War and Remembrance: Monuments, Mayhem, and the making of April 19th

48 Monument Square,Concord MA 01742

30 December, 2020

Description

A brand new walking tour exploring the contentious & amusing history of how April 19th became the 'holiest' day in Concord, MA! In April of 1875 the town of Concord hosted a huge party. YUGE! Months in the planning, the town invited famous orators, authors, poets, politicians, visitors from far and wide, and even President Ulysses S. Grant, to take part in and celebrate the one hundredth anniversary of the fight at the Old North Bridge, the beginning of the American War for Independence, and the very origins of our nation. It was... a debacle. On this captivating walking tour led by nineteenth-century Concord resident Mr. David Buttrick (portrayed by historian Richard Smith) you’ll discover the secrets and stories behind our world famous monuments, learn the contentious origins of Patriots’ Day, find out what happened to the original Old North Bridge, and, of course, the amusing story of the ill-fated Centennial of 1875 and how it all went wrong. War and Remembrance is a seasonal, limited offering tour. Available until January 3rd, 2021. #Tour length: approximately 90 minutes and covers four monuments and several historic sites during about a mile walk on a combination of paved sidewalks, level grass, and crushed gravel pathways. Tours depart rain, shine, and (reasonable amounts)of snow, so "propah" winter boots and warm clothes are a must! #Tours begin and end at Concord's Colonial Inn, 48 Monument Square. Your guide will meet you outside at the benches near the front door. Warm up after your winter excursion with a drink or amazing meal from the Inn when you return! #Covid-safe, contact free booking available. All tours adhere to MA state COVID-19 guidelines and all visitors and guests must wear masks. #Concord Tour Company is proud to support Minuteman National Historic Park during these challenging times and has pledged to donate 5% of all tour proceeds to the Park in 2020 and 2021. Richard Smith has been a Concord historian for more than twenty years, most of that time as Henry David Thoreau, making appearances at Walden Pond, around Concord, and throughout the US and Canada. Having been a National Park Ranger, as well as tour guide at the various Concord historical sites, Richard has an intimate knowledge of Concord's history and the famous people who lived here. In addition, he has written several books for Applewood Books in nearby Carlisle, MA, including Quotations of Henry David Thoreau, A Short Biography of Henry David Thoreau, and A short Biography of Alexander Hamilton. When not giving tours or lectures, Richard can often be found drinking good whiskey and listening to punk rock.