Wright's Tavern

Infobox_nrhp | name =Wright's Tavern
nrhp_type = nhl


caption = Wright's Tavern
location= Concord, Massachusetts
lat_degrees = 42
lat_minutes = 27
lat_seconds = 36
lat_direction = N
long_degrees = 71
long_minutes = 20
long_seconds = 57
long_direction = W
locmapin = Massachusetts
area =
built =1747
architect= Unknown
architecture= No Style Listed
designated=January 20, 1961
added = October 15, 1966
governing_body = Private
refnum=66000793cite web|url=http://www.nr.nps.gov/|title=National Register Information System|date=2007-01-23|work=National Register of Historic Places|publisher=National Park Service]

Wright's Tavern is a historic tavern located in the center of Concord, Massachusetts. It is now a National Historic Landmark owned by the Society of the First Parish, Concord, with important associations with the Battle of Lexington and Concord at the start of the American Revolution.

Wright's Tavern was built in 1747 by Ephraim Jones, who operated it until 1751. At the dawn of the American Revolution in April 1775, it was managed by Amos Wright, whose name it has borne ever since. On April 19, the day of the Battle of Lexington and Concord, when the courthouse bell announced the approach of Major Pitcairn's British troops, the Concord Minutemen assembled at Wright's Tavern. Later, after Pitcairn's arrival in the Concord square, British officers refreshed themselves in the tavern. [Hudson, Alfred Sereno (1904). "The History of Concord, Massachusetts", Vol. I, pp. 6-7. Concord, Massachusetts: The Erudite Press.]

The tavern also has earlier links to the Massachusetts Provincial Congress which met next door in October 1774, in the First Parish Church. With John Hancock as president and Benjamin Lincoln as secretary, the Congress consisted of 300 delegates from Massachusetts towns who passed measures ending tax payments to the Crown and organizing a militia force to defy King George III by arms if necessary. Wright's Tavern was used as a meeting place for committees of the Congress during the 5-day session.

Since the Revolution the building has been put to many uses. Today the tavern is still in good condition with red clapboards and a double-hipped (monitor) roof above its two main stories. It currently serves as the minister's offices to the adjacent First Parish Unitarian Church of Concord and as the headquarters of Nashawtuc Architects.

References

* [http://www.cr.nps.gov/history/online_books/colonials-patriots/sitec21.htm National Park Service]
* [http://www.newenglandtravelplanner.com/photo_gallery/concord/photopages/008.html New England Travel Planner]

See also

* List of National Historic Landmarks in Massachusetts
* List of Registered Historic Places in Middlesex County, Massachusetts