Report: Minute Man Park Had More Than 1 Million Visitors in 2012

A new National Park Service report shows that 1,001,207 visitors to Minute Man National Historical Park in 2012 spent $54 million in communities near the park. That spending supported 735 jobs in the local area. 

“Minute Man is a wonderful place to learn about America’s story,” said park superintendent Nancy Nelson. “The National Park Service is proud to have been entrusted with the care of America’s most treasured places. Visitors from across the U.S. and around the world come here to experience the park and then spend time and money enjoying the services provided by our neighboring communities and getting to know this amazing part of the country. National park tourism is a significant driver in the national and Massachusetts economy - returning $10 for every $1 invested in the National Park Service - and it’s a big factor in our local economy as well. Minute Man National Historical Park is consistently rated one of the Commonwealth’s top ten tourist destinations. We appreciate the partnership and support of our neighbors and are glad to be able to give back by helping to sustain local communities.”

Mary Jo Bohart, executive director of the Lexington, MA Chamber of Commerce noted, “Lexington represents an eastern gateway to Minute Man National Historical Park for visitors coming out from Boston. As a result, we serve as a launching pad for families that are planning their heritage tourism experience. The park is clearly a prime attraction, and as such it serves as a significant generator of tourism for economic development in both our town specifically and beyond.”

The peer-reviewed visitor spending analysis was conducted by U.S. Geological Survey

economists Catherine Cullinane Thomas and Christopher Huber and Lynne Koontz for the

National Park Service. The report shows $14.7 billion of direct spending by 283 million park visitors in communities within 60 miles of a national park. This spending supported 243,000 jobs nationally, with 201,000 jobs found in these gateway communities, and had a cumulative benefit to the U.S. economy of $26.75 billion.

According to the report most visitor spending supports jobs in restaurants, grocery and convenience stores (39 percent), hotels, motels and B&Bs (27 percent), and other amusement and recreation (20 percent).

To download the report visit http://www.nature.nps.gov/socialscience/economics.cfm

The report includes information for visitor spending at individual parks and by state.

To learn more about national parks in Massachusetts and how the National Park Service works with Massachusetts communities to help preserve local history, conserve the environment, and provide outdoor recreation, go to www.nps.gov/MASSACHUSETTS