Cultural District Designation

In Lexington, as in Arlington, Bedford, and Concord, history and the present are intertwined. Like Arlington and Bedford as well, Lexington was originally a long, strung-out settlement centered first on Mass Ave and then, in 1846, along the Boston and Lynn railroad. The railroad was abandoned from 1977 to 1993 when it was reborn as the 10.1-mile-long Minuteman Bikeway. The Bikeway links our towns as the railroad had done, beginning at Alewife Station in Cambridge, passing through Arlington, and ending a mile into Bedford. Most of the cultural institutions of Lexington can be found between Mass Ave and the Bikeway. As the Birthplace of American Liberty, the Town of Lexington, Massachusetts, has many events and assets through which one can experience Lexington's rich history and relive the events of April 19th, 1775. Lexington has a charming, quintessential Downtown. Colonial Lexington is centered around its Battle Green, where the first skirmish of the Revolutionary War, re-enacted annually, took place on April 18, 1775. The Green is surrounded by houses, some original to the time, including the Buckman Tavern (1710), where John Hancock and Sam Adams were gathered until Paul Revere arrived in time for their retreat to the Hancock-Clarke House (1737), a few blocks away on Hancock Street. The Lexington Cultural District enhances these assets and highlights Lexington's arts and cultural community.

Grant Opportunities for Cultural Organizations

Lexington Cultural District