Side Trips from Boston - Boston 2009 - page 243

Touring Lexington & Concord
The Liberty Ride ( & 781/862-0500, ext. 702; www.libertyride.us) is a 90-minute
trolley tour, narrated by a costumed guide, that connects the attractions in
both towns. It operates from 10:30am to 4:30pm Saturday and Sunday of Patri-
ots Day weekend and daily from Memorial Day weekend through late October;
check ahead for schedules and to confirm that it's running. The fare (good for
a full day) is $20 for adults, $10 for children 5 to 17, free for children under 5.
There's free parking at the National Heritage Museum and the national park,
and your ticket entitles you to discounts at local attractions.

Tips

Within easy walking distance, the Hancock-Clarke House, 36 Hancock St., is
where Samuel Adams and John Hancock were staying when Paul Revere arrived. They
fled to nearby Woburn. The 1698 house with a 1738 addition contains some original
furnishings as well as artifacts of the Battle of Lexington. Note: This house will close
for restoration in 2008, reopening for the 2009 season.
The British took over the Munroe Tavern , 1332 Massachusetts Ave. (about 1
mile from the Green), to use as their headquarters and, after the battle, as their field
hospital. In this building (1690), you'll learn more about the royal troops and see fur-
niture carefully preserved by the Munroe family, including the table and chair Presi-
dent George Washington used when he dined here in 1789. The historically accurate
gardens in the rear (free admission) are beautifully planted and maintained.
The historical society makes its headquarters downtown in the 1846 Lexington
Depot, where changing exhibits on local history are open to the public.
Depot Square (off Mass. Ave. near the Battle Green). & 781/862-1703 or 781/862-5598 for information about
group tours, offered by appointment only. www.lexingtonhistory.org. Buckman Tavern: Daily Apr-Oct. 10am-4pm.
Tours every 30 min. Closed Nov-Mar. Hancock-Clarke House: Sat-Sun Apr to mid-June, daily mid-June to Oct.
11am-2pm. Tours every 30 min. Closed Nov-Mar. Munroe Tavern: Sat-Sun Apr to mid-June, daily mid-June to Oct.
11am-3pm. Tours every 30 min. Closed Nov-Mar. Admission $6 adults for 1 house, $8 for 2, $10 for all 3; $4 children
6-16 for 1 house, $5 for 2, $7 for all 3.

National Heritage Museum The fascinating exhibits at this unusual
museum explore American history and culture. Its focus on everyday life makes an
entertaining complement to the colonial-history focus of the rest of the town. The
installations in the six exhibition spaces change regularly. You can start with another
dose of the Revolution, the permanent exhibit Sowing the Seeds of Liberty, which
tells the story of that tumultuous period through the lives of Lexington residents .
Other topics of exhibits have ranged from Paul Revere to 19th-century inventions to
early photos of Elvis, Dylan, and the Beatles. The museum schedules lectures, con-
certs, and family programs, and the cafe in the atrium serves lunch Tuesday through
Saturday. The Scottish Rite of Freemasonry sponsors the museum.
33 Marrett Rd. (Route 2A), at Mass. Ave. & 781/861-6559. www.nationalheritagemuseum.org. Free admission.
Mon-Sat 10am-5pm, Sun noon-5pm. Closed Jan 1, Thanksgiving, and Dec 24-25. From downtown Lexington, fol-
low Mass. Ave. east to intersection with Route 2A; enter from Route 2A.

Kids

SHOPPING
A stroll along Mass. Ave. near the center of town won't disappoint. Check out Walden-
books, 1713 Massachusetts Ave. ( & 781/862-7870 ); Upper Story Books, 1730
Massachusetts Ave. ( & 781/862-0999 ); and the Crafty Yankee, 1838 Massachusetts