Paul Revere House facts for kids
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Paul Revere House
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Paul Revere House in 2017
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| Location | 19 North Square, Boston, Massachusetts |
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| Built | c.1680 |
| Architect | John Jeffs |
| NRHP reference No. | 66000785 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | October 15, 1966 |
| Designated NHL | January 20, 1961 |
The Paul Revere House is a very old home in Boston, Massachusetts. It was built around 1680. This house was once the home of Paul Revere, a famous American Patriot. He was one of the important people who helped start the American Revolution.
Today, the Paul Revere House is a museum. It is located at 19 North Square in Boston's North End. The Paul Revere Memorial Association runs the museum. You can visit it to learn about Paul Revere and life in colonial times. It has been a National Historic Landmark since 1961.
Contents
The House's Story
How the House Was Built
The Paul Revere House was built about 1680. This makes it the oldest house still standing in downtown Boston. It was built where an earlier church building used to be. That building was destroyed by a fire in 1676.
The first owner of the house was Robert Howard. He was a rich merchant. The house was large for its time. It had spacious rooms and special features. These included an overhang on the second floor. It also had windows that opened outwards, called casement windows.
Changes Over Time
The house was built with strong wooden beams. It had three stories. The main part of the house had four sections. These were marked by heavy posts and beams. The largest room on the ground floor had a big fireplace.
Around the mid-1700s, the house was changed quite a bit. The roof facing the street was made taller. This was done to match the popular Georgian style of the time. Later, in the early 1900s, the roof was changed back to its original look.
Paul Revere's Home
Paul Revere owned this house from 1770 to 1800. He and his family lived here during the American Revolution. It is thought that a kitchen was added around 1790. This is the kitchen that visitors see today.
After Revere sold the house, it was used for different things. It became a place where many families lived. The ground floor was changed into shops. These shops included a candy store and a cigar factory.
Saving the House
In 1902, Paul Revere's great-grandson, John P. Reynolds Jr., bought the house. He wanted to save it from being torn down. The house was then carefully restored. This work was led by an architect named Joseph Everett Chandler.
In April 1908, the Paul Revere House opened to the public. It was one of the first historic house museums in the United States. Even after many changes, most of the house is still original. About 90% of the building from 1680 is still there. This includes parts of the floors and walls.
The house has heavy beams and large fireplaces. It also does not have hallways inside. These features were common in colonial homes. The two rooms upstairs have furniture that may have belonged to the Revere family.
New Visitor Center
Next to the Paul Revere House is the brick Pierce–Hichborn House. It was built around 1711. This house is also a museum run by the Paul Revere Memorial Association.
In December 2016, a new visitor and education center opened. It is connected to the Paul Revere House by a walkway. This new center has more space for exhibits. You can learn about Revere's famous Midnight Ride. You can also learn about his work as a silversmith. The center also helps people in wheelchairs access the second floor of the house. It has classrooms and a library for learning.
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