Lexington: Buckman Tavern

Buckman Tavern is most famous as the place where several Lexington militiamen gathered on the morning of April 19, 1775, to await the arrival of British troops. When the alarm bell rang, signaling the enemy's approach, the men left the tavern for Lexington Common.

The interior of Buckman Tavern appears today very much as it did on that fateful morning in 1775, having been restored in the 1920s by the Lexington Historical Society. During this restoration, the original taproom fireplace was rediscovered and the bar was reinstalled. Among the many items on display is the old front door, with its bullet hole made by a British musket ball during the Battle, and a portrait of John Buckman, the proprietor of the tavern in 1775.

Go Boston Card customers receive a complimentary copy of 'Tavern Talk', a guide to colloquial New England slang. The brochure will be distributed upon entry. One copy of Tavern Talk per group.