[2] His farm was the storage site of all the town of Concord's militia gunpowder, weapons[3] and two pairs of prized bronze cannons, according to secret British intelligence.

On the morning of April 19, 1775, the British Regulars were ordered by General Thomas Gage to march from Boston to the town of Concord, about 20 miles inland, and seize the cannon and raid the arsenal at the provincial farm.

[5] In March 2009, Congress passed legislation to add Barrett's Farm to Minute Man National Historical Park.

[6] In August 2012, the National Park Service obtained ownership of the Barrett House and surrounding 3.4 acres from Save Our Heritage.

Congresswoman Niki Tsongas helped make Barrett's Farm part of the national park system and spoke at the event.