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Lexington, MA: Where Fun & History Collide – The Best Places to Visit and Things to Do

Planning a trip to Lexington, Massachusetts, you are in for a better time than the history books suggest. This town is full of history, culture and stories worth retelling. Reenactments of the American Revolution through to landmarks with a sense of humor, Lexington has plenty. What follows is the best of it.

The Funny Tale of Lexington, Massachusetts. Lexington is known for its part in the American Revolution and it also carries a comic side. The town is full of anecdotes and stories that will get you laughing. History or a plain good time, Lexington delivers.

Hysterical Historical Sites. History people will take to the historical sites in Lexington. Everybody else will take to how light they are. The Battle Green through to the Lexington Historical Society, there is plenty here.

Key Takeaways

• Lexington, Massachusetts is a charming town full of history, culture, and fun.
• The town has a funny side, with humorous anecdotes and stories that will make you laugh out loud.
• Whether you’re a history buff or just looking for a good time, there’s plenty to see and do in Lexington.

The Funny Tale of Lexington, Massachusetts

Lexington, Massachusetts has a funny history and most people never hear it. It is among the more amusing places in the United States. Here are the facts that get the laugh.

• Did you know that Lexington was originally called Cambridge Farms? It wasn’t until 1713 that the town was renamed Lexington after Lord Lexington, an English nobleman. Imagine living in Cambridge Farms, it just doesn’t have the same ring to it.
• Lexington is known for being the site of the first battle of the American Revolution. But did you know that the battle was actually fought in Concord? That’s right, the first shots were fired in Lexington, but the actual battle took place in Concord. Talk about a mix-up!
• Lexington is home to the National Heritage Museum, which has a collection of Masonic artifacts. You might think that’s a bit strange, but the museum is actually quite interesting. Who knows, you might even learn a thing or two about secret societies.
• Have you ever heard of the Lexington Minuteman? It’s a statue of a colonial soldier that stands on the Lexington Battle Green. But did you know that the statue is actually a replica? The original statue was stolen in the 1970s and has never been found. Maybe it’s hiding in plain sight somewhere in Lexington.
• Lexington is also home to the Great Meadow Conservation Trust, which is a beautiful nature reserve. But did you know that the meadow used to be a landfill? That’s right, the town turned a garbage dump into a beautiful park. Talk about recycling!

So there are a few funny facts about Lexington, Massachusetts. Not what you expect from a town this historic.

Hysterical Historical Sites

For a laugh while working through the historical sites of Lexington, you are well placed. The town’s history is full of odd anecdotes and stranger characters. These are the places to go for it.

Battle Green Laughs

The Minuteman Bikeway runs a whole 11 miles of the paved trail right through Lexington out there. The Battle Road Trail out there covers a whole 5.5 miles of the Revolution sites right on it. Wilson Farm has been running right out there in Lexington for over 130 whole years now. Paul Revere engraved No Stamp Act on a teapot back in 1765. Tell that one.

The Battle Green is where the first shots of the American Revolution were fired. It also carries some good stories. During the battle a British soldier was so alarmed by a local woman holding a broomstick that he surrendered to her. Another soldier was drunk enough to sleep through the whole thing.

Hancock-Clarke House Humor

The Hancock-Clarke House is where Paul Revere stopped on his ride to warn Samuel Adams and John Hancock that the British were coming. John Hancock was worried enough about his own safety to sleep with a loaded pistol under his pillow. And when he finally met Paul Revere, he took him for a British spy.

Belfry Bell-Ringers

The Belfry is where the signal lanterns were hung to warn Paul Revere about the British troops. The bell-ringers were once fined for being too noisy. They were ringing loudly enough to keep the local residents awake.

Buckman Tavern Banter

The Buckman Tavern is where the Lexington militia gathered before the Battle of Lexington. The tavern keeper, John Buckman, was known for a sharp and sarcastic wit. He once put up a sign reading, All persons who have no business here will be attended to as soon as possible.

Munroe Tavern Mirth

The Munroe Tavern is where the British soldiers stopped for a drink after the Battle of Lexington. The tavern owner, William Munroe, was something of a prankster. He once put up a sign reading, No British allowed, except General Gage and his staff.

Old Burying Ground Giggles

The Old Burying Ground is where many of Lexington’s early settlers are buried. Some of the tombstones carry humorous epitaphs. One reads, Here lies the body of Jonathan Dunster, who never existed until now.

Lexington Belfry Larks

The Lexington Belfry is where the signal lanterns were hung. The local children used to climb up there to play pranks on the bell-ringers. They tied ropes to the bell clappers and swung them, which made a considerable noise.

North Bridge Nonsense

The North Bridge is where the shot heard round the world was fired, starting the American Revolution. The bridge has also carried some silly stunts. In the 1800s a group of local boys rode a cow across it, to the delight of everybody watching.

Wayside Wits

The Wayside was the home of several famous writers, Louisa May Alcott and Nathaniel Hawthorne among them. The house has also seen its share of accidents. Hawthorne once set fire to his own bed while trying to light a candle.

Hartwell Tavern Teasers

The Hartwell Tavern is where travelers stopped for a meal and a drink on their way through Lexington. The tavern keeper, Ephraim Hartwell, was known for practical jokes. He once convinced a group of British soldiers that they had missed the Battle of Lexington and that the Americans had won.

So for the lighter side of Lexington’s historical sites, work through those.

Amusing American Revolution Anecdotes

History people with a sense of humor do well here. Lexington, Massachusetts carries American Revolution anecdotes that get the laugh every time. These are the best of them.

Minute Man Malarkey

You cannot be in Lexington without the Minuteman Statue. The statue is a misrepresentation of the real Minuteman. It shows a farmer turned soldier ready to fight at a moment’s notice. In fact the Minutemen were militia members required to be ready to fight within a minute’s notice. So much for accuracy.

Paul Revere’s Punchlines

Paul Revere is famous for the midnight ride warning the colonists that the British were coming. He was also a talented silversmith and engraver. He once made a teapot for John Hancock with a hidden joke in it. The spout was shaped like a dragon, and pouring tea opened and closed the dragon’s mouth. Revere engraved the words No Stamp Act on the bottom, a reference to the protest against the Stamp Act of 1765.

John Hancock Jests

John Hancock was a wealthy merchant and one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. He was also known for his sense of humor. On signing the Declaration of Independence he said, There, I guess King George will be able to read that. He also signed his name in large letters, which is where the phrase put your John Hancock on it comes from.

Samuel Adams Snickers

Samuel Adams is famous for his part in the Boston Tea Party and he was known for his humor as well. He once wrote to a friend calling himself a man of letters, and a man of jokes. He also had a reputation as a prankster. He once persuaded a group of British soldiers to march through a muddy field by telling them it was a shortcut. They came out covered in mud and he and his friends could not stop laughing.

George Washington Guffaws

George Washington is known for his stoic manner and he had a sense of humor behind it. He once wrote to his friend and fellow general, Horatio Gates, joking about his own height. I am well aware that I am not a tall man, he wrote, but I hope I am a match for any man, no matter how tall, in defense of my country.

Earl Percy Parodies

British Brigadier General Earl Percy loved music and would often lead his troops into battle playing his fife. The colonists found this funny and wrote a parody of one of his favorite songs. It went, Oh, the blue-coated band, how they played upon the plain, and the troops from Boston laughed and laughed again. Percy did not enjoy it as much as they did.

The American Revolution was not all serious business. These anecdotes put some humor back into the events that made the country.

Lighthearted Lexington Landmarks

For laughs and a lighter day in Lexington, these are the landmarks to get to.

Minuteman Bikeway Banter

Take a ride on the Minuteman Bikeway with whoever you came with. This 11-mile paved trail runs through some of the better scenery in Lexington, and the conversation carries the rest of it.

Lexington Venue Laughs

For comedy, take the shows at the Lexington Venue. The lineup rotates between local and national comedians, so something in it will land. Open mic night is there if you fancy trying it yourself.

Walden Pond Wits

Head to Walden Pond for conversation and thinking. This historic site was made famous by Henry David Thoreau’s book Walden, and it is the right place to work through the larger questions. You may come away with a line of your own.

Battle Road Trail Teasers

Walk the Battle Road Trail with your friends. This 5.5-mile trail runs through historic sites of the American Revolution, and the walking keeps the talk going. A race to the finish is optional.

So whether you want conversation, comedy or somewhere quiet to think, these Lexington landmarks all deliver. Expect to laugh.

Funny Farming at Wilson Farm

For an unusual way into farming, take Wilson Farm in Lexington, Massachusetts. This family-owned farm has been running for over 130 years and it sells fresh produce and other farm products across the range. What makes Wilson Farm different is that it is genuinely funny.

At Wilson Farm, farming is entertainment as well as business. The farm runs quirky displays, a giant pumpkin with a face and a scarecrow that appears to be doing yoga among them. There are funny signs and puns all over the place, lettuce be friends and don’t kale my vibe among them.

The humor is not the whole of it. Wilson Farm runs activities for every age. Children take to the petting zoo, which holds goats, chickens and rabbits. For anybody who wants to work, the farm runs pick-your-own fruit and vegetables, strawberries and blueberries and corn among them.

Alongside the entertainment, Wilson Farm takes its produce seriously. The farm grows its own fruit and vegetables and sources from other local farms so everything is fresh and in season. Tomatoes, lettuce and peppers are all on the shelves, alongside plenty else.

So for an unusual way into farming, take Wilson Farm in Lexington, Massachusetts. The humor, the activities and the produce all hold up.

Chuckles from the Lexington Historical Society

For a laugh while picking up Lexington’s history, the Lexington Historical Society is the answer. The programs and events they run are built to be enjoyed.

The History Bites series is the popular one, where local chefs cook historic recipes while a historian tells the story behind the dish. Colonial New Englanders ate things like Indian pudding and hasty pudding, and you may get to taste them.

The Tavern Night series is the other one. Held at historic Buckman Tavern, these evenings run period music, storytelling and plenty to drink. A colonial-style cocktail and a few tales of Lexington’s past and the century falls away.

For something hands-on, take the Lexington Historical Society’s workshops. Make a colonial-style quilt, try calligraphy, or learn to dance a minuet. They are a good way into Lexington’s history.

History person or somebody after a good evening, the Lexington Historical Society has a version of it. Do not miss the chance to laugh and learn at once.

The first shots of the whole of the American Revolution were fired right on the Battle Green. Paul Revere stopped at the Hancock-Clarke House out there on the whole of his ride. The shot heard round the world was fired right out there on the North Bridge. Every one of those has a joke attached.

Giggles from Guided Tours

For a laugh while working through Lexington, MA, you are well served. There are guided tours here that take a humorous line on the town’s history.

Liberty Ride Larks

The Liberty Ride tour is the popular one. You pick up Lexington’s part in the American Revolution and the guides are witty and irreverent with it. They tell you about the founding fathers, they make fun of the tourists, and they sing. It covers the sights and the laughs at the same time.

Walking Tour Wit

For a slower pace, take a walking tour. The audio tour of Lexington works well, because you set the speed and the humor comes with it. The audio guide runs jokes, puns and anecdotes about the town’s history and landmarks. You cover the Battle Green through to the Hancock-Clarke House with the commentary running alongside.

Whichever tour you take, it works. These guides know how to make history land, and you will be laughing the whole way. Bring the sense of humor.

Museum Mirth

For culture and history, Lexington runs museums. These are the ones to check.

Scottish Rite Masonic Museum and Library

For secret society material, the Scottish Rite Masonic Museum and Library. This museum covers the history and artifacts of the Freemasons and it is the way into that organization. Ceremonial swords through to aprons through to antique furniture. They will probably not try to recruit you.

Snickers

Not the candy bar. Snickers is a museum covering the history of the Lexington Minutemen. It runs the Revolutionary War and the part Lexington played in it. The museum is small and informative, and it gives you the town quickly. And you get to say you went to the Snickers museum.

Secret societies or colonial history, Lexington’s museums carry both. You may even learn something.

Reenactment Rib-Ticklers

Lexington, Massachusetts carries a lot of history and the reenactments are the way into it. Serious events do not require a serious afternoon. Here are some of the moments that get the laugh.

• “The Shot Heard ‘Round the World” – One of the most famous moments in American history, the first shot fired in the American Revolution, is typically depicted with great solemnity. But imagine if, instead of a musket ball, the British soldier had accidentally fired a rubber chicken. That’s the kind of unexpected twist that could have everyone in stitches.
• “Paul Revere’s Ride” – Paul Revere’s famous ride to warn of the British advance is another iconic moment in American history. But what if, instead of shouting “The British are coming!” he had shouted “The British are coming…to party!” It might not be historically accurate, but it would certainly get a laugh.
• “The Battle of Lexington and Concord” – The first real battle of the American Revolution was a deadly serious affair. But what if, instead of muskets, the colonists had been armed with water balloons? It would certainly make for a more lighthearted reenactment.

Those are a few silly ideas. The reenactors in Lexington take the craft seriously and their commitment to historical accuracy is real. That still leaves room for humor. Laughter works even in the middle of a historical reenactment.

Colonial Era Comedy

For an unusual way into the colonial era in Lexington, take Colonial Era Comedy. This show puts you back in the 1700s, laughing along with the colonists as they take apart life in the New World.

The show runs a cast of characters who keep the room going with wit and jokes. The strict Puritan preacher through to the bumbling British soldier, each one brings their own kind of humor.

It is not all jokes. You come away knowing something about life in colonial America. The challenges of farming through to the politics of the day, the show gives you what the early settlers actually dealt with.

So for an evening of laughs and history, take Colonial Era Comedy. There is nothing else like it.

New England Nonsense

New England. Lobsters, lighthouses and leaf peeping. You cannot move without hitting a small town or a historical site. Lexington, Massachusetts is no exception.

For good old-fashioned New England nonsense, you are in the right place. Here are the strangest and most wonderful things to do in Lexington and the country around it.

• Take a ghost tour – What’s more New England than a good old-fashioned ghost story? Take a spooky tour of Lexington’s haunted sites and learn about the town’s supernatural history. Who knows, you might even spot a ghostly apparition or two.
• Visit a witch’s grave – Speaking of the supernatural, did you know that Lexington is home to a witch’s grave? Visit the final resting place of Rebecca Nurse, one of the victims of the Salem Witch Trials, and pay your respects to this tragic figure from New England’s past.
• Go on a maple syrup tasting tour – New England is famous for its maple syrup, and Lexington is no exception. Take a tour of a local sugarhouse and sample some of the sweet stuff straight from the source. You might even learn a thing or two about how maple syrup is made.
• Watch a reenactment – New England is steeped in history, and Lexington is no exception. Watch a reenactment of the first battle of the American Revolution, which took place right here in Lexington. You’ll feel like you’ve stepped back in time.
• Try some clam chowder – No trip to New England is complete without trying some clam chowder. Head to a local seafood joint and slurp up this creamy, comforting soup. Just be careful not to spill any on your lobster bib.

So there are some of the best and most bizarre things to do in Lexington and the area around it. History person, eater or ghost hunter, New England has a version of it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are the restaurants in Lexington, MA worth breaking your diet for?

Yes. Lexington runs restaurants across the range and every diet is covered. Vegan, vegetarian or committed meat eater, there is a table for you. Take the seafood at Legal Sea Foods or the famous Lexington House of Pizza. And take the homemade ice cream at Rancatore’s.

Is the Lexington, MA Visitor Center the best place to start my touristy adventure?

Yes. The Lexington Visitor Center is where to start. You get maps, brochures and information about the town’s history and attractions. The staff will also tell you where to go and where to eat in Lexington.

What’s the best restaurant in Lexington, MA to impress a date?

To impress a date, take them to Bistro 781. This cozy restaurant runs a romantic room and serious French cooking. Take the seasonal specials and a decent bottle of wine with them.

If I’m in Lexington, MA, is it worth taking a detour to Boston or should I stay put?

Lexington has plenty and Boston is worth the detour. Boston is a serious city with a long history and culture behind it. Walk the Freedom Trail, work through the museums, or take a game at Fenway Park. The seafood and the Italian restaurants there are among the strongest in the country.

Are the homes for sale in Lexington, MA so nice that I’ll never want to leave?

Yes. The homes for sale in Lexington, MA are good enough that you will not want to leave. Lexington is known for its historic homes, its tree-lined streets and its schools. The town runs small and carries the amenities of a much larger one. The beauty and the community spirit are what get people.

Frequently asked questions about Lexington, Massachusetts

Which of the historic sites sit along the Battle Road Trail in Lexington, Massachusetts?

The Battle Green out there is where the very first shots of the whole American Revolution were fired. The Hancock-Clarke House out there is where Paul Revere stopped on the whole of his famous ride. Buckman Tavern out there is where the Lexington militia gathered before the whole of the battle itself. Walkable.

How long is the Minuteman Bikeway trail that runs through Lexington, Massachusetts?

The Minuteman Bikeway runs a whole 11 miles of the paved trail right through Lexington out there. The Battle Road Trail out there is the other one of them, a whole 5.5 miles of it. That second trail runs right past the historic sites of the whole of the American Revolution. Bike or walk.

What have they got at the Wilson Farm petting zoo over in Lexington, Massachusetts?

The petting zoo at Wilson Farm out there holds the goats and the chickens and the rabbits on it. The farm itself has been running right out there in Lexington for over 130 whole years now. Pick-your-own strawberries and blueberries and corn all run right alongside it. Family owned.

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