The Isaac Davis Trail, also known as the Acton Trail, is an historic 6-mile (9.7 km) trail running east–west in the towns of Acton and Concord, Massachusetts. The trail was significant in 1775 when it was used by Captain Isaac Davis and the Acton Minutemen to march on Concord during the battles of Lexington and Concord.[2] The trail was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1972.[1]
Isaac Davis Trail | |
 Acton Minutemen and citizens marching to Concord, 16 April 2012 | |
   | |
| Location | Concord, Massachusetts & Acton, Massachusetts |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 42°28′48″N 71°23′57″W / 42.48000°N 71.39917°W |
| Built | 1775 |
| Architect | Isaac Davis & Minutemen |
| NRHP reference No. | 72001347 [1] |
| Added to NRHP | April 11, 1972 |
The trail begins at Isaac Davis' house[3] in Acton, and ends at western end of the North Bridge in the Minuteman National Historical Park in Concord. Most of the route is now paved roads, where in some cases the alignment no longer matches the exact route. Despite this, the trail route evokes the time of the march, with its roadways lined with stone walls, and houses generally set back from the street. The trail first runs northeast about 1.25 miles (2.01 km) northeast, along Hayward Rd, Musket Dr, Minuteman Rd, Woodbury Ln, and Main St. It then turns more directly east for 1.5 miles (2.4 km), along a town-owned easement on private property, to Strawberry Hill Rd. It follows Strawberry Hill Rd southerly for 1.75 miles (2.82 km) to Barrett's Mill Rd, which runs easterly 0.75 miles (1.21 km) to meet Lowell Rd in Concord. It crosses Lowell Rd, following Barnes Hill Rd and crossing Liberty Rd to reach the Muster Field above the North Bridge.[4]
Events
editThe Isaac Davis Trailmarch[5] is held each year on Patriots' Day.
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. April 15, 2008.
- ^ "Isaac Davis Camporee". Isaac Davis Camporee. 2009-01-07.
- ^ "Isaac Davis Home Site". Acton Historical Society. Retrieved 2018-05-04.
- ^ "NRHP nomination for Isaac Davis Trail". Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Retrieved 2014-05-03.
- ^ "Isaac Davis Trailmarch". Acton Minutemen. 5 August 2021.