Patriots' Day was established in 1894 by Massachusetts Governor Frederic T. Greenhalge. The first official observance of the holiday occurred on April 19, 1894. It was created to replace Fast Day, a previously recognized public holiday.
The holiday was specifically designed to commemorate the anniversary of the Battles of Lexington and Concord, which took place on April 19, 1775, and marked the beginning of the American Revolutionary War. Governor Greenhalge's proclamation sought to create a secular and civic day of remembrance focused on the patriotic spirit of the early colonists. Following Massachusetts' lead, the state of Maine also adopted the holiday in the early 20th century.
In 1969, Massachusetts state law changed the observance of Patriots' Day from the fixed date of April 19 to the third Monday in April. This shift aligned the holiday with the federal Uniform Monday Holiday Act, creating a three-day weekend. The day is now most widely recognized for the annual running of the Boston Marathon, an event that has been tied to the holiday since 1897.
