Paul Revere House

Paul Revere’s legendary ride, commissioned by Dr. Joseph Warren, took him north of Boston to Lexington, Massachusetts, where he was to warn revolutionaries Samuel Adams and John Hancock that British troops were en route to carry out an order for their arrests.

Revere, understanding the gravity of the situation at hand, borrowed his friend’s horse, and carefully coordinated his trip north using secret signals sent by the “Sons of Liberty” (including two lanterns that were hung in the Christ Church in Boston—hence the “one if by land, two if by sea” designation), he set out in the darkness. On his ride, he stopped at houses along the route to warn the countrymen of impending danger, and arrived in Lexington at midnight. Revere was joined by William Dawes and Dr. Samuel Prescott and the three men rode on to Concord, Massachusetts, where weapons and supplies were hidden, and where the men were eventually arrested by the British. Revere was released and left, with no horse, to return to Lexington and participate in the famous battle on Lexington Green.

After Revere sold the home in 1800, it soon became a boarding house and tenement, and the ground floor was remodeled for various purposes, including a candy store, cigar factory, bank, and vegetable and fruit business. In 1902, Paul Revere's great-grandson, John P. Reynolds Jr., understanding the value of the property, purchased the building to ensure that it would not be demolished. Subsequently, money was raised and the Paul Revere Memorial Association formed to preserve and restore the building. In April 1908, the Paul Revere House opened its doors to the public as one of the earliest historic house museums in the U.S.

Visit the Paul Revere House on your trip to Boston, and learn more about the great man who played a crucial role in thwarting the British and aiding the colonists in their struggle for independence. The house stands in Boston’s historically Italian neighborhood -North End- and its central location makes it the perfect attraction to visit as part of a complete sightseeing day in the historic center of Boston.