“Revolutionary War National Parks” Panel in Lexington, 7 June

On Wednesday, 7 June, I’ll be part of a panel discussion in Lexington on “Revolutionary War National Parks: Treasures Worth Protecting in Massachusetts.” This event is co-sponsored by the National Parks Conservation Association, the Lexington Chamber of Commerce, and the Pew Charitable Trusts.

The evening will start with a screening of the N.P.C.A.’s short film on the assets at Minute Man National Historical Park and other Massachusetts Revolutionary sites, including Longfellow House–Washington’s Headquarters in Cambridge.

The discussion that follows will focus on the historic and economic importance of Revolutionary War national parks and the benefits they bring to local communities.

The moderator for that discussion will be Jayne Gordon, a public historian who has led education and preservation efforts at many area sites and organizations. In addition to myself, representing the Friends of Longfellow House–Washington’s Headquarters, the panelists will be:

• Prof. Bob Allison, Suffolk University and author of numerous books
• Paul O’Shaughnessy, Friends of Minute Man National Historical Park and longtime British army reenactor
• Prof. Bob Gross, formerly of the University of Connecticut and author of The Minutemen and Their World

This free event is scheduled to run from 5:30 to 7:30 P.M. at the Cary Memorial Library in Lexington; here are directions. Light refreshments will be available. To register for this event, go to this page.