Bridging the Past: An Administrative History of Minute Man National Historical Park

Zenzen, Joan

In looking back over the history of MIMA, four themes stand out. First, the park has struggled with how best to address modern-day traffic on Route 2A. Second, park officials have adopted changing guidelines for preserving and restoring structures. Third, the park’s mission has expanded and evolved in response to changing historic preservation norms and public demands. Fourth, the public, including the three towns of Concord, Lincoln, and Lexington and other interests, have shaped the park’s identity since its establishment. These four themes represent key issues over the entire life of the park and continue to shape the park’s future. To understand MIMA, managers must appreciate these themes and act accordingly. Route 2A is perhaps the most visible and highly charged issue that has faced MIMA. From the moment of park establishment, NPS planners fully expected that the state would redirect this commuter roadway out of the park and allow for development of an interpretive program that would recreate the feel and look of the Massachusetts countryside of 1775. However, the NPS never had money allocated to assist the state in accomplishing this considerable feat. In the post-World War II expansion of the Boston suburbs, this roadway became increasingly important and thus harder to remove. The Hanscom AFB and civilian airfield hosted more and more flights, commercial businesses chose this high-technology area to settle, and residential developments took shape nearby. Finally, environmental protection laws, which came into existence after park establishment, added a whole new level of review and consideration to the mix, effectively closing the door on relocation. In the meantime, park planners worked in a state of limbo, planning with the idea of a relocated Route 2A and addressing the reality that cars and trucks of increasing numbers relied upon this route. Years would go by, and the park would not look like a park. Overgrown trees and bushes along Route 2A hid the largest unit of the park. Known as the Battle Road Unit, this section was where British soldiers retreated from Concord’s North Bridge and suffered heavy firing from Patriots convinced that they had to defend their liberties and right to self-government. This section of roadway had prompted concerned citizens and leaders in historic preservation to set aside this land as MIMA in 1959, but this section of the park failed to present a historical face to the public in subsequent years. It looked like every other stretch of commuter roadway, crowded with vehicles and lacking in identifying features

Bridging the Past: An Administrative History of Minute Man National Historical Park

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