Arlington

Jason Russell House Museum

Historic House · 7 Jason Street, Arlington, MA

The site of one of the bloodiest encounters on April 19, 1775. Jason Russell, a lame farmer who refused to flee, died defending his home along with eleven other men. British soldiers killed the defenders inside the house, and bullet holes remain visible in the original structure. The house museum interprets the day's events and displays period artifacts.

Captain Samuel Cook House Site

Historic House · Massachusetts Avenue, Arlington, MA

Captain Samuel Cook commanded one of the Menotomy militia companies that mustered on April 19. The site of his home is marked along Massachusetts Avenue, commemorating his role in organizing local response to the British march.

Old Burying Ground

Cemetery · Pleasant Street, Arlington, MA

Arlington's oldest cemetery, dating to 1732. Several militiamen killed on April 19, 1775, are buried here, including Jason Russell. The cemetery contains many 18th-century headstones with characteristic New England carvings. A monument honors the town's Revolutionary War dead.

Foot of the Rocks

Battlefield · Massachusetts Avenue near Park Avenue, Arlington, MA

A natural outcropping where colonial militia staged a devastating ambush on the retreating British column. The rocky terrain provided excellent cover for the colonists, who fired down on the exposed regulars. Markers identify the approximate location along Massachusetts Avenue.

Samuel Whittemore Site

Monument · Massachusetts Avenue at Mystic Street, Arlington, MA

A marker commemorates Samuel Whittemore, an 80-year-old farmer who attacked British soldiers with a musket, pistols, and sword during their retreat. Shot, bayoneted, and left for dead, Whittemore survived and lived to age 98. He is officially designated as the Massachusetts State Hero.

Uncle Sam Memorial Statue

Monument · Main Street at Massachusetts Avenue, Arlington, MA

A statue honoring Samuel Wilson (1766-1854), who was born in what was then Menotomy. Wilson later became the inspiration for "Uncle Sam" during the War of 1812. While not directly Revolutionary, the memorial connects Arlington to the broader arc of American identity.

Minuteman Bikeway (Arlington Section)

Trail · Various access points along Massachusetts Avenue, Arlington, MA

A paved rail-trail following the approximate route of the British march and retreat. The Arlington section passes near several battle sites and provides interpretive signage. The 10-mile trail connects Arlington to Lexington, Bedford, and Cambridge.

Menotomy Rocks Park

Landmark · Jason Street, Arlington, MA

A 17-acre park preserving rocky outcroppings similar to those that provided cover for colonial militia on April 19, 1775. While not a specific battle site, the terrain illustrates the landscape advantages colonists used against the British column. Hiking trails wind through the boulder-strewn woods.

Arlington Center Historic District

Landmark · Massachusetts Avenue, Arlington Center

The commercial center of Arlington retains some 18th and 19th-century buildings. While most structures postdate the Revolution, the district's layout follows colonial-era roads. The Massachusetts Avenue corridor through the center approximates the route of the British column.

Spy Pond

Landmark · Pond Lane, Arlington, MA

Local tradition holds that the pond received its name from colonial scouts who observed British troop movements from its shores. The pond and surrounding park offer views of the terrain that shaped April 19 fighting. Whether the name's origin is genuine or apocryphal, it connects the landscape to Revolutionary memory.

Arlington Town Hall

Government · 730 Massachusetts Avenue, Arlington, MA

The current town hall (1913) is not Revolutionary-era, but the building houses historical documents and occasionally displays artifacts related to April 19, 1775. The town government maintains strong connections to its Menotomy history.

Arlington Historical Society

Museum · 7 Jason Street, Arlington, MA

Operates the Jason Russell House Museum and maintains archives documenting Arlington's history, with particular emphasis on April 19, 1775. The society offers educational programs and walking tours of battle sites along Massachusetts Avenue.

Black Horse Tavern Site

Tavern · Massachusetts Avenue, Arlington, MA

A marker indicates the location of the Black Horse Tavern, which stood on the main road through Menotomy. Like other colonial taverns, it served as a gathering place and information exchange. The original building no longer stands.

Cooper Tavern Site

Tavern · Massachusetts Avenue, Arlington, MA

Site of another Menotomy tavern where fighting occurred on April 19, 1775. Benjamin and Rachel Cooper owned the establishment, and two men were killed here during the British retreat. The building was demolished in the 19th century.

First Parish Unitarian Universalist

Church · 630 Massachusetts Avenue, Arlington, MA

The congregation dates to 1733, though the current building is from 1840. The original meetinghouse would have been a gathering point for the community on April 19, 1775. Town meetings and militia musters often took place at or near the meetinghouse.