The Paul Revere House is a historic home and museum at 19 North Square in Boston’s North End, along the Freedom Trail. Built around 1680, it is the oldest surviving house in downtown Boston. Paul Revere lived here with his family from 1770 to 1800, including during the years of the American Revolution. A self-guided visit takes you through rooms furnished with colonial-era pieces, including items associated with the Revere family. Look closely at the timber construction and the home’s original features to see how the building has endured.
A North End home built around 1680
At 19 North Square, the Paul Revere House stands among the older streets of Boston’s North End. Built around 1680, it is the oldest surviving house in downtown Boston. The two-and-a-half-story timber-frame building was already nearly a century old when Revere bought it in 1770.
Before Revere’s time, the house belonged to merchant Robert Howard. Revere, a silversmith and patriot, lived there with his family from 1770 to 1800. It was his home during the Revolutionary years, including the period when he made his famous ride toward Lexington and Concord in April 1775.
The building’s history reaches back further than its best-known resident. The site had previously held a parsonage associated with Increase and Cotton Mather. That earlier building was destroyed in the Great Fire of 1676.
What remains inside
The museum’s rooms help visitors picture domestic life in the 17th and 18th centuries. Colonial-era furniture fills the house, and some pieces are associated with the Revere family. Displays also include silver made by Revere, connecting his work as a silversmith with the home where he lived.
Look at the structure as well as the furnishings. Around 90 percent of the building is reported to be original, with historic elements including the foundation, flooring, doors, window frames and rafters. The house has been restored, but its timber construction and surviving materials give the rooms a direct link to its early years.
The visit is self-guided. You can move through the house at your own pace and take in its rooms and objects without a formal guided tour. Guides are also available to share information about Revere’s life and the period.
Adding the house to the Freedom Trail
The Paul Revere House is one of the historic stops on Boston’s Freedom Trail. Its setting in North Square makes it a natural part of a walk through the North End, and the neighborhood also has places to eat nearby.
Allow about 30 to 45 minutes for the visit. The house is compact, so this stop works well between longer walks or other Freedom Trail sites. Check ticket arrangements in advance if your schedule is tight. Photography is restricted indoors, though you can take pictures outside.
The museum shop carries books about Revere and the American Revolution, along with prints, postcards and other commemorative items. It can be a useful final stop if you want a book or souvenir connected to the house.
Perguntas frequentes
Where is the Paul Revere House?
It is at 19 North Square in Boston’s North End and is a stop on the Freedom Trail.
How long does a visit take?
Allow about 30 to 45 minutes to explore the house.
Can you take photos inside the Paul Revere House?
Photography is restricted inside the historic building. You can take pictures outside.
What can you see inside the house?
The rooms contain colonial-era furnishings and objects associated with the Revere family, including silver made by Paul Revere.
