Lexington is a town in
Middlesex County, Massachusetts,
United States. The population was 31,394 at the 2010 census. This town is famous for being the site of the first shot of the
American Revolutionary War, in the
Battle of Lexington on April 19, 1775. On April 19, 1775, Lexington was the location of the first battle of the
American Revolutionary War. A British military patrol made a forced march on Lexington and Concord on information from an informant that there was a large supply of weapons and gunpowder in the area. A force of Minutemen stood on Lexington Green to fight off the British. It is not clear where or who fired the first shot of the battle, but it is known as the "Shot heard 'round the world." Every year, on the third Monday of April, the town observes
Patriots' Day. Events begin with
Paul Revere's Ride, with a special re-enactment of the
Battles of Lexington and Concord. At 6 a.m., there is a re-enactment of the skirmish on the Battle Green, with shots fired from the Battle Green and the nearby
Buckman Tavern (to account for the fact that no one knows from where the first shot was fired, or by whom). After the rout, the British march on toward Concord. The battle in Lexington allowed the Concord militia time to organize at the
Old North Bridge, where they were able to turn back the British and prevent them from capturing and destroying the militia's arms stores.
Salem is a city in
Essex County,
Massachusetts, in the
United States. As noted in
Arthur Miller's
The Crucible, much of the city's cultural identity is reflective of its role as the location of the
Salem Witch Trials of 1692. Tourists know Salem as a mix of important historical sites,
New Age and
Wiccan boutiques, kitschy
Halloween,
witch-themed attractions and a vibrant downtown that has more than 60 restaurants, cafes and coffee shops.
(Wikipedia)