Old North Church
Colonial steeple where two lanterns once flashed a coded warning that ignited a revolution.
Location
About this audio guide
This guide to Old North Church follows sexton Robert Newman and vestryman John Pulling on the night of April 18, 1775, as they break Boston's military curfew and slip past British soldiers to climb the steeple stairs carrying nothing but two lanterns. It traces the signal system Paul Revere had asked for, one light for troops marching by land and two for crossing by water, and why Newman reportedly climbed back down through a window rather than risk the front door that night. Listen for how long the two lanterns actually stayed lit in the tiny steeple windows.
This audio guide was created using AI.
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