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Boston is one of the most historic cities in the United States, and it was one of the most important during the Revolutionary War. Today one can discover the birth of America on the Boston Freedom Trail. One of the most famous events of the Revolutionary War was the Midnight Ride which tipped the colonial militia off on the British approach. Today visitors can see the very home of Paul Revere - the hero and patriot of the Midnight Ride.

Boston is home to many of America's most important revolutionary sites. The Revolutionary War marked the transition and birth of the United States in its modern form. Before the war, it was a collection of colonies; after, it was a nation and on its way to becoming the country known today.

Paul Revere: The Hero Of The Midnight Ride

The Midnight Ride took place in April 1775 on the eve of the battles of Lexington and Concord that saw the British driven back to Boston. The ride and information are considered a crucial part of the Colonist's subsequent battles and Continental victories.

  • Date: April 18, 1775

It was the Patriot Paul Revere who set out from his home to warn Samuel Adams and John Hancock. In actuality, there were dozens of riders that night, but it was Paul Revere who became a legend after Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's "Paul Revere's Ride" in 1860.

Following his rise to legendary status, early preservationists worked to preserve his home as a historic site. Today it is one of the many superb historic attractions to visit while in Boston.

Related: See A Reconstructed Revolutionary Colonial Fort At Fort Stanwix

The Personal Life And Background Of Paul Revere

Revere was borne the son of a French immigrant father, while his mother descended from some of the first settlers of New England. He learned a highly skilled trade of gold and silver smithing.

By the time of the war, he was already a father to five children, a husband, a war veteran, and a master silversmith. His first wife, Sarah Revere, died in 1773 from childbirth - a few months later, Paul Revere married again (Rachel Walker).

The Revere family occupied the house for a period of around 20 years - including during the War of Independence.

The Paul Revere House is a great opportunity to learn about what life was like in Boston in the 18th century.

Related: Your High School History Textbook May Have Left Out These Revolutionary War Tales

History & Preservation Of The Paul Revere House

The Paul Revere House is located in the densest and oldest neighborhood of Boston (the North End). It was purchased in 1681, and it changed hands many times over the years. At the time, it was something of a modest dwelling compared to the Boston elite's mansions of the time.

Revere sold the home in 1800, with it later becoming a sailor's boarding house for a long time. It was at risk of demolition by the early 1900s, but fortunately, John P. Reynolds Jr (a great-grandson of Paul Revere) stepped in to preserve the home. It was opened as a historic house museum in 1908.

Today it is the oldest residential building still standing in downtown Boston (but is far from the only historic place to explore in Boston).

Visiting The Paul Revere House

Today the Paul Revere House is a Boston National Historical Park and is operated by the Paul Revere Memorial Association. It is open to the public, and so people can visit the home of the famous patriot, craftsman, businessman, and entrepreneur.

  • Opening Hours: 10.00 am to 5.00 pm (Last Entry 4.15 pm)

Admission:

  • Adults: $6.00
  • Youth: $1.00 (Aged 5-17)

At the site, visitors will find a new education and visitor center with displays of silver and artifacts related to Revere's business ventures. Visitors learn about his famous midnight ride from his own words.

To have a special visit, plan one's trip around their event schedule.

Visit the Paul Revere House to learn more about the historic home and learn about the other important Revolutionary era and other historic buildings of Boston like the Pierce/Hichborn House (the oldest brick building in Boston), the row houses at 5 & 6 Lathrop Place, and about the North End neighbor - one of colonial Boston’s three original neighborhoods.