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 in Lexington, Massachusetts, is a very important place from the American Revolutionary War. It played a big part in the Battle of Lexington and Concord. Today, it is a museum run by the Lexington Historical Society. The museum shows what the British soldiers experienced when the war started. You can take guided tours on weekends from April and daily from late May until the end of October.
Contents
A Historic Meeting Place
The Munroe Family's Start
The Munroe family came to America with William Munroe (1625–1719). He arrived in New England in 1651 after being captured in a battle. The first part of the Munroe Tavern was built in 1735.
Becoming a Tavern
Another William Munroe (1742–1827) bought the house in 1770. He was the great-grandson of the first William. In October 1774, he received a license to run a tavern. This was just before the war began in April 1775. William Munroe was also a sergeant in Captain John Parker's local militia.
The Day the War Began
A Warning from Solomon Brown
On April 18, 1775, the day before the famous battle, Munroe Tavern was a meeting spot for local colonists. That evening, Solomon Brown of Lexington returned from Boston. He told William Munroe that he had seen a group of British soldiers.
British Headquarters and Hospital
Early the next morning, April 19, 1775, British troops arrived in Lexington. Shots were fired on the town common, starting the Battles of Lexington and Concord. Later that afternoon, the tavern became the headquarters for Colonel Hugh, Earl Percy. He was leading about one thousand British reinforcements.
The British soldiers stayed at the tavern for about an hour and a half. They turned the dining room into a hospital for their wounded. The tired soldiers also ate and drank a lot. John Raymond, a local minuteman who had fought earlier, was forced to serve them. Sadly, John Raymond died during this time.
Famous Visitors and Modern Day
George Washington's Stop
President George Washington visited the Lexington battlefield in 1789. He even ate dinner at the Munroe Tavern! Today, an upstairs room at the tavern has the table and chair he used. It also displays documents about his visit.
A Museum Today
The Munroe Tavern was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976. The Lexington Historical Society now uses the 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 restored between 2010 and 2011.
See also
- Buckman Tavern, another important museum and meeting point for the Lexington militia
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Middlesex County, Massachusetts
