By 6 p.m., a handful of guests — cider, beer, or wine in hand — are wandering through Lexington History Museums’ Swept Up in Revolution exhibition, taking in the varied stories of how Lexingtonians lived through the Before, During, and After 1775.
Around the corner, a table offers fruit salad or chips, while outside on the lawn, games are drawing in guests of their own. This is Summer Fridays: a chance to see Buckman Tavern after hours, and experience one of Lexington’s most iconic landmarks in a more relaxed, social light.
Jill Willis, Director of Visitor Services at Lexington History Museums, said she wanted the opportunity to do something in the Tavern that was more casual. “We also have a lot of guests that come in normally and ask if they can have a beer at the tavern,” said Willis. “So I just figured ‘Why not give it to them if that’s what they want?’”
With two more Summer Fridays on the calendar, Willis noted that July 3 was the most popular so far, drawing 30 to 40 guests, including out-of-state visitors in town for the World Cup. The next two dates will close out the series: July 24, from 5 to 8 p.m., is open to all ages, while August 14 is limited to guests 21 and older.
“We have a few Summer Fridays that are all ages, so anybody can come to those, and it’s free for under 18,” said Willis. “Hopefully that makes it more accessible for families to come through because it’s way less than our normal admission.”
No advanced ticket is needed. When guests show up, they simply buy their general admission ticket for $5, or opt to spend $10 to receive two drinks.
“Stuff is all around, and people can just really go for it. It’s kind of choose your own adventure,” said Willis.
This summer is the first with Summer Fridays, and Willis thought the Buckman Tavern would be a good place to test it out, since it’s the most crowded destination. “I am hoping that next summer we can move it to Munroe and Hancock-Clarke potentially because the Garden at Munroe is beautiful,” she said.
The location is not the only thing that Willis hopes visitors will take away from a visit.
“My goal is that experiencing history doesn’t have to be so serious,” she said. “You can come and you can have fun in our buildings and learn about the history in a way that’s more lighthearted.”
Those who enjoyed their experience throughout the summer can now look forward to a Tavern Night that takes place every fall.
“Usually our fall one is murder mystery themed, and it’s a lot of fun,” said Willis.