Historic Paul Revere Landmarks in Boston

Boston and its vicinities is the place to explore for anyone who is looking to find the historic places connected to the life of the Boston’s most famous silversmith.

Paul Revere House

The Reveres house is located at 19 North Square in Boston’s historic North End district. If you follow the Freedom Trail you will not miss it since it is the only wood house in the area where other homes are made of mostly red brick. It is currently the oldest house in downtown Boston and one of the very few buildings remaining from Colonial times. It makes a really fine example of what colonial houses looked like in Boston at that time. It has the diamond-paned windows and the upper story overhang.

The house was built almost hundred years before the famous Midnight Ride occurred. Prior to the fire of 1676 it was a residence of the minister of Boston’s Second Church. Revere’s house as it is seen today was built in approximately 1680 and Revere owned it from 1770 until 1800. Because of the preservation efforts, the building probably looks better today than ever before, but 90% of the framing is original.

The house was the starting location of the Midnight Ride. Revere sold the house in 1800 and it subsequent history is pretty ordinary, including cigar factory, grocery store, rented house and even a bank. Gradually the building became ran down and most likely would have been demolished if not for Paul Revere’s great-grandson John Reynolds Jr. how bought it in 1902 and helped to create a memorial association that raised money for the restoration. The Paul Revere Memorial Association is still the current owner of the house, which is now a museum

Inside the museum displays the colonial furniture and artifacts, document and exhibits of Revere’s silver work. Throughout the year the house hosts many activities that remind of Revere’s life at the time when he lived there, various reenactments, demonstrations of silversmith craft, preparation of typical food severed at the time.

The place is really authentic and when it is not very crowded, walking through the rooms will almost transfer you back in time - the experience that is definitely worth the $3 admission.

Paul Revere’s Monument

Within just a few minutes walk from PR house right on the Freedom Trail, Boston North End visitors will find two other landmarks connected with the name of Revere. Paul Revere Mall with an equestrian statue of the famous patriot and the Old North Church are both located just of the touristy Hanover Street.

The PR mall is a nice little brick-paved park with a fountain and shady trees. Other than the statue you can find tablets on the wall that describe the famous people and places in the history of the North End.

The statue of Revere is one of the most photographed sculptures in Boston. Not surprisingly the sculptor portrayed Revere during the famous Midnight Ride, but unlike many illustrations where PR is showing galloping full speed, the motion of the bronze Revere seems to more dignified.

Although the statue is one of the most recognized landmarks in Boston, it is hard to imagine that it has quite an uneasy history, taking 16 years to create and 40 years to install in its present place. The sculptor Cyrus Edwin Dallin began working on it in 1883, more than 20 years after the name of Revere was immortalized by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow in his poem in 1860. Dallin was not a Boston native but was at the time a teacher at the Masschusetts State Normal Art School when he received the contract. The final version was the 5th or 8th (by different accounts) created by the sculptor when the commission finalized the design in 1899. May be this was due to the fact that the sculptor was only 22 when he was awarded the contract. But it was not until September 22, 1940 when the statue was opened to public. Dallin died four years later in 1944.

Revere was one of the first famous works of the sculptor, but during his life he created more thatn 260 works. Other well recognized sculptures are the angel Moroni atop the Salt Lake City Temple which became a symbol of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the Appeal to the Great Spirit monument that currently stands in front of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston.

Old North Church - One if by Land, and Two if by Sea

The Old North church is located just steps away from the statue. Its historic image is inseparable from Revere’s Midnight Ride of 1775 and the famous "One if by land, and two if by sea" signal that symbolically signaled the beginning of the American Revolution.

When preparing for his mission few days before the actual ride occurred Revere asked Robert Newman the sexton of the Old North Church to signal with lanterns about the expected movement of the British regulars towards Concord. The backup signal was intended for the group of patriots across the river in Charlestown in case if Revere himself were not able to reach Charlestown from where he planned to ride to Concord.

After members of the Sons of Liberty learned about the British troops marching to Lexington and Concord, Revere set off on his ride and the sexton Robert Newman carried out his plan to signal with two lanterns about redcoats crossing Charles River by boat. Around 10 PM he and another man, captain John Pulling carried lanterns up to the steeple while the third man Thomas Bernard remained outside to watch for British troops.

At that time the Old North was the tallest building standing in Boston and Newman and Pulling believed to have climbed 154 steps that lead to the foot of the steeple. They then climbed the ladder to the topmost window of the steeple facing north to Charlestown and held lanterns out of the window for just few minutes. When they were coming down, British troops were already at the door of the church, but the patriots managed to escape through a window to the right of the alter. This window is currently marked by a replica of the lantern hanging about it.

There are many interesting details uncovered by the historians about the events which took place at the Old North Church. For example the fact that explains how Revere knew that the lantern sign would be visible from Charlestown where other patriots were expected to notice it. In his youth Revere belong to a bell-ringer’s guild and together with other young men made money by ringing the church’s bells each week. He first noticed the view from the steeple while ringing the bell there.

Another fascinating fact is that the old North Church was Anglican, which was the official religion of the British Crown. Revere himself like many other colonists was a Congregationalist, a religion that originates in Puritanism. As a result he was never a member of the Old North Church. Even more interesting is the fact that many members of the British establishment were the parishioners of the church, including general Gage, the Commander of British forces in North America who ordered the move to Lexington and Concord.

PR's Grave at the Granary Burial Ground

The Granary Burial Ground in Boston may not be the most cheerful place to visit, but the list of Paul Revere landmarks wont’ be complete without it. Revere gravestone has a simple inscription, “Paul Revere Bourn in Boston, January 1734, Died May 1818. Many visitors are confused by the fact that there are two headstones bearing the name of Paul Revere. This is because Paul Revere Sr., Paul Revere's father, is also buried here. Which of course is also confusing because the father’s actual name was Apollos Rivoire, but he anglicized his French name after coming to Boston.

The Granary is the third oldest burring place in Boston, not the oldest on as many sources incorrectly state. It was named this way because it was located next to a grain storage that once stood where the Park Street Church is located. When it was established in 1660 it was actually a part of the Boston Common. It holds graves of approximately 5,000 people but there are only 2,345 gravestones.

Boston Massace Site

It is not exactly known if PR was present at the Boston Massacre but it is almost certain that he visited the site, perhaps even several times to precisely determine the position of the participants whom he depicted in his famous gravure. He also personally knew eyewitnesses, some of whom later participated in the Boston Tea Party at which revere was present. Even though Revere’s famous gravure is blamed for many inaccuracies allegedly introduced to make the scene more dramatic, it depicts the event in great detail and was even used in the trial of British soldiers who shot at the colonists.

The Boston Massacre site is located directly in front of the Old State House and is marked by a circle of dark stones. Exactly at this site on March 5, 1770 an argument between Boston residents and British regulars turned violent killing five colonists.