William Dawes, Samuel Prescott, and Paul Revere. The battles on Lexington Green and at Old North Bridge in Concord are also reenacted.

• Patriots' Day

  From the National Park Service

• Patriots' Day in Lexington

  Lexington Town Celebrations Committee

• Patriots' Day Parade

  Town of Concord

William Dawes’ midnight ride is commemorated by a traffic island named in his honor at the intersection of Garden Street and Massachusetts Avenue in Harvard Square.

The site where Paul Revere was arrested is commemorated by a low semi-circular wall with several plaques at 180 Great North Road in Lincoln.

Two minuteman statues were erected to commemorate the battles in Lexington and Concord. The Lexington statue is a representation of John Parker, a captain in the local militia. The Concord statue depicts a typical minuteman.