North Bridge

bridge, Concord, Massachusetts, United States

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

July 16, 2026

Quick Summary

The North Bridge in Concord, Massachusetts, was the site of a pivotal skirmish on April 19, 1775, during the Battles of Lexington and Concord. These battles marked the beginning of the American Revolution. British troops, attempting to seize colonial military stores, were met by American patriots at the North Bridge. After an exchange of fire, the British were forced to retreat. This event, immortalized in Ralph Waldo Emerson's "Concord Hymn," symbolized the colonists' resistance and is often referred to as the "shot heard 'round the world". The conflict led to increased colonial mobilization and the Siege of Boston.12

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

2 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

Concord
…met the British at the North Bridge, and the resultant gunfire was immortalized by the poet and transcendentalist philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson in the “Concord Hymn,” excerpted here:
Read More
…met the British at the North Bridge, and the resultant gunfire was immortalized by the poet and transcendentalist philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson in the “Concord Hymn,” excerpted here:
Read More