"The shot heard round the world" fired at Concord brought the conflict in the colonies to the battlefield and began the Revolutionary War.
Patriots flocked to meeting sites in downtown Boston to negotiate the future of the colonies.
In 1776, the Continental Congress declared independence and a new nation was born.
The clear waters, coral reefs, white sandy beaches, lush green hills, and historic ruins are home to thriving island culture and wildlife.
This is an important nesting beach for the endangered Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtle. The park continues to work hard to save the species.
Behind the sand beaches and high bluffs surrounding Lake Michigan, lie deep forests and a rich, centuries old maritime culture.