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
Isaac Davis Trail is located in Massachusetts
Isaac Davis Trail
Isaac Davis Trail is located in the United States
Isaac Davis Trail
LocationConcord, Massachusetts & Acton, Massachusetts
Coordinates42°28′48″N 71°23′57″W / 42.48000°N 71.39917°W / 42.48000; -71.39917
Built1775
ArchitectIsaac Davis & Minutemen
NRHP reference No.72001347 [1]
Added to NRHPApril 11, 1972
Isaac Davis' birth house in Acton, Massachusetts in 1905 (left) and 2015 (right)

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

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The Isaac Davis Trailmarch[5] is held each year on Patriots' Day.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. April 15, 2008.
  2. ^ "Isaac Davis Camporee". Isaac Davis Camporee. 2009-01-07.
  3. ^ "Isaac Davis Home Site". Acton Historical Society. Retrieved 2018-05-04.
  4. ^ "NRHP nomination for Isaac Davis Trail". Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Retrieved 2014-05-03.
  5. ^ "Isaac Davis Trailmarch". Acton Minutemen. 5 August 2021.