Lex250: The Semiquincentennial Celebration of the Battle of Lexington

SECTOR

Non-profit

CLIENT

Town of Lexington, Massachusetts

GOAL

Develop a communications strategy to highlight the Town’s efforts and the people behind it, attracting maximum media exposure around the world.

Background

As dawn approached on April 19, 1775 British Regulars, dispatched to destroy a store of ammunition, encountered The Lexington Minute Men — determined yet apprehensive militia members standing in their way. Tension mounted, a shot rang out, and the British Regulars opened fire.

When the smoke cleared, eight American patriots lay dead, 10 were wounded, and the Revolutionary War had begun. It was the first battle for America’s independence.

The Town of Lexington began to mark the 250th anniversary – a semiquincentennial – through a year-long series of events in 2024 and 2025. The Lex250 Commission identified communications to local stakeholders, as well as state, national, and international media, as a key challenge. The Commission turned to JGPR and its experience in managing high-level campaigns.

Concept

JGPR developed a multimedia approach to raise awareness of Lex250 events and position the client for success. Steps included:

Developing the official Lex250 website, a one-stop information center for events and information. The site connected to branded social media platforms to further amplify messaging.
Creating content with a look consistent to the historical nature of events, including video, photos, and social media posts.
Leveraging existing media contacts to gain favorable placements, as well as aggressive story pitching with
Managing media on the ground during all Lex250 events.