Old North Church: then and now

c. 1900 vs 2020 · Boston, MA

NowThen

Then, c. 1900The steeple of Old North Church in a colored print from around 1900. Cropped to the steeple.Photo: Detroit Photographic Company · Public domain · Source · cropped and resized

Today, 2020The steeple you see now is not the original one. A hurricane knocked it down in 1954 and a new one went up in 1955. Photo taken in 2020, with the Paul Revere statue.Photo: Kram McThunder · CC BY 4.0 · Source · resized

The story

The church's groundbreaking was April 15, 1723, and the first service was held on December 29, 1723. The steeple is 191 feet tall.

On the night of April 18, 1775, Paul Revere had two lanterns hung in the steeple to warn patriots in Charlestown that the British were moving by water. They were taken down within two minutes.

The steeple has fallen more than once. A hurricane destroyed the original in 1804, and Hurricane Carol knocked down its replacement in 1954.

Did you know? The church has eight bells that were cast in 1744 and installed in 1745, and are described as the oldest in North America.

Historians argue about this. Historians disagree on who hung the lanterns: sexton Robert Newman, sea captain John Pulling, or both. A city commission in 1876 also debated whether it was this church or another one.

Fact or tall tale?

SolidTwo lanterns were hung in the steeple on April 18, 1775.
Wikipedia reports two lanterns, taken down within two minutes.
DisputedRobert Newman was the one who hung the lanterns.
Sources credit Newman, John Pulling, or both. It is not settled.

Sources

More: Look for historic photos at the Boston Public Library

Stamp it in person

Go there, answer the question that only someone standing at Old North Church can answer, and add the stamp to your passport. Free, no sign-up.

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More in Boston

Next: Old State House. Written from the cited sources, not yet walked on site unless noted.