Built during the first half of the 18th century, the Jonathan Harrington House sits prominently at the northern end of Lexington Green. It is most famous for being the home of Jonathan Harrington, one of the eight militia men killed in the opening shots of the American Revolution on April 19, 1775.

On that day, less than one hundred yards directly in front of the Harrington House, Harrington and eighty other militia men assembled on Lexington Green where they confronted British redcoats en route to Concord to seize supplies of colonial munitions. A standoff ensued, a shot was fired and both sides opened fire.

Harrington, approximately thirty years of age at the time, was mortally wounded during the battle. According to tradition, he crawled back to his home where he died in his wife’s arms on the doorstep.

The Jonathan Harrington House is privately owned.