This iconic statue in Concord, Massachusetts was sculpted by Daniel Chester French in 1875. It commemorates the Minute Men, colonists who organized during the Revolutionary War to form trained militia groups in anticipation of battle against Great Britain. These men were often farmers as indicated by the plowshare in the statue. Typically deployed as sharpshooters and skirmishers, they prepared their equipment such that they could quickly be ready to fight, hence the term Minute Men.
The statue is located next to North Bridge which spans the Concord River. Rebuilt several times, the current bridge replica was completed in 1956. This was the site of the first day of battle in the American War of Independence, where Americans fired upon the advancing British troops, killing three of them.
At the North Bridge location in the summer, one often sees volunteers dressed in Colonial period attire, role-playing to educate visitors about life during that era. The National Park Service operates a visitor center a short walk up the hill from the bridge, and features a short video on the battle and exhibits that include “The Hancock”, a brass cannon that was smuggled out of Boston in 1775 and was subsequently confiscated by General Gage of the British Army.
Part of my portfolio of photographs, this image uses an artistic software filter to impart a painterly appearance. Prints are available from my Pixels shop.
The composition was inspired by The Minute Man stamp (Scott #619) issued in 1925 which depicts the statue as well as tablets inscribed with Ralph Waldo Emerson’s 1836 Concord Hymn poem.
Signature Aviation requisitioned this image for their terminal lobby at Bedford L.G. Hanscom Field in Massachusetts.
Dave Thompsen Photography 