America’s independence was ignited in Massachusetts, where the spirit of revolution spread across its cities, towns, and countryside. From the first shots fired at Lexington and Concord to the significant battles that took place throughout the state, these events from 1775-1783 paved the way to victory in the Revolutionary War. We call this journey The Liberty Trail.
We invite you to visit the preserved locations along the Liberty Trail and to immerse
yourself in the extraordinary events that determined the fate of a nation.
William Prescott led colonial forces at the Battle of Bunker Hill, where his strategic defense and command helped inflict heavy British casualties, despite ultimately being forced to retreat.
When British forces besieged Charleston, Lincoln was forced to surrender over 5,000 men. Denied honors of war in surrender, Lincoln was paroled and returned to Washington’s army. After the Battle of Yorktown, Lincoln accepted the surrender from the British, allowing him to have revenge for his defeat in Charleston.
A British officer who led the troops during the April 1775 march to Lexington and Concord, Smith is remembered for commanding the British forces in the opening battles of the American Revolution, facing both praise and criticism for his actions.
As opposed to Paul Revere, Sybil Ludington avoided capture during her ride to warn colonists of an advancing British column. Riding miles in downpouring rain and against all odds, Sybil's story remained in obscurity until the 1960s.
