Minute Man National Historical Park | THOMAS NELSON JR. HOUSE SITE

Thomas Nelson Jr. House Site at Minute Man National Historical Park

Thomas Nelson Jr. House Site at Minute Man National Historical Park

The ruins of the Thomas Nelson Jr. House are located at the east end of the Battle Road Unit of Minute Man National Historical Park. If you are hiking or biking the Battle Road Trail, you will pass right by it. If you are visiting the site by vehicle, park at the Minute Man Visitor Center. A short path on the north end of the parking lot connects directly with the house site. All that remains are some of the stone foundation and two concrete steps.

Minute Man Visitor Center and surrounding area (click to enlarge)

Minute Man Visitor Center and surrounding area (click to enlarge)

While the Thomas Nelson Jr. House was standing on April 19, 1775, I could not determine when it was built or when and how it met its demise. There is nothing about it on the Internet, and the identification marker at the site is no longer readable. On top of that, the National Park Service put up a wayside exhibit next to the site with no information about the house itself. The concrete steps that remain are most likely from later modifications to the house that were done in the 1800s or 1900s, for concrete wasn’t typically used in home construction in the United States until the late 19th century.

Remnants of concrete stairs of the Thomas Nelson Jr. House at Minute Man National Historical Park

Remnants of concrete stairs of the Thomas Nelson Jr. House at Minute Man National Historical Park

Remnants of concrete stairs of the Thomas Nelson Jr. House at Minute Man National Historical Park

Remnants of concrete stairs of the Thomas Nelson Jr. House at Minute Man National Historical Park

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Last updated on September 6, 2023
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