Lexington Visitor’s Center Releases New Animated Video on Revolutionary Beginnings
T he Lexington Visitor’s Center has recently launched an animated video highlighting the events leading up to the Battle of Lexington and Concord.
Jackson Rhodes, Tour Services coordinator for the Visitor’s Center, was able to share the exciting news with the Lexington Times.
The video was funded by the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism to commemorate the 250th Anniversary of the Battles of Lexington and Concord.
This animated short provides visitors to our new and welcoming Center with a quick refresher on the events leading up to the Battle of Lexington. It prepares them for what they will witness as they explore Lexington.
The Lexington Tourism Department and Rhodes collaborated with animators at BluBlu Studio. “They were fantastic to work with,” Rhodes said. “They put it all together really efficiently and collaboratively.” Rick Dorrington at LexMedia assisted with audio and the production of promotional materials.
The video will play at the Visitor’s Center from April to October. The Center offers public tours on the Liberty Ride, Battle Green tours, and private tours for visiting groups.
Rhodes says, “We wanted to make this video as an engaging, accessible way to establish what was going on in those few hours before the battle starts, as well as orienting where Lexington is in relationship to Boston where the Redcoats were marching from.” The six-minute video focuses on the roles of important local historic figures: Paul Revere, William Dawes, and Samuel Prescott. “We’re pleased to be able to highlight the different local stories associated with this overall narrative.”
Rhodes hopes that this video will be a meaningful supplement to the tours they provide. The video sets the stage for their more detailed tour content, aiming to help visitors make connections and gain an appreciation for the many ways historic events influence the present day. It is not meant to replace an in-person tour guide, which is a superior experience, but to augment it and add context.
On April 1st, the Visitor’s Center screened the film for the first time to an audience of stakeholders from Lexington, including Lex Media, Rita Goldberg, who helped Rhodes edit the script, Masha Traber, who provided the narration for the video, and members of the Select Board. The reception was overwhelmingly positive.
April 1st marked the kick-off of the tourism season in Lexington!
The Visitor’s Center was replaced in 2020 with an AV system. When the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism presented this opportunity, the Center was fortunate to have the necessary infrastructure in place. The video enhances the center’s overall mission.
Rhodes enjoys working at the Visitor’s Center, especially with the seasoned tour guides, because they possess a wealth of knowledge. He’s always excited to talk with them every day about their experiences. Each guide approaches the material from a different perspective, but what excites Rhodes is their shared passion for history and their ability to craft a compelling story. “To work with the team as a whole and then individually, tour guide by tour guide, it’s so satisfying,” he explained. They continually reinvent the ways they approach the material and the tourists they encounter, who are often from far away. Engaging people in the story of the nation’s founding is exciting and rewarding.
The video plays on a loop, mainly in the afternoon. Stop by and check it out; if you’re in the center, make sure to bring guests by. It’s a resource for Lexington and a welcome one!