Munroe Tavern (Lexington, Massachusetts) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Munroe Tavern
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | Lexington, Massachusetts |
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| Built | 1731 |
| NRHP reference No. | 76000248 |
| Added to NRHP | April 26, 1976 |
The Munroe Tavern is a historic building in Lexington, Massachusetts. It played an important part in the American Revolutionary War. Today, it is a museum run by the Lexington Historical Society.
The museum shows what the Battle of Lexington and Concord was like for the British soldiers. You can visit the Munroe Tavern for guided tours. It is open on weekends from April and daily from late May to October.
Tavern History and Owners
The Munroe family came to America with William Munroe in 1651. He was a Scottish soldier captured in a battle. The first part of the Munroe Tavern was built in 1735. It was on land owned by David Comee.
Later, another William Munroe bought the house in 1770. This William was the great-grandson of the first William. In 1774, he got a license to run a tavern. This was just before the start of the American Revolution in April 1775.
A Key Spot in the Revolution
On April 18, 1775, the day before the famous battle, Munroe Tavern was a meeting place for American colonists. William Munroe, the owner, was also a sergeant in Captain John Parker's local militia.
That evening, a man named Solomon Brown returned from Boston. He told Munroe that he had seen British soldiers patrolling. This news was very important.
The Battle of Lexington
Early the next morning, April 19, 1775, many British troops arrived in Lexington. Shots were fired on the town common. This was the start of the Battles of Lexington and Concord.
That afternoon, the tavern became a headquarters for the British. Colonel Hugh, Earl Percy, and his 1,000 extra soldiers used it. The British stayed at the tavern for about an hour and a half.
A Field Hospital and Supplies
During this time, the dining room of the tavern became a hospital for wounded soldiers. The tired British troops also ate and drank a lot. They made John Raymond, a local minuteman, serve them drinks. Raymond had fought against the British earlier that day. When he tried to escape, soldiers shot and killed him.
Famous Visitors and Later Years
President George Washington visited the Munroe Tavern in 1789. He came to see the Lexington battlefield. Today, an upstairs room at the tavern has the table and chair he used. It also has documents from his trip.
In the late 1800s, a Munroe family member rented part of the house. An artist named Edwin Graves Champney lived there. In 1976, the house was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it is a very important historical site.
Today, the Lexington Historical Society uses the Munroe Tavern as the Museum of the British Redcoats. It helps visitors understand the events of April 19, 1775, from the British soldiers' point of view. The building was also updated and repaired in 2010 and 2011.
Images for kids
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The building's western side
See also
- Buckman Tavern, another important museum and meeting spot for the Lexington militia.
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Middlesex County, Massachusetts
