Revolutionary Scavenger Hunt

There is a lot to learn in Lexington if you know where to look!

Whose statue is on the Battle Green?

Where did the Old Belfry used to sit?

What else has been named after Lexington?

This hunt will challenge you to observe what’s around you and to think about the past.

Six clues will lead you to different locations near the Battle Green to learn more about what happened there. These clues do not have to be followed in any particular order. If a spot is too crowded to practice social distancing, feel free to come back to that spot later.

Remember to stay with your group and look both ways when crossing the street!

Greetings, history detective!

Clue #1: This yellow building by the Green Is where militiamen were seen

Behind the tavern is another memorial to a group of objects

named after Lexington - what were they?

______________________________________________________

In front of the tavern is a

memorial to Prince

Estabrook, who fought in the

Battle of Lexington. Why is

he important?

_________________________

______________________________________________________

Before electricity,

lighting the inside

of your house was

hard. How many

windows do you

see? How many

chimneys?

______________________________________________________

Why do you think a high hilltop is

a good place to ring a bell?

____________________________

____________________________

Clue #2: The bells go clang to warn the town Up on a hill where you look down

Can you think of other ways people

could send messages to people far

away before phones and computers?

Hint: you might see a weather vane on a nearby house showing you

one option Paul Revere used!

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

Can you find where the belfry used

to sit on the Green?

The hill where the belfry is now

belonged to John Munroe. He

didn’t like that the town put the

belfry on his hill, so his friends

helped him pick it up and move it in the middle of the night!

When was this statue sculpted?

_______________________________

The front of the statue has a

basin in it that is full of flowers.

When it was first built, it was full

of water to help travelers.

How did people get from place

to place in 1900, before there were cars?

_____________________________________________________

Why would water be important for them?

______________________________________________________

Behind the statue is a pink marble monument with a book on

it. What was here in 1775?

_____________________________________________________

Clue #3: In the center of the town We fought against the British Crown

Clue #4: We remember men who fought On this hill, a scenic spot

This monument lists the men killed

in the battle of Lexington. Can

you name two of them?

______________________________

______________________________

How many men are on the list?

____________________________

The words on this stone were written by Jonas Clarke, the town’s

minister. The church across the street is named for the minister

before him. What was his name?

______________________________________________________

Seven of the eight men killed during the battle are buried under

this monument. One is not. What was his name, and where do you

think he might be buried?

______________________________________________________

Clue #5: The town obtained a sacred space For their ancestors’ resting place

Can you find any of these

images on the gravestones?

• Skull with wings

• Angel

• Willow tree

• Portrait

• Flowers

• Spirals

Draw your favorite design:

Clue #6: John Hancock’s cousin owned this abode Where Paul Revere with swiftness rode

Most families had an herb

garden to grow plants for food

and for medicine. What is your

favorite flavor that you see?

___________________________

If you could use these herbs to make a delicious dinner, what would

you make?

__________________________________________________________

Look at the windows. Most of them have wooden shutters inside.

Why might covering the windows with wood be useful?

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

Why do you think the shutters are inside the house?

__________________________________________________________

Answer Key

Clue 1: Buckman TavernClue 1: Buckman Tavern

Before electricity, lighting the inside of your house was hard. How many windows do you see? How many chimneys?

Answer: 48 windows, 2 chimneysAnswer: 48 windows, 2 chimneys

In front of the tavern is a memorial to Prince Estabrook, who fought in the Battle of Lexington. Why is he important?

Answer: He was an enslaved man who fought in the Battle of Answer: He was an enslaved man who fought in the Battle of Lexington, and the first person of color to fight in the American Lexington, and the first person of color to fight in the American Revolution. Revolution.

Behind the tavern is another memorial to a group of objects named after Lexington - what were they?

Answer: They were ships named USS LexingtonAnswer: They were ships named USS Lexington

Clue 2: Old BelfryClue 2: Old Belfry

Why do you think a high hilltop is a good place to ring a bell?

Answer: The sound carries Answer: The sound carries a long distancea long distance

Can you think of other ways people could send messages to people far away before phones and computers?

Possible answers: Letters in the mail, messages on horseback, Possible answers: Letters in the mail, messages on horseback, walking to another place walking to another place

Can you find where the belfry used to sit on the Green?

Answer: there is a boulder near the Minuteman Statue marking Answer: there is a boulder near the Minuteman Statue marking this spot. this spot.

Clue 3: Minuteman StatueClue 3: Minuteman Statue

When was this statue sculpted?

Answer: 1900Answer: 1900

The front of the statue has a basin in it that is full of flowers. When it was first built, it was full of water to help travelers. How did people get from place to place in 1900, before there were cars?

Answer: On horsesAnswer: On horses

Why would water be important for them?

Answer: The horses would need water to drinkAnswer: The horses would need water to drink

Behind the statue is a pink marble monument with a book on it. What was here in 1775?

Answer: The meeting house (a combination of a church and town Answer: The meeting house (a combination of a church and town hall hall

Clue 4: ObeliskClue 4: Obelisk

This monument lists the men killed in the battle of Lexington. Can you name two of them?

Names: Robert Munroe, Jonas Parker, Samuel Hadley, Jonathan Names: Robert Munroe, Jonas Parker, Samuel Hadley, Jonathan Harrington, Isaac Muzzy, Caleb Harrington, John Brown, and Harrington, Isaac Muzzy, Caleb Harrington, John Brown, and Asahel Porter Asahel Porter

How many men are on the list?

Answer: 8Answer: 8

Seven of the eight men killed during the battle are buried under this monument. One is not. What was his name, and where do you think he might be buried?

Answer: Asahel Porter was from Woburn, and is buried there.Answer: Asahel Porter was from Woburn, and is buried there.

The words on this stone were written by Jonas Clarke, the town’s minister. The church across the street is named for the minister before him. What was his name?

Answer: HancockAnswer: Hancock

Clue 5: Old Burying GroundClue 5: Old Burying Ground

The images listed are among the most common in the 17th through early 19th centuries, and can be found throughout the Burying Ground.

The oldest stones (with the most winged skulls, called “death’s heads”, are found at the end of the cemetery closest to St. Brigid’s Church. The newest stones (with the most willow trees and other decorations) are found at the opposite end closest to First Parish Church.

Clue 6: Hancock-Clarke HouseClue 6: Hancock-Clarke House

Look at the windows. Most of them have wooden shutters inside. Why might covering the windows with wood be useful?

Answer: They keep out sunlight, trap heat in the house, and stop Answer: They keep out sunlight, trap heat in the house, and stop people from looking in! people from looking in!

Why do you think the shutters are inside the house?

Answer: You don’t have to open the window and lean outside to Answer: You don’t have to open the window and lean outside to close them if it is cold or rainy. close them if it is cold or rainy.

More digital content is available on our website!More digital content is available on our website!

www.lexingtonhistory.org/digitalcontent

• Virtual tours of our museums

• Children’s activities

• Online exhibits

• More will be added as it becomes available, so bookmark this page and check back regularly!

The mission of Lexington Historical Society is to be a premier interpreter of the events of April 1775, and the faithful steward of all of the town’s history

through time.