Paul Revere House Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Significant dates

Paul Revere House
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
U.S. National Historic Landmark

(2017)
Location	19 North Square, Boston, Massachusetts
Built	c.1680
Architect	John Jeffs
NRHP reference No.	66000785
Added to NRHP	October 15, 1966
Designated NHL	January 20, 1961

A Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS) image of the back of the house

The Paul Revere House was the home of Paul Revere, a famous American Patriot and Founding Father, during the time of the American Revolution. It was built around 1680, making it one of the oldest houses in downtown Boston, Massachusetts. Today, it is a special place called a National Historic Landmark, which means it's very important to American history.

The house is located at 19 North Square in Boston's North End. It is now a museum run by the Paul Revere Memorial Association, where visitors can learn about Paul Revere and life in colonial times.

The House's Story
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The House's Story

Building the Oldest House in Downtown Boston

The Paul Revere House was built around 1680. This makes it the oldest house still standing in downtown Boston! Before this house, the land was home to a church building that burned down in a big fire in 1676.

The first owner of the house was a wealthy merchant named Robert Howard. His house had a special L-shape and large rooms. It also had cool features like an upper floor that stuck out a bit and windows that opened outwards, called casement windows.

How the House Was Built

The house was built with strong timber (wood) frames, which was common back then. The main part of the house had three floors and was held up by heavy wooden posts and beams. The biggest room on the ground floor had a large fireplace and an entrance area.

Even though some houses in Boston had separate kitchens, the Paul Revere House had a two-story section built onto the back. Because the house was close to its neighbors, its double casement windows were placed at the back, not on the pointed roof ends (called gables).

Changes Over Time

Around the mid-1700s, the Paul Revere House was updated twice. First, the roof facing the street was made taller to match a popular new building style called Georgian. Later, during restoration, the roof was returned to its original lower shape.

Second, a small, two-story addition was built between the two older parts of the house. This addition was removed during later restoration work.

Paul Revere's Home

Paul Revere owned this house from 1770 to 1800. He and his family lived here during the exciting years of the American Revolution. It's believed that the kitchen visitors see today, along with the back chimney, was added around 1790 while Revere lived there.

Photograph, around 1898

Saving the House for Everyone

After Paul Revere sold the house, it was used for different things. The ground floor became shops, including a candy store, a cigar factory, and even a bank.

In 1902, Paul Revere's great-grandson, John P. Reynolds Jr., bought the house to stop it from being torn down. The house was then carefully restored to look like it did around 1700. This work was led by an architect named Joseph Everett Chandler.

In April 1908, the Paul Revere House opened as one of the first historic house museums in the United States. This means it was one of the first old homes opened for the public to visit and learn from.

What You See Today

Even though the house was greatly restored, about 90% of the original building from 1680 is still there! This includes two doors, three window frames, and parts of the floors, foundation, walls, and roof beams. None of the window glass is original, though.

The house has heavy wooden beams, big fireplaces, and no hallways inside. This shows how homes were built and lived in during colonial times. Upstairs, two rooms have furniture that is thought to have belonged to the Revere family.

Right next to the Paul Revere House is another old brick house called the Pierce–Hichborn House, built around 1711. It's also a museum run by the same group.

In 2016, the Paul Revere Memorial Association opened a new visitor and education center. This center has more space for exhibits about Paul Revere's famous Midnight Ride, his work as a silversmith, and his other businesses after the American Revolution. The new center also makes it easier for wheelchair users to visit the second floor of the house. It also has classrooms and a library for learning and research.