The Battle Green
The battle fought on the Lexington Common between the British and the Americans on April 19, 1775 was one of the first great events of the American Revolution. But for a century afterwards, residents paid no particular attention to their town Common. They were not prepared for the turmoil and the over whelming demand for food and other necessities when, on a cold snowy day, 100,000 visitors streamed into town to see President Grant and other dignitaries at the Centennial Celebration of 1875.
It was only after the experience of the Centennial that residents became concerned with preserving the appearance of the Common and surrounding buildings, but not soon enough to save an 18th century house facing the Common, torn down in 1876. By 1917 homeowners around the Common had signed covenants limiting their property to residential uses. An historic district was created in 1956 that includes the Common and nearby historic sites.
Marker is on Harrington Road, on the right when traveling east.
Courtesy hmdb.org
