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This year marks the 250th anniversary of the Battle of Lexington and Concord. Before dawn on April 19, crowds gathered at Lexington Battle Green to watch a reenactment of the first shots of the American Revolution. Seventy colonial militiamen faced hundreds of British redcoats in the brief first battle of the war, marking the beginning of a long struggle for independence.

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Before the sun rose, thousands filled the square, leaving little room to move as they excitedly awaited the reenactment.

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Two reenactors fire blank musket rounds from outside Buckman Tavern, overlooking the Battle Green.

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A protester holds a sign displaying both the American and Ukrainian flags, drawing a parallel to the American Revolution and modern struggles against tyranny. Many in the crowd carried similar messages.

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Reenactors of all ages take march as British soldiers, known as “The Regulars,” on their way to the Battle Green.

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A Paul Revere reenactor warns colonial militiamen at Buckman Tavern of the approaching British troops.

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British reenactors flood the Battle Green in front of First Parish Church in Lexington.

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Outnumbered by the British, Lexington Militiamen reenactors prepare to face the advancing troops.

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As the battle unfolds, smoke from gunpowder fills the air, with spectators noting its striking realism and its sharp, unpleasant smell.

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Lines of Redcoat reenactors begin firing at The Lexington Militiamen.

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To accommodate the massive crowds, the Town of Lexington set up large screens to broadcast the reenactment beyond the Battle Green. Many onlookers captured the moment by photographing or recording the screens.

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Following the Patriot defeat at Lexington, British Regulars march on to Concord where they would soon face a turning tide and a loss to the Patriots.

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As the festivities conclude, visitors are drawn to where the reenactment lives on. Many were found chatting with reenactors and eagerly petting the horses.

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At the end of the battle, American reenactors regroup to raise morale, symbolizing the resilience that would carry them through the long fight for independence.