Paul Revere House: then and now

1912 vs 2006 · Boston, MA

NowThen

Then, 1912A photo from a 1912 book on Boston's historic houses, four years after the house opened as a museum.Photo: Internet Archive Book Images · No known copyright restrictions · Source · resized

Today, 2006Photo taken in 2006. The house has been a museum since April 18, 1908.Photo: surlygirl · CC BY 2.0 · Source · resized

The story

The house was built around 1680 and is the oldest surviving residence in downtown Boston. Paul Revere bought it on January 13, 1770, and owned it until 1800.

In 1907 a memorial association bought the house and restored it, and it opened as a museum on April 18, 1908, the anniversary of Revere's ride.

Much of the outside was replaced during that restoration. One historian wrote that Revere 'would not recognize it.'

Did you know? Paul Revere owned this house from 1770 to 1800, which is thirty years.

Historians argue about this. Sources give the building date as anywhere from 1676 to 1681. The builder is unknown. Some sources wrongly call it Boston's oldest house.

Fact or tall tale?

SolidPaul Revere owned this house from 1770 to 1800.
Wikipedia reports he bought it in January 1770 and sold it in 1800.
Not trueThis is the oldest house in all of Boston.
The James Blake House in Dorchester dates to 1661. This is the oldest surviving residence in downtown Boston.

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 Paul Revere House can answer, and add the stamp to your passport. Free, no sign-up.

Play Boston

More in Boston

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