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Boston is often referred to as one of America’s most historic cities, and you don’t get much more historic than the Paul Revere House. Built around 1680, the house is the oldest surviving building in downtown Boston. It’s name the Paul Revere House after its most famous resident who owned the property for about 30 years. In 1775, it’s also where he left from on his famous Midnight Ride to Lexington. Today, visitors can explore both the inside and outside of the house and learn more about the legendary American folk hero.
History of the Paul Revere House
The house was built around the year 1680 and was originally owned by a merchant named Robert Howard. The house is located in Boston’s North End, which is one of the city’s three original neighbourhoods. Paul Revere purchased the house in 1770 (which had been slightly enlarged from its original layout) and lived here with his mother, his wife Sarah and their five children. He owned the home up until 1800 although its uncertain if the family lived here in the 1780s.
The building was many things in the years after Revere sold it, including a sailor’s boarding house, an immigrant tenement and at times also housed shops which included a candy store, cigar factory, a bank and more. In 1902, the building was purchased by Paul Revere’s great-grandson and it was later restored. In 1908, it first opened to the public as a museum.
Paul Revere’s Midnight Ride to Lexington
Paul Revere primarily worked as a silversmith, although he did a few other things to supplement his income including working as an engraver, producing illustrations and even worked as a dentist. He also became politically involved in the years leading up to the American Revolution. He took part in meetings, helped to gather intelligence and worked as a courier for the Boston Committee of Correspondence and the Massachusetts Committee of Safety. Through this work, as well as his membership in the Masonic Lodge of St Andrew, he came to know Dr. Joseph Warren. The two would play a key role in one of the most famous nights in American history.
On April 18, 1775 Dr. Joseph Warren instructed Paul Revere to ride to Lexington with a message warning John Hancock and Samuel Adams of the British approach. He had received intelligence (which is wasn’t actually accurate) that the British were planning to march on the area and arrest Hancock and Adams. Revere famously went back to this very house, put on his boots and coat and set off on his Midnight Ride. He was able to deliver the message and the next day the Battles of Lexington and Concord took place, officially beginning the American Revolution.
The story of Paul Revere has been slightly romanticized over the years, thanks to the poem “Paul Revere’s Ride” which was published by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow in 1860. But even so, Paul Revere remains one of the great folk heroes of American history.
Visiting the Paul Revere House Today
Today visitors can explore the inside of the Paul Revere House for a very reasonable price of around $6.00 USD. The house is 90% original, so it gives a real insight into what it would have looked like during the time of Paul Revere. The tour is self-guided, but there are guides in each room to give visitors a background on the history and answer questions. There’s also a great little gift shop for purchasing souvenirs. If visiting Boston, you’ll definitely want to make a stop at this historic location.
Key Information for Visiting the Paul Revere House
1. When is the best time to visit the Paul Revere House?
The Paul Revere house is open year-round, daily in the summer from 10:00am-5:15 pm. In the winter it is open six days a week (closed on Mondays) from 10:00am-4:15pm. You can double check the opening times here before visiting.
2. What is the best way to get there?
The great thing about Boston is that it’s a very walkable city. The Paul Revere House is located in the North End of the city, making it easy to walk to from many places. The house is located at 19 North Square, about a 7-minute walk from Haymarket station.
3. How much does it cost to visit the Paul Revere House?
The entry price is extremely reasonable at around $6.00 USD for an adult or $1 USD for a child (ages 5-17). A quick note, that the attraction does prefer payment to be made by cash, but credit card is also accepted.
You can double check the admission price here before visiting.
4. How long do you need to visit the house?
The house doesn’t take too long to go around… I would probably leave about 15-20 minutes for the inside. Perhaps 30 minutes total so you can visit the gift shop!
5. Can you take photos inside the house?
Visitors are not able to take photos or video inside the house, but you can outside.
6. What other historical attractions are there nearby?
Boston has a number of historical sites to see, not far from the Paul Revere House. The Old North Church is also located in the North end, about a 5-minute walk away. Visitors are also only about a 6-minute walk away from the Faneuil Hall Marketplace (where you can try some delicious local food at the Quincy Market!). Near there, you can also visit the Boston Massacre Site, the Old State House, as well as historic pubs such as the Bell in Hand Tavern and the Green Dragon Tavern. You can learn about more sites by checking out 10 Historical Things to Do in Boston, Massachusetts.
This article’s information was last updated in August, 2023.